Women-Friendly Golf Courses - Part I
How the Top Golf Courses Score on Our Women-Friendly Ratings
Pine Valley Golf Club, Cypress Point Club, and Augusta National Golf Club are respectively rated 1st, 2nd & 3rd in Golf Magazine’s "Top 100 Courses" issue. It is important to note, however, that out of the 100-judge panel, "Golf Magazine" only saw fit to invite four women golfers (yes, only four) to participate. Upon this discovery, we thought that their results might be a tad bit skewed, so we have taken it upon ourselves to give you the skinny on whether these courses are under par on our Golf Course Gold Standards for Women Golfers Rating Scale.
The following are the five categories against which these US golf courses were held as they relate to women:
- The Beginning Golf Experience
- Game Options
- The Pro Shop
- Forward Tees
- Equal Accessibility of the Course
Read on . . . you might be surprised at what we found!
Pine Valley Golf Club
Pine Valley, New Jersey
1/2 Star
Located in Pine Valley, New Jersey, this golf course was designed by George Crump & HS Colt in 1918. World renowned for its beauty and the diversity of each hole, Pine Valley is almost always ranked #1 on Golf Magazine’s top 100. This is how close to #1 it ranks for women:
- The Beginning Golf Experience
Since Pine Valley does not accept women as members, there is absolutely no beginning experience for women golfers at all.
No Star - Game Options
There are no short game (or really any other) options for women at Pine Valley. If you want to play this golf course, you’ll play it the old-fashioned way – all 18 holes over 3-4 hours – and they’ll still expect you to have dinner on the table when they get home.
No star. - The Pro Shop
When I called to find out whether the pro shop at Pine Valley offered any women's equipment or clothing, they hung up on me. I’ll take that a as a “no.”
No star. - Forward Tees
If you manage to make it to Pine Valley during “Women’s Hours” on Sunday, you have the option of the championship tee and the regular tee, which is still difficult for some of the most skilled men, let alone women golfers who might have a hard time making it to the green at all and still have room on the scorecard with that yardage.
We’ll give Pine Valley a ¼ star for at least having more than one choice. - Equal Accessibility of the Course
Annika Sorenstam wanted to play at Pine Valley on a weekday. They made even her wait until Sunday after 1pm, when they shout “woman on the floor” and take down the “No Girls Allowed” sign from the gate for a few hours.
We will give them ¼ star for effort.
Cypress Point Golf Club
Pebble Beach, California
3 3/4 Stars
On the books, architect Alister MacKenzie designed this famous US golf course in 1928. What the books rarely point out, however, is that Marion Hollins, a high-profile woman golfer of the time, was heavily involved in both its design and financial backing. Pebble Beach, California is home to this celebrated US golf course and Golf Magazine calls it #2.
- The Beginning Golf Experience
Although Cypress Point does not cater to beginning women golfers, they are not excluded from membership. There is a year round teaching pro that is available to both men and women.
We'll give Cypress Point a ¾ star for being inclusive. - Game Options
Cypress Point does not publicize any special game options for women on a tight schedule and tee times are not welcome. However, there is a driving range where women can make a few good drives on their lunch break.
We'll offer a ½ star for light to moderate convenience. - The Pro Shop
The pro shop at Cypress Point does offer clothing for women. However, the collection is extremely limited in that it is entirely possible to count the number of pieces on your fingers and toes. There are no women staff at the pro shop and they do not offer equipment for women golfers.
Because Cypress Point took a minute to realize that women golfers exist, we'll give them a ½ star. - Equal Accessibility of the Course
In addition to the five-tee layout, which speaks volumes about where this US golf course is headed, Cypress Point publishes its internal club champions – both men and women.
Again, a full star for having a woman golfer as a club champion.
Augusta National Golf Club
Augusta, Georgia
1/4 Star
Rated #3 by Golf Magazine, Augusta National Golf Club is well-known, not only for its exclusivity but specifically for the the public challenge against its all-male stance submitted by the National Council of Women's Organizations in 2003. To date, there has been no public statement about when and if women will be admitted as members, except to reply “that timetable will be ours, and not at the point of a bayonet.” Interestingly, this Augusta, Georgia golf course was designed by Alister MacKenzie in 1933, who was commissioned to do the job by none other than our steadfast woman golfer, Marion Hollins. We can only assume that Marion was able to play on her own at this US golf course since she is the one who financed its architecture and even designed a bit of it herself. However, let's not jump the gun here.
- The Beginning Golf Experience
Since women are not allowed to be members, there is no such thing as a beginning golf experience for women golfers at Augusta.
No star. - Game Options
There are no options for women, let alone game options.
No star. - The Pro Shop
Women golfers are not allowed in the pro shop, and actually, unless you are a member or with a member, you are barred from entrance. We can only assume that there is nothing for us in there anyway. Even during the Masters, the pro shop is off limits except to members of the Augusta Secret Society.
No star. - Forward Tees
Since this golf course is not really “supposed” to be played by women, why would they add any women-friendly amenities?
No star. - Equal Accessibility of the Course
Women golfers are allowed on the golf course only if they are accompanied and closely supervised by a male member. There is one exception: if you really, really, really want to gain entrance to this highly independent, separatist US golf course, you can serve as a male golfer's caddy.
We'll give them ¼ star for throwing us a bone. - One final note on Augusta:
"The club's lack of female membership received national attention in 2002 when Martha Burk, chairperson of the National Council of Women's Organizations, publicly challenged the club's stance. Pressure placed upon corporate sponsors of The Masters over the 2002 controversy led the Club to voluntarily broadcast the 2003 and 2004 tournaments without commercials. The club has women on the waiting list to become members, but will not allow them to circumvent the regular process to appease the public." . . . Wikipedia.org (July 2009)
While there are plenty of women-friendly U.S. golf courses out there, Golf Magazine's top three leave a bit to be desired when it comes to women golfers! What a shame. In this day and age, to discriminate against women from playing a game which brings joy (for the most part) to all and even unites many couples - is just plain stupid. If they claim we slow them down, then put a handicap max on us (and all the men as well).