The game of golf as we know it has been around for more than 500 years, but it has been and still is dominated by men. For centuries clubs were considered “gentlemen only”. Apparently unsuited to the game, physically and mentally, women were merely allowed on the spectator seats.
However, women’s golf has a long tradition of its own. Mary Queen of Scots was said to have been hitting the links only days after her husband’s death in 1567 . Three centuries later a movement in Britain pushed for the establishment of a Ladies Golf Union which became a reality in 1893. The first British Women’s championship took place in June that year on the Ladies’ Course at St. Anne’s Golf Club in Lancashire.
With the founding of the Ladies Professional Golf Association LPGA in 1950, women’s golf slowly crept into the international spotlight. It still took decades before ladies were allowed to enter clubhouses through the front door rather than the rear entrance, and female players are still being exposed to chauvinism and antiquated views. But recent years have shown that the ladies can more than just stand their ground.
New Zealand
On the forefront of gender equality on the greens is New Zealand, recently put on the golfing map by Lydia Ko who became the youngest professional player ever ranked No. 1 in the world at the age of 17. Despite the loss of the NZ Women’s Golf Open in 2018 and 2019, ladies golf is becoming increasingly popular. In fact, golf is the second popular sport among women in New Zealand right after netball.
Around 400 courses scattered over both islands are readily accessible for female players. For a world-class experience, Millbrook Golf Resort and The Hills are your best option. Set against a dramatic landscape of snow-capped mountains just around the corner from Queenstown, both courses offer immaculate championship greens, spectacular scenery and an all-round luxurious package including elegant dining, deluxe accommodation and ample opportunities for shopping and sightseeing.
Australia
Founded in 1972, the Australian Ladies Professional Golf ALPG prides itself to host one of the seven major tours in the world for professional female golfers. Part of the tour is the Women’s Australian Open, co-sanctioned by both the US-based LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour. Being a professional female golfer in Australia has its benefits. The prize pool for the Women’s Australian Open was US$ 1.3 million in 2019.
One of the best courses in the country is the Composite Course at Royal Melbourne, also continuously voted into the Top 10 golf courses in the world. It’s a Members Only club, with playing either by invitation or by grabbing one of the popular visitor tee times for overseas players. It’s worth a visit, though, offering a unique mix of Scottish Links characteristics with sand dunes and bunkers, and the classiness of Augusta National.
19th Hole Golf Tours
Golf has become more than just a sport. It’s a lifestyle, and memories are being created on and off the green. 19th Hole Golf Tours offers a range of packages for male and female golfers that don’t just let you explore the best courses in Australia and New Zealand. Each itinerary is carefully crafted to give you a unique golfing experience paired with unforgettable moments outside the course.
If you want to venture further afield and explore what women’s golf courses have to offer internationally, we recommend putting together a custom golf holiday (Link: ). Our experienced team of golfers and travel experts is happy to assist you in creating the trip of a lifetime.