The (Female) Club Golfer: Is The Women in Golf Charter Working?

When The R&A introduced the Women in Golf Charter in 2018, it marked a pivotal moment for the sport. A powerful commitment to building a more inclusive culture within the sport, the charter aims to drive positive change, encourage more women and girls to play the game, and promote greater diversity at every level of golf.

Now, over 1,300 organisations have signed the Charter globally, pledging to take tangible steps toward gender equity in golf. But beyond the bold ambitions and official commitments, what’s actually happening on the ground? Does the charter translate into real change for the women playing week in, week out?

To find out, we asked women to share their experiences of the charter anonymously and honestly.

What difference is the Women in Golf Charter making?

The results are in! Over 150 women completed our survey, and 112 are members at clubs that are signed up to the Women in Golf Charter.

Of those 112 women:

• 33% have noticed positive changes in how inclusive and welcoming their club feels.
• 48% feel the visibility and involvement of women in leadership or decision-making roles at their club has increased since the introduction of the charter.
• 67% said their club actively encourages more women and girls to participate in golf as a result of signing the Women in Golf Charter.

Participation: Promising Signs, but Not Yet Universal

67% of respondents said their club actively encourages more women and girls to get involved in golf, whether that’s through events, coaching, marketing or community outreach. That’s a significant majority and an encouraging sign that the charter is starting to do what it set out to achieve.

But while two-thirds is a good start, one in three still feel their club isn’t doing enough. For a charter focused on growth and inclusion, that gap matters.

“There’s definitely more visibility around women’s golf now, but it feels like the same few people pushing for it. The club as a whole needs to be on board.”

Leadership: A Seat at the Table … For Some

Just 38% of women said they’ve noticed more female involvement in leadership or decision-making roles at their clubs since the charter was introduced.

That means more than 60% of respondents either haven’t seen a change or aren’t sure if one has happened at all.

Inclusion isn’t just about access to the course — it’s about influence and representation. If clubs want to create environments that truly support women, that has to start at the top.

Is the Charter Working?

The Women in Golf Charter is clearly making waves in clubs. It’s encouraging more participation, raising awareness, and prompting conversations that might never have happened otherwise. But real, lasting change takes time (and accountability).

What is clear from the survey is that there is a lot of enthusiasm when clubs first sign up to the charter, but that tends to dwindle over time: "There was a bit of momentum when this was first signed, but things have stalled."

The challenge now is turning good intentions into visible outcomes. Making sure clubs review their policies and promises to ensure they are consistently delivering.

Because for women who play every week, the things that matter most are often the things that are hardest to measure: Feeling welcome. Feeling heard. Feeling like they belong.

Catch up on the rest of our (Female) Club Golfer series, like this one: More Than Just a Game: Golf Clubs Are About Community >