Wheels of change moving faster

Slowly, but surely, it seems that the tide is turning and that square wheels are becoming round ones. In short, the times they are a-changing and women, who for so long had doors slammed in their faces as they strived to break into the golfing business world, are making a huge contribution to the continued expansion of the industry in Ireland.

"Not before time," some people would say. And they would be right because, in terms of sales, women's golf is the single largest growing sector in the industry, the result of a growth which - in this country alone - has seen the number of women playing golf rise by 55 per cent inside the past decade alone.

Such playing-related statistics haven't always been adequately backed up in terms of women in the golfing workplace and it remains very much a male dominated workforce. . . but things are far healthier than they once were.

Change may have been slow about coming but, unquestionably, more women are finding niches for themselves in the golfing workforce: whether it be as administrators in clubs, in areas of marketing (increasingly!) or, in the cut-throat manufacturing arena. The closed shop ain't so closed any longer.

In terms of numbers, arguably the most significant sector is in the number of women who are now working as secretary-managers in golf clubs. Of 378 golf clubs in Ireland, 286 have full-time secretary-managers with a breakdown of 209 male and 77 female. That represents a figure of over 27 per cent which, although still in the minority, is a significant advance on a decade ago.

In many ways, Wilma Erskine - the secretary-manager at Royal Portrush - was one of the pioneers, taking over the responsibility at one of the traditional clubs and, so, providing inspiration to others. If a perceived bastion of male dominance could be infiltrated, so to speak, then why not others?

And it certainly seems to be the area of club administration and marketing where there are an increasing number of women taking up the tasks.

When it comes to professionals, certainly on the tour front with Aideen Rogers in effect the only full-time player on the circuit, women are very much in the shade.

But, while the vast majority of club professionals are men, a number of women have made their mark: for instance, Leslie Callan is head professional at Galgorm Castle, while Lynn Sweeney, based at Glenlo Abbey, has established a reputation as one of the top teaching professionals. The Irish PGA has long espoused an equal opportunities policy.

Elsewhere, the policy hasn't always been as clearcut and women have had to force the issue themselves.

Oonagh Purfield, sales manager (Ireland) with MacGregor Golf, is someone who has managed to find a niche in the highly-competitive club manufacturing industry. However, she is the first to admit that a golfing background - which includes representing Ireland at international level - has helped.

"The golf industry is generally regarded as a man's industry," she admitted, "and there were times when it was hard to see women getting to the top. I believe that has changed. Like any job, once you're committed, put in the effort and show that you know the business, you'll be rewarded."

Purfield's route into the golf industry came via bloodstock agents Tattersalls. "I'd always wanted to work in golf - but the areas were fairly limited: manufacturing, retail, corporate. I have always been interested in the making of clubs and, so, when the opportunity arose to join MacGregor, I took it."

Did she encounter any barriers, a female breaking into what is perceived as a man's world? "No barriers, but it helped that I knew a lot of people through actually playing.

I don't get any special treatment because I'm a woman, and I wouldn't expect any. If a trader has a gripe, I'm let know about it. However, having worked in Tattersalls for six years, and dealing with horse traders, if you can deal with them. . . then you can deal with anyone!"

As you'd expect in golf, travel and work go hand in hand. For Purfield, it involves trips to various trade shows around Europe and to the United States as well as within Ireland. So, for someone who is secretary of the Irish Ladies Golf Union, as Teresa Thompson is, travelling to various amateur championships and tournaments is also a way of life.

Again, Thompson - the niece of Harry Bradshaw - also comes from a strong golfing background. However, her route into golf administration came only after working in two different computer companies before she took up a position as assistant secretary with the Leinster Branch of the Golfing Union of Ireland, where she worked for four years.

Last year, however, Thompson succeeded Pat Turvey, who retired, as secretary of the ILGU. "I love my job," confesses Thompson, who, nevertheless, believes that golf in this country is still very much "male orientated."

Changing attitudes can be difficult, but Thompson does believe that there has been a noticeable change in the past ten years which has coincided with the dramatic increase in women playing, from 31,299 in 1991 to a figure close to 48,500 this year. A reflection of the increased workload in the ILGU is that Jenny O'Byrne, herself a low-handicap golfer, has recently joined as full-time assistant secretary.

For her part, Thompson believes that there is even greater scope for women to become part of the booming golf industry, "particularly in the area of secretary-managers in clubs." She added: "Although golf is still male orientated, I envisage even greater openings for women in that area because, for someone interested in golf, it is a great opportunity to work in the game."

While the number of women playing golf has increased substantially over the past decade, that increase hasn't been as obvious in the junior sector. Indeed, in some areas of Dublin, boys outnumber girls by as much as six to one in golf clubs.

"I'd like to see more girls competing and the ILGU is currently working on an initiative to involve schools and clubs which will hopefully see an increase in the number of girls playing," said Thompson, who considers it an important element of her role as secretary of the governing body to effectively spread the gospel.

One side-effect of the Celtic tiger is that an ever-growing number of visitors are coming to Ireland to play golf and that has resulted in a large number of golfing facilities - especially those at the top-end of the market - using their Director of Golf in a marketing capacity as well as handling the corporate end of things.

A case in point is Moira Cassidy, the Director of Golf at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links. A noted player in her own right, Cassidy's administrative background also comes via the GUI Leinster Branch and she believes that the increased number of women working in various ways within the golfing industry is simply due to a desire to do so.

"It's almost as if women have suddenly decided that they want to work in golf, and there is nothing to stop them," said Cassidy. "There is a newer generation who want to work in the golf industry and, increasingly, it seems that a lot of ladies are becoming more and more involved in the marketing side."

Cassidy broke out of the administration of the game at a point five years ago when the tiger economy was only taking off, but she has been involved from the initial stages of the Portmarnock Links' development. "I wanted to be involved in golf: this was close to home and a links course, which was a huge factor, with the benefits of four star plus facilities as well as being close to town and the airport." These days, the success of the enterprise is self-evident.

The wheels of change may be moving faster but it is also ironic that, as women make an ever-increasing contribution to the golf industry in Ireland, there remain clubs where they don't have the right to full membership. Things still have a way to go yet!