Governance reform, equal access and decisive leadership have underpinned Henbury’s progress.
Henbury Golf Club has been recognised for its proactive approach to equality and inclusivity with a nomination for the Women in Golf Charter Club Award at the England Golf Awards. The nomination reflects a period of deliberate reform, following the club’s incorporation in 2020 and its commitment to the Women in Golf Charter in 2024.
Within a year, the Gloucestershire venue had introduced full weekend course access for all members, ending a disparity that had existed for nearly three decades. The number of competitions open to everyone has grown from five to over 20 at weekends, including, for the first time, female participation in the Captain’s Bowl.
The governance structure has also evolved, with women now holding 30% of Board and committee roles, up from 9%, and stepping into senior leadership positions. Initiatives such as Ability Tees, planned for 2026, alongside integrated roll-ups and six competitions on the former Women’s Day, further highlight the shift to genuine inclusivity.
For Jill Thorpe, a member since 1997 and former Women’s Captain, the nomination speaks to a broader cultural shift that she has long been pushing for.
“We were delighted to be nominated,” she said. “A lot of people across the club have worked really hard to make this happen. After all those years of complacency, to act as decisively as the club has and make things happen so quickly is a credit to everyone involved. I just think it is brilliant to get nominated.”
Jill had long challenged the lack of equality, having observed that women paid the same fees as men without enjoying the same access at weekends. She believes having people who are willing to take up the cause and speak passionately in support of it is a key factor in achieving anything.
“For 20 odd years, I’ve moaned a lot about the fact that we pay the same money but don’t get equal access to the course at weekends,” she said. “One of my friends, who is a Women’s Committee member and has been very involved in this as well, decided when I became what was then the Ladies’ Captain that I had to put my money where my mouth is, and we decided the Women In Golf Charter was the obvious route to do it. To attract more women and girls into golf at Henbury we knew we had to fix the inequalities first.”
The Charter provided a framework to formalise reforms, supported by a newly structured Board and a clear ED&I strategy. Janis Sinton, a member since 2003 and appointed to the Board in 2023, leads the club’s ED&I work. She emphasised the importance of embedding change into governance rather than relying on ad hoc initiatives.
“When I joined the Board, we were told we needed an ED&I policy, which we didn’t have,” said Janis. “The policy led to an action plan, because having a policy is one thing, but keeping it alive, reviewing it and driving it forward is how you make real change.”
Support from England Golf has helped Henbury maintain focus and accountability. Annual reviews with their local representative provide guidance and ensure momentum is sustained. Recruitment initiatives, including women’s and girls’ taster days and academy relaunch programmes, aim to increase female membership from the current 140 members to 25% of the total by 2030.
General Manager Tim Good, who joined the club in late 2025, sees the reforms as central to creating a more inclusive culture.
“We’re seeing a bigger mix of attendees across sections and competitions,” he said. “You see a different feel and a different mix within the club. It’s imperative to continue the great work that’s been done and grow it further.”
Practical initiatives, such as a men versus women league match on a Saturday, reinforce integration and shared experiences. Jill and Janis highlighted the importance of having support across the club to drive change.
“You need a gang working together,” said Jill. “You have to have clarity about what you want, but you need people around you who will back it and help make it happen. We’ve had that support here and it’s made a huge difference.”
Janis added: “It’s not just about the women, is it? We’ve got to have the men behind us as well, or a good, significant number who are prepared to speak on our behalf and fight our cause. It wouldn’t happen if it was just the women doing this.”
By tackling longstanding disparities and embedding equality into everyday club life, Henbury provides a model for others seeking to achieve lasting cultural change, but Janis insisted the club’s work is far from done.
“You can’t just think, ‘Oh, we’ve got it now, we’ve done all this, we can rest on our laurels and not worry about it anymore’,” she said. “You’ve just got to keep working at it. We’ve got a working group looking at the captain structure, because that’s a biggie on the list. “
Key Takeaways
- Embed ED&I in governance: A live action plan, Board backing and regular review are essential to sustained change.
- Open access and opportunities: Equal competition structures and shared spaces drive cultural integration.
- Build allies and communicate clearly: Engage key stakeholders, tell the story consistently and maintain momentum.
