Beyond the Boundaries: Women In Golf
Golf has always been more than just a game. It is a community, a space where lifelong friendships are forged, business relationships are built, and the simple joy of a well-struck shot is shared between people who might never have met otherwise. That is the magic of golf, and it is a magic that belongs to everyone.
Recently, I have been thinking a great deal about how we grow that community, and in particular, how we make sure that more women feel genuinely welcome on the course, not as a separate category, but as part of the same wonderful game that so many of us love. The
Mairead Hume Harris Tweed® Golf Collection was founded on a deep respect for the heritage of Scottish golf and a belief that its future is brighter when more people are part of it. That means men and women, beginners and scratch players, corporate golfers and weekend enthusiasts, all sharing the fairways together.
Golf as a Shared Space
One of the things that makes golf so uniquely powerful is the way it brings people together. A four-hour round gives you time to really talk, to laugh, to get to know someone properly. It is no surprise that golf has long been a cornerstone of business networking, 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs play the game, and countless deals and partnerships have been struck somewhere between the first tee and the nineteenth hole.
The opportunity now is to make sure that more women are part of those conversations. Not because golf needs to become something different, but because the game is genuinely better when the group around you is more varied. Many women in business have simply not grown up with golf in the way their male colleagues have, and the result is that they can feel like the course is not quite for them. That is a perception worth gently changing, because once you are out there, golf has a way of getting under your skin in the best possible way.
The simple act of extending an invitation to a colleague, a client, a friend who has never played, can open a door that changes someone's relationship with the sport entirely. Corporate golf days and team outings are a brilliant opportunity to do exactly that.
The Women Shaping the Game
It is also worth celebrating just how many women are already deeply embedded in the golf world, often in roles that do not always get the recognition they deserve. From tour operators designing extraordinary golfing experiences to marketing directors, club managers, coaches. Women are shaping the modern game in every direction.
The numbers tell an encouraging story. Women and girls have accounted for 52% of the net participation gains in golf between 2020 and 2026, The game is growing, and women are driving a significant part of that growth. The industry is beginning to reflect that energy, and it is an exciting time to be part of it.
What Scottish Golf and The Links Network Are Doing
Here in Scotland, "The Home of Golf" there is some genuinely inspiring work underway to make the game more accessible and welcoming for women at every level.
Scottish Golf launched its Women and Girls Strategy 2025–35 with an ambitious goal: to grow female club membership by 50% over the next decade. The strategy focuses on supporting clubs to create welcoming environments, upskilling people working within the sport, and backing Scotland's top female amateurs as they take their first steps into the professional game.
Scottish Golf has also launched 'Join The Drive', a new female coaching development programme bringing together 18 coaches for a 12-month journey of mentoring, leadership development, and networking. The aim is to increase the visibility of female coaches and create clear pathways for women who want to build careers in the game.
The Links Network is another brilliant example of community in action. By partnering with events like Elevate Golf, The Links Network brings together women from across all sectors of the golf industry, from tour operators to equipment brands, from club professionals to event organisers, to connect, share ideas, and support one another. These gatherings are not about separating women from the wider golf world; they are about building confidence, creating connections, and making sure that more women feel ready and excited to take their place in it.
Come and Join Us on the Course
Perhaps the most important thing any of us can do is simply extend the invitation. If you have a colleague who has always been curious about golf but never quite taken the plunge, bring them along. If your company golf day has always been the same group of familiar faces, think about who else might enjoy it. Golf is one of those rare activities that genuinely rewards the beginner — the fresh air, the camaraderie, the satisfaction of that first clean contact, and there is always room for one more in the foursome.
At MAIREAD HUME, our Harris Tweed® Golf Collection is made for golfers who love the tradition of the game and want to look and feel their best on the course, whatever their level. We are proud to be part of a golfing community that is opening its doors wider, and we look forward to seeing more of you out on the links.
The course is for everyone. Come and take your swing.
