Golf Tour agency aims to grow the female game

POSTED ON May 4, 2017 @ 8:41 am

By Mathilda Andersson

Specifically directed to women, Golf & Tours (G&T) is a recently launched travel company aiming to inspire and motivate more females to get into the game – and to stay in the game.

Taglined ‘Golf tours for ladies, by ladies’, the Sydney based company is offering unique, tailor made golf tours for ladies of all abilities to destinations all across the world.

According to sole founder and Managing Director Ainslie Saunders, a gap in the market became apparent in her six years working within the travel industry. “I’ve learnt what men and women want in a golf tour is quite different,” she said.

“Men seem happy to play up to 36 holes in a day, have some beers at the clubhouse, go to sleep, wake up and repeat. Women generally see golf more as a social activity and that carries through on the golf tours.”

Identifying the lack of social components in other golf travel offerings, Ainslie has based her company around the experience of the destination rather than solely focusing on the golfing experience.

According to Ainslie the G&T trips are not just about playing beautiful golf courses around Australia and all over the world; each tour has a range of non-golfing activities to compliment the destination that the tours travel to.

“Women don’t just want to spend time on a beautiful golf course,” she explained. ”They want to spend time with their girlfriends, get to know new people and make the most out of the destination,”

“The tours we put together are really focused on that. It’s more than just the golf. It’s about going to a restaurant, having local walking tours, wine tours and all other things around the destination.”

Having launched their maiden website just last week, G&T already have trips planned for the second half of the year, with teaching professional Tiffany Mika hosting trips to the Gold Coast and Queenstown in July and November respectively.

The company also has an Auckland tour on schedule for September as part of their collaboration with the ALPG.

Targeting all skill levels, G&T also offers short beginner tours (2-3 days) for those who are just starting out or returning to the game, with an emphasis on golf clinics and lessons. The aim is to give ladies the confidence to continue to play at clubs after the tour – and to keep playing.

Recently attending the Swing Fit program as a novice golfer herself, Ainslie is passionate about growing the game and believes there is a real place for women on the golf course.

“Golf is one of the last male bastions and I feel passionately about getting more women into the game,” she said.

“It’s is such a great sport that has the ability to enrich peoples’ lives through building relationships and creating long lasting friendships,”

“Now is the time to get more women into golf and I think that, just like in women’s cricket, it is finally gaining some momentum.