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Prosecco, Pearls, and Par-4s: Dispelling Myths About Female Golfers

By Charlotte Ibbetson on March 28, 2025

Know someone who believes women golfers are all about Prosecco and pearls? It’s time to set the record straight. Charlotte busts five myths about women golfers.

Hot off the back of Levelling the Fairways, welcome to the first feature of our new series, the (Female) Club Golfer.

Today’s female club golfer embodies the evolving spirit of the game. She is diverse, passionate and shaping the future of golf. Inspired by our former Editor, Emma, that’s exactly what this series is all about; exploring who the female club member really is and their experience of club life today.

So to get started, I’m dispelling five popular myths about women golfers.

Myth #1: Women golfers are more concerned with what they look like than their game

Don’t get me wrong, I love a cute skort as much as the next person, but practicality will always win the day. Expect waterproofs up to the knees in mud, post-round hat hair and comfortable outfits that work as hard off the course as they do on it.

The rise of inclusive and functional golf fashion is proof of the growing demand for clothes that fit the game and every other area of life too.

That’s because women golfers are multi-taskers and high-achievers. We’ll do the school run at 8am, nine holes at 9am and be at our desks by lunchtime. We need outfits that can keep up.

Myth #2: Golf is just an excuse for women to gossip and drink Prosecco

The sense of community around golf is one of the best things about the game, but never underestimate how seriously we take our game. We know our yardages, keep a sharp eye on the leaderboard, and will happily remind you of the rules when needed.

Myth #3: Women can’t hit the ball very far

On the LPGA Tour, the average driving distance is around 255 yards, with top players like Charley Hull and Nelly Korda hitting it in the 270s. And this season on the LET, Chiara Noja of Germany’s average hitting distance is an impressive 277.75 yards.

Sure, not all of us have tour-level power, but technique still trumps brute strength on the course. There’s also plenty of data to suggest that women tend to be more accurate drivers of the ball than men.

So we might not hit it as far, but we definitely spend less time looking in the trees. And I know where I’d prefer to hit my second shot from.

Myth #4: Female golfers are just jumping on a trendy bandwagon

With initiatives like The R&A’s Women in Golf Charter, we’re (slowly but surely) seeing more women and girls getting into golf, which is fantastic for the game’s growth and diversity.

But the idea that all women golfers are new to the game is absurd.

Women have been part of golf’s history for centuries. Mary, Queen of Scots, famously played golf in the 1500s (she’s even credited with coining the term “caddie”), and St. Andrews’ Ladies Golf Club was established way back in 1867.

Today’s female golfers are continuing this legacy, not starting it.

Perhaps this myth is fuelled by the rise of female golf influencers. I’ve always been very transparent about my mixed opinions about influencers (there’s still a question mark for me around authenticity vs personal promotion), but they’ve undeniably brought fresh attention to the sport.

Myth #5: Women only play from the ‘ladies’ tees

The notion that female golfers must stick to the forward tees because they can’t handle longer courses is not only outdated — it’s just plain wrong.

For starters, referring to forward tees as ‘ladies’ tees’ is misleading and increasingly being left behind. Outside of competitive play, women choose tees based on their ability, just like men do, and it’s very common to see women playing from the middle or even back tees, depending on their skill level.

Because here’s the key: Forward tees aren’t about making the game easier — they’re about making it fairer and more enjoyable for players of all abilities.

This isn’t just a theoretical shift; it’s a genuine movement. Many golf clubs are actively moving away from gender-specific tee designations, instead basing tee placement on hitting distance and handicap. This change promotes inclusivity and reflects the evolving diversity of the golfing community.