According to the National Golf Foundation, more women are playing golf than ever. In 2022, there were around 6.4 million female golfers, compared to three years prior when there were around 5.6 million. As female players grow in visibility and popularity, celebrating women’s golf is a great way to highlight their achievements.
Join the Colonial Women’s Golf Association (CWGA) Opening Day Scramble happening on April 26, 2025. Here’s a look at the history of ladies embracing this sport and how attending golf events for women can benefit you.
The rich history of women’s golf began in 1867 in Scotland, where a group of pioneering ladies worked together to form the first women’s golf club in history. It was called the Ladies’ Club of St. Andrews. Many of the leaders who formed the club were the wives and daughters of men who were members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.
Certain organizations were created to advocate for female players and organize competitive events for these individuals to help ensure they were more seen and respected. In 1893, the Ladies Golf Union was formed in the U.K. This was the first organization meant only for females. Here, they introduced the first Women’s Amateur Championship, Ladies British Open Amateur Championship and Girl’s British Open Amateur Championship. The Ladies’ Golf Union later merged with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews in 2017.
Female match plays in the U.S. started with the formation of the Women’s Professional Golf Association (WPGA) in 1944 and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) in 1950. Their goals were to provide structure to their competitions and foster interest in them. Organized championships and tournaments helped the sport gain more recognition.
The LPGA included legendary female players like Babe Zaharias, Patty Berg and Betty Jameson. The association also went on to be the governing body for these athletes and expanded to include international players. This helped develop and grow women’s golf into the global and inclusive sport it is today.
Women’s golf associations play a pivotal role in bringing diversity and inclusion to these sports clubs, ensuring that they remain accessible and welcoming to everyone. They can foster a community of female athletes who support one another.
The following are key reasons why these associations are important:
Participating in the CWGA Opening Day Scramble or any women’s sporting event provides many benefits.
These events offer great opportunities for business networking in a more relaxed environment. During these events, you can share ideas, establish meaningful relationships and learn from experienced golfers with influential positions within their organization. You may even be able to build lifelong friendships that extend beyond events and playing hours.
Golf and scramble events often require strategic decision-making, resilience and focus — all qualities that contribute to a great leader. While playing, participants harness the following leadership skills to help their team get great scores:
These skills transcend beyond the golf greens, helping female players step up in different areas of their lives, such as the workplace.
Golf events allow for competitive and casual play, whether it’s a friendly competition with fellow players or competing with yourself to improve your golfing skills.
Chances for personal achievements while playing against other teams create excitement and build your confidence as a player.
Attending women’s golf events is an excellent opportunity to participate in local and regional events. These gatherings help cultivate a stronger community and get more ladies excited about new initiatives, tournaments and events.
Scrambles are an awesome opportunity to reduce stress and improve your concentration and focus. As you take a break from your daily routine, you get to enjoy nature and socialize with other female players. This is a great way to uplift your mood and connect with people who are happy to support you and keep you company on and off the golf course.
Golfing is a game — and playing should be fun! Going to women’s golf outings is a chance to relax, unwind, mingle and fit more enjoyment into your busy schedule.
The Colonial Golf & Tennis Club is hosting the Colonial Women’s Golf Association Opening Day Scramble on April 26, 2025.
Opening day scrambles are one of the best occasions for female players to socialize, enjoy friendly competition and celebrate the inclusivity of the sport today. During this event, we encourage female players of different abilities to play in teams as a fun light game while enjoying one another’s company.
Together, you’ll be bringing unique strengths to the team while gaining and sharing experiences to promote mutual growth. The CWGA will host various events following the opening day scramble, such as nine-hole and 18-hole couples events and tournaments.
Golf scramble events offer a meaningful way to build lasting relationships and take a break to enjoy yourself. The Colonial Golf & Tennis Club Women’s Golf Association aims to create an inclusive and welcoming community for women in the sport, regardless of their skill levels.
Whether you’re looking to foster personal growth or pursue friendly competitions, our CWGA Opening Day Scramble is an event we aim to ensure each golfer feels supported, inspired and valued whether on the greens and beyond.
To join our Women’s Golf Association or register for the event, see our CWGA schedule and fill out a contact form today.