Golf Revolution Overlooked by GM ? Bring on the Girls

[Scadge]

I always look forward to each issue of GM and struggle to keep it out of my boy's hands long enough to read it and I understand that it is a business and has to appeal to the core readership so change is difficult but I really think it's time, if only for one month, to bring on the girls !

Reading GM (as I do) you would be forgiven for not noticing that there is a huge and exciting revolution currently underway in British and Irish ladies with a crop of talent hitting the professional, amateur and US college golfing ranks the likes of which we have never seen before.

Having won the Curtis Cup, I would really like to see a series of articles looking at for example Charlotte Ellis, Emily Taylor, Charley Hull and Holly Clyburn as they embark on the 2013 tour. Charley Hull easily made the cut in a ladies major as a 16 year old last year.

Also young sports personality of the year 2011 Lauren Taylor is about to take the US college scene by storm.

Then we are forgetting Georgia Hall, Bronte Law and Stephanie Meadow all of whom are in the top 10 of the ladies world amateur rankings. Oh and if you hadn't got the picture yet, what about the MacGuire twins both of whom can win massive tournaments (and Leona only plays of +5).

So Mike, how about it, give us some articles tracking the progress of these superstars in the making, don't wait till they are old news, we could learn from their attitude (and they have some attitude) and swings. So no excuses now - BRING ON THE GIRLS.

 

[virtuocity]

Before taking up golf, I would never have watched women's golf. Since the bug bit me though, I find it really enjoyable.

I will never be able to replicate a Tiger or Rory swing, but elite women golfers tend to have swings which good amateur males can replicate with practice.

Good post by the OP.

 

[full_throttle]

Both Holly Clyburn and Kelly Tidy tweet regulary, I'm sure a question/answer session, with both or either woudn't be too hard for Mike to arrange.

 

[Hacker Khan]

That's bizarre as I was thinking exactly the same thing when reading the current GM. Reading (admittedly at times interesting) articles on Barry Lane, Ivor Robson, Greig Hutcheon (perhaps it was just me but I was a bit, 'who?') and even Ernie, I nearly had to check I hadn't got SAGA magazine by mistake.

Aside from the rather puerile reason that most of them are much nicer to look at than Barry Lane, I for one would certainly have enjoyed reading about some up and coming young female golfers (I don't sound too Saville do I?).

 

[Scadge]

I nearly had to check I hadn't got SAGA magazine by mistake.

Priceless !

 

[Scadge]

When you look at the leaderboard of the Ladies European Tour tournament going on at the moment remember who told you first about the revolution

When are Sky and GM going to realise that watching some of these players is more interesting/relevant than a) watching someone smash it 330 yards every time unlike us club golfers and b) the putting competition in which virtually every putt goes in like the american coverage at the moment (my 9 year old predicts the putts that are going to go in with unerring accuracy - you only ever see a non leader when they hole it).

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Bring on the girls and for this weekend only its okay to say COME ON CHARLEY

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Very good post Scadge.
All golf mags are male dominated, have been for nearly 100 years.
I wonder what percentage of the GM 'writing' team are women and how that compares to the women who buy the magazine and the women who actually play.

 

[MegaSteve]

Sky have covered the ladies european tour in the past... But they were rewarded with poor viewing figures... So, at best, all you'll get now is a highlights program... Won't be long, I believe, before the mens tour goes the same way aside from 'premium' events...

 

[FairwayDodger]

Excellent post scadge! :thup:

I couldn't agree more, although its been discussed on here before and mike does make valid points about core readership. GM does feature some women's golf but never in any great detail.

My subscription is up this month, I think, and I am in two minds about renewing or not. Would be good to see a bit more girls/ladies stuff in there from time to time.

 

[Garush34]

There's women's golf on this week on sky, at 5 and 11 on Thursday. Should be good to watch.

 

[CMAC]

I believe there are specialist Lady Golf magazines which might be one reason there is not a lady golfer section as such in GM, it's certainly covered though but with so much golf to cover it's possibly not near the top of the features list for that reason.

 

[FairwayDodger]

I believe there are specialist Lady Golf magazines which might be one reason there is not a lady golfer section as such in GM, it's certainly covered though but with so much golf to cover it's possibly not near the top of the features list for that reason.

Indeed. Although "lady golfer" is pretty poor IMO. Usually takes me about ten minutes to scan it and read anything that interests me. The reason I might not renew my GM sub is that it's pretty samey each month so don't think the odd feature on the ladies game would go amiss.

Of course, if it's going to turn off 90% of the readership it'd be a problem but sounds like a fair few guys might be interested.....

 

[stevie_r]

I quite like watching ladies golf when it's on.
I was looking at Charley Hull's stats for the LET event that is currently on; over the opening two rounds her FIR was 100%, GIR 94% - simply superb! Average driving distance 255.
If her putting was matching the rest of her game this weekend she would be out of sight.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I am sure MikeH said someothing about this once and it came down to space, and to a certain degree interest, especially when there are specific magazines aimed at lady golfers. That said, the fact that the likes of Carly Booth for example has been a great hit at Golf Live, and the fact that their game is more attuned to the average club golfer, I would suggest the times they are a changing.

Once embargo's on forum events are ligted (please play nicely guys and gals) I would love the chance to go to a clinic or some kind of playing day with some of the top British/European ladies, perhaps tied around an article on the Womens Open. I think it would be a nice change of pace for GM and I am sure those lucky enough to get picked would get a lot from it

 

[TeeItHigh]

If its an issue of space I for one would be happy to forgoe some of the golf course advertisements that seem rather plentiful, ill admit to watching the women's tour with as much interest as the men's 😋 make of that what you will😊

 

[fundy]

Just a 7 under 64 for Charley Hull today then leads by 1 going into the final round

 

[Scadge]

Charley Hull is already a wonderkid and is going to be a superstar. When she was tiny at my former club Kettering she was terrific. When she came to a six counties at my current club she drove the 275 yards ladies 14th and she was a slip of a 14 year old. She is now on top of the LET current event shooting -7 on moving day at 16. This girl is the real deal and she comes from a nice normal family.

To say it doesn't appeal to core readership is poor in my view. I have lots of GMs stacked up and there are only so many rehashes of how to cure a slice or hook, how to hit longer straighter, chip or putt better. The reason I buy is to see the latest trends and to read the interviews with the stars. UK and Irish girls (and ok Lydia Ko) are the latest trend in golf and Charley Hull will be a star and I want to read about it. I want GM to discuss the pros and cons of 14-16 year old prodigies on both mens and womens circuits and to discuss the need for new heroes on the LPGA and LET.

 

[bigslice]

im all for equility but is it not something like less than 20% female membership at clubs? therefore golf mags are geared up for male readership?

 

[Scadge]

im all for equility but is it not something like less than 20% female membership at clubs? therefore golf mags are geared up for male readership?

As for male readership having no general interest in ladies then I think there may be a load of publications which would go out of business if that were genrally the case.

So whilst I agree absolutely with the need for GM to concentrate on commercial reality my question is whether a male readership have no interest in ladies golf if and when there is something special going on. As someone who is only 5"9 and hits the ball only 250 yards I think I can learn a lot from the swing sequencing and mentality of ladies who aren't 6"3 and trying to burst a bicep and pump it 330 yards. I mean really the likes of Alvaro Quiros teach me very little from a nd golf perspective and I would be interested as a male to read interviews with these upcoming stars.

 

[Deke]

I could not agree more Scadge mate! I for one would be happy to see more coverage of the woman's game in the mag,good post sir!