Making women welcome the next priority for Irish golf

Golf Ireland has already exceeded the Government-mandated minimum requirement for female board representation on national governing bodies to reach 40 per cent by the end of this year

LEADING LIGHT:  Leona Maguire of Ireland signs autographs for spectators after finishing her round during round four of the KPMG Women's Irish Open Golf Championship at Dromoland Castle in Clare. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Golf Ireland’s mission to get girls and women into golf steps up a notch on Tuesday with the governing body’s first Chip & Chat evening.

The launch of what Golf Ireland have described as the island’s first women’s social golf community, which tees off at Leopardstown Driving Range in south Dublin from 7-9pm may not sound like a giant leap forward for the hearts and minds of Irish females, but to chief executive Mark Kennelly and his staff the measure is part of a multi-pillar approach to growing the game and addressing a gender imbalance.