When Julie Thompson experienced the euphoria of hitting a hole-in-one at the Shepparton Golf Club on Wednesday, it was only fitting that it came on a day where the club made its next commitment to women in golf.
The Shepparton Golf Club has become the first official club in Australia to sign the R&A Women in Golf Charter, which aims to enable more women and girls to maximise their potential at all levels of the sport.
Launched in the country last December, the charter, with the help of Golf Australia, the PGA of Australia and the WPGA Tour of Australasia, is committed to driving gender equity at golf clubs.
Following in Shepparton’s footsteps in signing the charter were Bridport Golf Club, Kingston Beach Golf Club, Riverside Golf Club, Royal Hobart Golf Club and Devonport Country Club.
The Shepparton Golf Club qualified to be a signatory due to its initiatives that focus on encouraging more women and girls to play golf and stay in the sport, while also empowering women to work within the sport’s industry.
Last year, the local golf club’s members Lynley Eadie and Kim Morris received Golf Australia’s 2021 Visionary of the Year award for their innovation in attracting females to the game and retaining them.
Golf Australia head of female engagement Tiffany Cherry congratulated Shepparton for its ongoing support of women in the game.
“We applaud and congratulate Shepparton for their work in this space,” she said.
“This is a significant occasion and Golf Australia, the PGA of Australia and the WPGA Tour of Australasia all tip our hats for Shepparton leading the way.
“It’s vitally important that opportunities are there for women and girls in golf and that they’re treated equally. No matter your gender or ability, golf is a game for everyone.
“The R&A aims to enable more women and girls to maximise their potential at all levels of the sport.
“We’ve had 115 expressions of interest since December and Shepparton deserves to be one of the first clubs to sign the charter for their innovation in attracting new women and girls to golf.”
The six clubs that have become signatories have received a range of benefits.
Shepparton will receive a signatory decal to be placed at the club to showcase its support and commitment, and a digital suite of marketing tools that can be used for its website and advertising.
Anne Pegg, a committee member and former women’s president at the club, highlighted what it meant to the club and players in signing the charter.
“To the club it means that we are moving forward and we are listening to what women in golf want,” she said.
“We’ve also got an action plan in place that will be reviewed each time we go to a committee and management meeting to make sure we keep that action plan in place and that we build and work on it.
“It’s very exciting and we’re very proud to be the first official signatory club in Australia.”
Shepparton joins clubs from across the globe in signing the charter.
Pegg said the charter would be pivotal in ensuring the growth of women in golf.
“The women’s charter is going to encourage women to take up any role in the golf club,” Pegg said.
“It doesn’t have to be a women’s role, they can go on to be a president or club captain of the golf club.”
With Shepparton a leader in attracting and retaining women in golf, something tells us that Thompson won’t be the last woman to score a memorable hole-in-one at the club.
“Right there is an awesome story that would not have happened if the Shepparton Golf Club didn’t undertake its initiatives for women and girls to play golf,” Cherry said.
If any club is interested in becoming a Women in Golf Charter signatory club, it is encouraged to contact Golf Australia via email at womeningolfcharter@golf.org.au