The charter is designed to develop a more inclusive culture within golf, to encourage increased participation from women and girls and to allow them to reach their full potential as golfers.

Clubs and counties that sign up to the charter are committed to providing a welcoming and inspiring environment for women to play the sport or to work in the golf industry.

In particular, Hertfordshire has set the following short-term goals:

– Achieve and maintain no less than 30% female representation on their Board of directors.
– Deliver a minimum of six initiatives a year targeting women/girls and families
– Promote the retention pathway for juniors focusing on increased girls’ participation
– Assist clubs in achieving SafeGolf accreditation
– Stabilise female affiliation numbers at 15% of total membership over the first year
– Increase female participation in championships by 5%
– Appoint a charter champion to promote, activate and report on the progress of the aims
Esther Strous has been nominated as the charter champion for the county and is thrilled to take on the role.

She said: “This really puts down on paper our outline policy to drive women’s and girls’ golf in the county. “It’s very detailed and sets strategic goals.

“That was deliberate so that we take ownership of this and show to our clubs what the county is doing, how they can follow our example and why it’s a good idea.

“The more clubs we can get to sign up to the charter the better it will be and our aim is for 15 in the first year.

“We will be holding a club forum in the near future with the charter on the agenda so that we can explain what it is and what they can do to get on board.”

Hertfordshire’s commitment to the Women in Golf charter follows hot on the heels of another achievement. The county was one of the first in England to achieve SafeGolf accreditation which safeguards young people and vulnerable groups involved in golf.

For any further information on the Charter or SafeGolf, please contact Matthew Crowhurst at cdo@hertfordshiregolf.org or call on 07496 653 056

Hertfordshire Golf Women in Golf Charter