Parliamentary Golf Group welcomes The R&A's Women in Golf Charter

Members of Parliament have welcomed the launch of The R&A’s Women in Golf Charter. 

The Women in Golf Charter is aimed at inspiring an industry-wide commitment to a more inclusive culture in golf, increasing the number of women and girls participating in golf, and encouraging more opportunities for women to work within the golf industry. 

Those adopting the Charter, including national federations and other golf bodies, will be required to develop existing and new projects with a focus on encouraging more women and girls to play golf, as well as empowering women to enjoy successful careers within the golf industry. 

A motion has been tabled by All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf Co-Chair, Stephen Gethins MP, welcoming the Charter. It recognises the Charter as a statement of intent from the golf industry, and “calls on everyone involved with golf to pledge their support, and make efforts to develop a welcoming and inspiring environment for women to participate in the sport.”

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf also plans to become a signatory to the Charter. 

Member of Parliament for North East Fife and Group Co-Chair, Stephen Gethins MP, said “the launch of The R&A’s Women in Golf Charter is a welcome development, and I hope that the Charter will galvanise the golf industry to do more to promote opportunities for women and girls to play and work in golf.”

Group Co-Chair and Member of Parliament for North Warwickshire, Craig Tracey MP, said “the All-Party Parliamentary Golf Group is committed to growing the game in the United Kingdom, and I am delighted that The R&A, it’s affiliated organisations, supporters and the wider golf industry have made this commitment to take measures designed to achieve positive change for women, girls and families.”

All-Party Parliamentary Golf Group Vice-Chair, Baroness Nye of Lambeth, added “I welcome The R&A’s strong commitment to encourage more women into golf, and encourage all organisations involved in the sport to pledge their support by signing up to the Women in Golf Charter.”

The full text of the motion is as follows: 

EARLY DAY MOTION: WOMEN IN GOLF CHARTER

That this House welcomes The R&A’s Women in Golf Charter, a core element of the organisation’s drive to increase the number of women and girls participating in golf and to encourage more opportunities for women to work within the golf industry; recognises that the Charter is a statement of intent from the golf industry to develop a more inclusive culture within golf and to focus on gender balance; welcomes ongoing efforts from The R&A, its affiliated organisations, partners and the wider golf industry to achieve positive change for women, girls and families; further welcomes The R&A’s commitment to increase overall investment in women’s, girls’ and mixed golf to £80million over the next ten years; congratulates The R&A for the leadership it has shown to develop the Women in Golf Charter; and calls on everyone involved with golf to pledge their support, and make efforts to develop a welcoming and inspiring environment for women to participate in the sport.