SUPPORTED BY A toolkit to establish a more inclusive culture in golf #FOREeveryone RandA.org/FOREeveryone Toolkit FOREWORD. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE FROM YOU. This toolkit represents step one in a long journey The R&A, national associations and The PGA are embarking on together. While this campaign has been designed to offer long term support, we would love you to initially perform five simple actions. MARTIN SLUMBERS Chief Executive, The R&A It is my pleasure to introduce you to this toolkit, which is a MARK KENNELLY critical document as the golf industry seeks to safeguard Chief Executive Officer, Golf Ireland our sport for the future by creating the conditions to attract Golf Ireland are committed to transforming golf into a sport that more women and girls. is fully inclusive at all levels and the Women in Golf Charter will 1 2 3 4 5 I hope you find this an informative and useful manual, representing play a significant role in reaching that goal. Promoting equality industry best practice and linking to a suite of assets and Resource Portal, is a key priority and Golf Ireland will lead by setting examples all of which are designed to help clubs and facilities approach the idea READ THE REGISTER CONSTRUCT YOUR and standards in equality and inclusivity, ensuring that these USE THE ASSETS TALK TO US of cultural change. TOOLKIT INTEREST OWN STRATEGY standards are the benchmark for the sport right down to club This crucial step is but the first in an ongoing journey of support which and grassroots level. The R&A, the national associations and The PGA are committed to, There’s a lot of We want as many clubs Use the advice contained Once you have set your We want your feedback. providing all affiliates with the advice and materials they need to join We are committed to various objectives in the areas of Culture, information in here, but as possible to come in the toolkit and start strategy, start using This campaign is here us in tackling this critical issue into the future. Leadership, Participation and Visibility as part of the Level Par it represents the most with us on this journey. thinking about how it the rest of the assets to stay, and we want to programme, supported by Sport Ireland and Sport NI, and we will work current best practice Registering your interest could help define your provided to help you know how we can make The Women in Golf Charter has been created to inspire an industry-wide collaboratively with the Home Unions in GB&I and The R&A to ensure a advice and research the on the Resource Portal strategy. Use the timeline deliver it. it work for everyone commitment and conversation with the ultimate goal of enabling more vibrant, inclusive and accessible sport for women and girls on the island industry has to offer, all will allow us to stay in on page 46 and the connected to the sport. women and girls to maximise their potential at all levels of the sport. of Ireland and further afield. in one package. regular conversation and ‘Campaign Guidelines’ Use the contact details #FOREeveryone creates a more accessible narrative behind which Golf Ireland became a signatory of the Charter in anticipation of its for updates on advice, asset to start thinking on page 49 to give us the golf industry can unite and through which existing and prospective establishment and is now calling for all golf clubs to engage with the assets and content to be about how your strategy your suggestions on how golfers can engage. initiative for the good of the sport. This was the first of many steps in provided regularly. can be rolled out. we can make it even creating the cultural change required to see golf flourish in all areas for better, #FOREeveryone! This campaign, we truly believe, can help us change the face of golf many years to come. across the globe, for the betterment of our sport. I hope you can join We look forward to supporting clubs in this area through educational us in harnessing its power to change the game forever. workshops, resources and direct support by one of Golf Ireland’s #FOREeveryone Development team. 3 Toolkit Toolkit CONTENTS. OVERVIEW. Overview Participation Programme 6. Introduction 36. Coaching and Participation 7. What is Gender Balance? 38. Community Engagement 8. Reasons to be More Family Friendly 39. Participation Resources 9. Women and Girls in Golf - Current Status 40. Working Together for Joy in Jordan - 10. Enville Golf Club - Case Study Case Study #FOREeveryone Marketing 12. Introducing #FOREeveryone 42. What’s the Message? 13. Becoming a Charter Signatory 43. Social Media Marketing 14. Examples of Charter Commitments 44. Website and Email 15. #FOREeveryone Resource Portal 45. Advertising and PR 16. Charter Champions 46. Direct, OOH and Word of Mouth 1 7. Campaign Resources 4 7. Club Marketing Resources 18. Winning in Wales - Case Study Suggested Campaign Timeline Club Environment 49. #FOREeveryone Activity Timeline 20. Understand Your Strengths and Weaknesses 50. #FOREeveryone Campaign Timeline 21. Understand Your Target Audience - Girls 52. External Communications 22. Understand Your Target Audience - Women 53. Get in Touch 23. Customer Experience 33. Club Management 34. Club Environment Resources 4 5 Toolkit Toolkit THE WOMEN IN THE OPPORTUNITY WHAT IS GENDER GOLF CHARTER: BALANCE? AN INTRODUCTION 36.9 Million latent female golfers around the world 1 Gender balance or gender equality is a challenge for Takeaway: With the right offer, organisations globally. In many areas of public and private life, The Women in Golf Charter was launched to increase some of these golfers could join your club. women face greater challenges than their male counterparts women and girls participation in golf and to encourage and golf is no exception. more opportunities for women to work in the golf industry. $35 Billion Fewer than 1 in 4 golfers globally are women and the golf industry is This toolkit has been inspired by that commitment and provides clubs male-dominant. Striking a better gender balance will not only benefit the and facilities with the support and materials they require to develop Potential value of latent female golfing economy by introducing more players to the game, it will bring 2 a more inclusive culture. Simple-yet-impactful changes in the way we golfers worldwide to the industry diversity to the workforce, boost productivity and expand the talent pool. operate and communicate will allow golf to strike a better gender Takeaway: The opportunity for your club to balance, change perceptions and increase participation. generate added revenue is significant. While many participation schemes do exist, without cultural change their impact will be diluted. Balance means addressing conditions which are This guide will give golfing facilities of all shapes and sizes the knowledge a barrier to equality. At times this may mean going even further when and tools and to unite with other industry stakeholders behind one presenting opportunities to women and girls than we would men and boys. common cause. As shown in the following pages, change does not have 8.5 Million to be costly, and even small adjustments can build a brighter future. People in the UK between the ages of Industry-wide collaboration and sharing of knowledge will bring about 15-64 interested in taking up golf 3 change in the quickest way possible. This is the very purpose of this toolkit and the #FOREeveryone campaign. Takeaway: There are women near you who are interested in playing. 5% Golf currently only appeals Fewer than 1 in 4 golfers 4 to 5% of women in the UK globally are women and Takeaway: Without a change in perceptions, a challenging future may lie ahead. the golf industry is 1 . The Global Economic Value of Increased Female Participation in Golf, Syngenta, 2016 male-dominant 2. The Global Economic Value of Increased Female Participation in Golf, Syngenta, 2016 3. Growing Golf in the UK, Syngenta, 2013 6 4. The Opportunity to Grow Golf: Female Participation, Syngenta, 2014 7 Toolkit Toolkit REASONS TO BE MORE FEMALE FRIENDLY. WOMEN AND GIRLS IN GOLF – CURRENT STATUS. The R&A’s Women’s, Girls’ and Family Participation in Golf: An Overview of Existing Research (2018) highlighted areas of consideration for FUTURE Until most recently, the number of registered golfers had declined in each home nation, as the golf industry to attract more women and girls to the sport. Below are its key findings: competition for consumer free time and attention increases. A more welcoming environment for PROOFING women and girls golfers and conditions to retain them could see participation continue to grow. PARENTS AND FAMILY CULTURE COACHING Parents are the chief factor underpinning families’ Coaching delivery should be appropriate to the age and likelihood to play golf. These decisions are made abilities of all participants. Sessions should focus on the ENHANCED Stereotypical perceptions of golf still exist and are damaging to the sport. With adoption of new measures, golf can build a more modern image, unlocking more based on perceived benefits to health, education identified wants and needs of participants and thus be REPUTATION interest and commercial benefits as a result. and social wellbeing. player-centred and enjoyable for all. THE SOCIAL ASPECTS OF GOLF ROLE MODELS HEALTHIER Research shows that companies with greater gender balance at boardroom level exhibit Forming friendship groups is vital to continued The success and visibility of role models is a motivating DECISION superior decision-making. Encouraging more females into positions of authority within participation. Buddy schemes help new participants factor for people to play the game, particularly those MAKING the golf industry will encourage better business performance.