Why should men and children have all the fun?” enquires Peter Hudson, a locally based ‘peak performance’ golf coach, sports psychologist and keen promoter of women’s golf. And yes he is talking about golf and what women may be missing out on by not playing. 

The first reason to consider taking up golf is simple ……… having fun. Every mum knows how important it is for kids to have free time to play, so why not allow a few hours of fun yourself? Many of my women golf clients tell me that the game keeps them both mentally and physically fit – in shape to cope with challenges at home and work. Plus, a happy mum makes for a happy family.

When you’ve had a stressful day, nothing clears your mind better than a round of golf. Fresh air, exercise, picturing your mother-in law, partner or boss’s head on your golf tee while you play can do wonders for your mental health!And, as a qualified sports psychologist, hypnotherapist and Neuro Linguistic Programming trainer, Peter should know.

Playing golf also means exercise. Walk eighteen holes and you’ve just walked five miles. If you carry your clubs, you’re burning more than 600 calories per round. 600 calories and you won’t even notice the pounds disappearing, confirms Peter,Zumba, Pilates, yoga and the gym pale into insignificance compared to the level of fitness you can achieve with golf.

I’ve seen new relationships spawning like tadpoles on and around the golf course because you can choose to enjoy the company of new or old friends for 4-5 hours at a time. One single female colleague of mine even joined a large golf club near Colchester and was married to a handsome stock broker within a year!

For the business woman, there’s the networking aspect to consider. Women are naturally better networkers then men - so let’s not allow the men to completely dominate golf’s networking opportunities. There is so much business to be done on the golf course, let alone enjoying those invitations to free days out that the men are enjoying at your expense. I guarantee just being there, whether you are a strong player or improving, brings a level of respect.

Golf also allows everyone to play on a level playing field - the handicap system means you could theoretically compete effectively with Tiger Woods very soon after taking up the game (although he may prove to be a handful off the course as well?!)

Well, with Peter presenting us with such a persuasive case to consider taking up the game, Mwaah next turned to one of our favourite local ladies who we knew had recently got smitten with the golfing bug. We sent Maria Ewering-Norris (Mwaah’s fabulous January 2012 Cover Girl) on a mission to find some new golfing friends at a selection of our region’s local golf clubs and to report back her first hand experience of how women are making inroads into this traditionally male dominated pastime.

Maria is 54, lives in Hatfield Heath, is married to Jim and has 2 grown up daughters. She started playing golf about 18 months ago with her friend Carol. Both their partners are keen golfers, so these gregarious girls decided to try it to see if it was as good as their men said it was!

We began at a modest Par 3 Golf Course in North Weald (www.northwealdgolfclub.co.uk) and although we found it difficult at first we really enjoyed it. Now we have progressed to the more challenging Par 3 course at Hobbs Cross in Epping (www.hobbscrossgolfcentre.com) and have
been joined by two other friends and play on a regular basis, says Maria.

During the week I travel with work, so meeting up with Carol, Caroline and Vicki for a game of golf gives us a chance to catch up on the gossip – both on the course and at the ‘19th hole’ (that’s the clubhouse for the uninitiated!).

This summer we are all going to Spain for a few days to a golf and spa resort. Our husbands claim they will be playing every day, but we’ll also have a few games - maybe even beat the boys!

For me playing golf is relaxation, enjoyment and exercise rolled into one, and it even helps in my work as I have been invited out a few times to take part in corporate golf days which help me build client relationships. I am now taking lessons, recently with Kevin Lunt at Great Hadham Golf and Country Club to improve my golf and as soon as I feel that I can manage an 18 hole course, I will join a local club”.

But which club is the question?

Mwaah’s mission gave Maria the perfect opportunity to tee up her options. First she spoke with Rita Newman, not only a keen golfer of 20 years but also Company Director of Blakes Golf Course in North Weald (www.blakesgolfclub.com) and an active member at Stapleford Golf Course too (www.staplefordabbottsgolf.co.uk).

62 year old Rita from Epping explains that she took up golf when her 3 children (she now has 6 grandchildren) were off her hands and she found time for herself.I have always been sporty and played a lot of tennis and squash in my younger days. Golf gave me a reason to spend some quality time with my golfplaying husband. Now I play once or twice a week with a group of 8 friends, and afterwards we enjoy lunch or dinner together. A couple of times a year we all go away on a golfing holiday. It’s a brilliantly social sport you can get good at, even when you’re older.

Carol Gunn, 57, from Hatfield Heath is retired but looks after her grandson 3 days a week. Taking up the game 2 years ago, she echoes Rita’s argument that golf is a social sport without an age barrier. I play at Great Hadham Golf and Country Club (www.ghgcc.co.uk) where more experienced lady golfers have been happy to take me out on the course to teach me the etiquette and the feel for it, as we all know there are a few do’s and don’ts. Through golf I have certainly met lots of new people and made a lot of friends. Last year I had a heart by-pass operation and the hospital recommended some gentle exercise. I found golf ideal, as I find just walking boring. The Lady members at Hadham Golf club have been very supportive and helpful with novices like me. The new 9 hole Par 3 Course has just opened and I’ve enjoyed the challenge.

Having a great course with excellent facilities and within a short drive is a possibility for most women living within our region. With 4 children, Ongar based 48 year old Nuei Dick found it difficult to maintain her interest in golf until her clan were all at secondary school.

But Toot Hill Golf Club (in the aptly named ‘Chipping’ Ongar) proved the perfect local course for Nuei to immerse herself back into the swing of things (www.toothillgolfclub.co.uk)There are around 20 female members at Toot Hill from the age of 35 through to 80. In the beginning I was very nervous, but I soon realized that nobody judged or criticized you so I relaxed and began to enjoy my golf. A few times a year we play friendly games with lady members from different clubs, again that gives you the chance to meet new friends. Walking round the course is good exercise - I even manage to play a round of golf with my husband at weekends, giving us some time together without the children.

Maria’s final port of call was Manor of Groves Hotel, Golf and Country Club in High Wych, Sawbridgeworth (www.manorofgroves.com) – a location with a healthy reputation for combining good golf with first class social events for women. Maria met Jackie Jarvis, 56, a Company Director at family run Jarvis Carpentry and Joinery in Harlow. So she should know how to use a wood I guess!

As a previous Lady Captain at Manor of Groves, Jackie arranged a lot of social evenings, outings and friendly games with other clubs. Her introduction to the sport involved a course of around 10 lessons, enabling her to share regular games with Gary, her golf keen husband and with friends.

When I play, I can relax and enjoy the beautiful countryside around me, the bonus is the exercise, Jackie tells us.I’ve now joined Canons Brook Golf Club in Harlow (www.canonsbrook. com) because it is nearer to my work and I can play a few holes after work when I am on my way home. If anything, it’s more serious and competitive but both clubs offer a big welcome and superb facilities for ladies