The commercial value of female golfers.

The problem is not that some female golfers choose to use their (undebated and slightly envied) sex appeal to their advantage. It's that that really seems to be the only or at least most used way to get media attention to female golfers. German pro golfer Bernd Ritthammer posted on his Twitter or Facebook account a while ago, that he had heard from several female tour players that they had been told to dress sexier to make the game more attractive. Sorry, but that sucks. There's nothing wrong with looking good on the course, especially if you are a pro and have cameras around all the time. But if that's what needed to make the game more attractive for viewers, then something is seriously wrong.
 
Capella said:
The problem is not that some female golfers choose to use their (undebated and slightly envied) sex appeal to their advantage. It's that that really seems to be the only or at least most used way to get media attention to female golfers. German pro golfer Bernd Ritthammer posted on his Twitter or Facebook account a while ago, that he had heard from several female tour players that they had been told to dress sexier to make the game more attractive. Sorry, but that sucks. There's nothing wrong with looking good on the course, especially if you are a pro and have cameras around all the time. But if that's what needed to make the game more attractive for viewers, then something is seriously wrong.
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Is it something wrong with the game or the viewers though?
 
Slab said:
Is it something wrong with the game or the viewers though?
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The viewers.. Nothing wrong with what Carly is doing, but she's pandering to an existing market, not creating it.. Sad as it may be, the vast majority of the Sports viewing public is male. Therefore, if you want to increase your profile, then you have to appeal to the majority.. And we Men are nothing if not predictable in our preferences...
 
You can understand why it happens but it must frustrate some ladies who are better golfers but don't have the exposure of some of the ladies purely based on looks.

Can't blame the ladies for using their looks to gain exposure but I don't think it helps the ladies game
 
David Beckham did it as his playing career tailed off. How many pictures of him in his pants and nothing else.

Is it demeaning and bad for the sport? Yes in my view. If you are good enough then you don't need to do this. Are you a model or a golfer? The best in the world don't do it so I guess you are accepting your limitations and grabbing the money however you can. I'll still look though, as bluewolf said we men are very predictable and easily reeled in.
 
bluewolf said:
The viewers.. Nothing wrong with what Carly is doing, but she's pandering to an existing market, not creating it.. Sad as it may be, the vast majority of the Sports viewing public is male. Therefore, if you want to increase your profile, then you have to appeal to the majority.. And we Men are nothing if not predictable in our preferences...
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Just wondering what the ladies on this forum think about Carly Booth? Tramp, role model, envious, indifferent?
 
delc said:
Just wondering what the ladies on this forum think about Carly Booth? Tramp, role model, envious, indifferent?
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I think it's demeaning and distracts/detracts from her "status" as a professional golfer and athlete. That's just my opinion and perhaps a bit old-fashioned...
 
delc said:
Just wondering what the ladies on this forum think about Carly Booth? Tramp, role model, envious, indifferent?
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Definitely not role model ... not so much because of the sex sells thing, as I said, nothing wrong with making the most of your looks, but I watched her in a few vlogs she did together with Rick Shiels and Peter Finch and she did come across as very naive and totally got on my nerves because she kept babbling all the time. She does seem to have a very nice and outgoing personality, though. Still, there are loads of female pro golfers which I would consider more interesting. I would love to meet Christina Kim, for example, because she seems to have a really great sense of humour (judging from her book and her Twitter account). Or Laura Davies, of course, because she has been in the game so long and must have so many stories to tell.

As I said, that's not saying Carly Booth isn't a nice person or anything. But she is not someone who gets me more interested and involved in golf. On the day I played golf the first time in my life, about three years ago,now (well, played is maybe an exaggeration ... I hit a few balls on the range and played our beginners 6-hole short course), I watched some LPGA tournament on Eurosport afterwards. Lydia Ko was playing in it, she was sixteen and still an amateur. She impressed me so much, the way she stayed absolutely calm and unfazed even under pressure. She has been my absolutely favourite golfer ever since.
 
AmandaJR said:
I think it's demeaning and distracts/detracts from her "status" as a professional golfer and athlete. That's just my opinion and perhaps a bit old-fashioned...
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totally agree. I'm not adverse to people using their looks but its the sport and performance that counts at the end of the day
 
Liverpoolphil said:
Can't blame the ladies for using their looks to gain exposure but I don't think it helps the ladies game
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Doesn't help the ladies game?

It IS the ladies game!

Most don't watch it for the golf, they watch it for the women they are watching playing golf. Big difference.
 
Three said:
Doesn't help the ladies game?

It IS the ladies game!

Most don't watch it for the golf, they watch it for the women they are watching playing golf. Big difference.
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I actually watch the LPGA for the golf.
Some cracking players on tour,it's just a bonus when they're attractive.
 
Three said:
Doesn't help the ladies game?

It IS the ladies game!

Most don't watch it for the golf, they watch it for the women they are watching playing golf. Big difference.
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So when you teach women, are you teaching them to play Golf or to look good?
 
Three said:
Doesn't help the ladies game?

It IS the ladies game!

Most don't watch it for the golf, they watch it for the women they are watching playing golf. Big difference.
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Sorry to disappoint you but i actually watch it for the golf as opposed to perv over the ladies.

The ladies game isnt about looks and it shouldnt be - it should be about their abilities as golfers
 
Liverpoolphil said:
Sorry to disappoint you but i actually watch it for the golf as opposed to perv over the ladies.

The ladies game isnt about looks and it shouldnt be - it should be about their abilities as golfers
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Me too. My 8 year old daughter is about to start lessons this summer. I hope she is welcomed to the club, and made to feel a part of things because of who she is, not what she looks like. And I hope that continues as she gets older, whether she becomes a world beating champion, or a hacker who plays for fun.
 
Liverpoolphil said:
Sorry to disappoint you but i actually watch it for the golf as opposed to perv over the ladies.

The ladies game isnt about looks and it shouldnt be - it should be about their abilities as golfers
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I like watching ladies golf, because apart from anything else, I can almost relate to the game they play, whereas Rory and Bubba and Co are way out of my league. Also, most of the lady golfers have lovely rythmical swings; you can learn a lot from watching them.
 
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