PGA Teaching Professional Hannah Crump is on a mission to break down the barriers of entry to golf — and she wants the whole industry to get in on the act.
This article is part of GCMA Insights – topical content for golf industry professionals, discussing the things that matter to those who work in golf clubs.
While figures show an overall rise in female participation in the sport, there remains a stark disparity when it comes to on-course golf.
The numbers for off-course golf are closing in on an even split, with 47% of participants in those ‘non-traditional’ formats being female. However, women account for just a quarter of on-course golfers.
We spoke to Hannah about her involvement in coaching women and girls and her hopes to see more of them being welcomed into the sport, however and wherever it is played.
About Hannah Crump
Hannah is a Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Golf Club and the winner of the Women and Girls Trailblazer category at the 2022 England Golf Awards.
What has your journey been with coaching women and girls?
“I never saw myself specifically getting into coaching women, but I realised quite quickly there was a real opportunity for growth in this area and I advertised myself as a female specialist with a focus on getting women into golf.
“It was a little bit scary to be honest because by doing that you’re only appealing to what is around 22% of the market at this point, and when I started out I had maybe 20 women and now four years on it’s around 80-85 in different formats of group coaching.
“Nothing’s changed in terms of how I do things, but what has changed is the growth I’ve seen through word of mouth. People find they’re enjoying it and they ask, ‘Can my friend come along?’, and it’s just accelerating year-on-year.”
Get involved in the debate.
To join the GCMA, click here, or to organise a call with a member of the GCMA team, just complete the form below.
There are groups within the female demographic who are even less represented – what work have you done in those areas?
“I was approached by the Muslim Golf Association and Julia Regis, who is doing some great work with inclusion and growing participation, to support them.
“I was delighted to accept their offer to come along and get involved. It’s so important to have this sort of outreach to attract those minority groups.
“There is still a perception of golf as being a male-dominated sport and mostly white males as well, so to be a woman, let alone a woman of a different ethnicity, can leave you feeling really outnumbered.
“My attitude has always been that you need people who will open the doors within the industry, so for me anything that brings people in and gets them to feel a part of it is absolutely something I can get behind.”
WHY JOIN THE GCMA?
Membership of the GCMA unlocks a network of like-minded professionals, provides you with support in your professional and personal development, and provides you with a multitude of benefits. Whether that’s the tools that will help you to excel in your profession, or a wide range of services to support your wellbeing, signing up to the GCMA is joining a community.
What would you say to anyone, female or male, who believes golf isn’t for them?
“I understand it, but my motto is: don’t judge before you try. I recently had a group of 40 women come and try golf for the first time and their faces when they come in are like they’re going into a dentist’s surgery!
“It makes me think, ‘Wow, this is our hobby, our sport, a thing we love – and look how it can make people feel who are coming in from the outside’.
“I try to make sure from the minute they arrive that it’s not as scary as it looks, that they are welcome there, and that ultimately it’s something they can enjoy.
“I think we underestimate how much small things can put people off – they might be coming to a golf club for the first time and there’s a bollard or a gate stopping their car and then signs telling them they can’t park in certain spaces. Once they get past all that they come to a clubhouse with a door they need a code for, and there’s a dress code.
“All this stuff can be quite intimidating and we have to think about whether it’s sending the right message.
“We need to be removing those barriers and making sure the message is clear that golf is for everyone.”
This article is part of GCMA Insights – topical content for golf industry professionals, discussing the things that matter to those who work in golf clubs.
Insights Signup
"*" indicates required fields
