I am president of the UVM club golf team and have been playing and competing golf for a long time.
However, I am constantly dismayed by the lack of female participation in tournaments (both leadership and competitive). In every tournament I am the only woman competing in the entire North England Division of the National Collegiate Club Golf Association.
I am well aware that the competition is not for everyone, but there must be at least a requirement of at least one woman on each team. Golf still has a long way to go to make men and women more equal, but that can’t happen if women don’t even get the chance.
When I discussed this topic with members of competing teams in my division, they told me that there were no women in the entire school who played golf. I do not agree!
In addition to making schools more inclusive, the NCCGA must be accommodating to female competitors. While I understand that having women compete is not the norm, this needs to change.
Not only was I the only woman in tournaments, but I was expected to compete on the same tees as the men. That’s not equality! This is a disadvantage! It is scientifically proven that men have different physical advantages than women. This is why women’s t-shirts have never been tipped and never will be.
In addition to competing, I must prove myself as a golfer by combating sexist comments from competitors, NCCGA employees and golf course staff at each tournament.
I’m not the only one who has noticed these blatant acts of sexism in the world of club golf. My male teammates are frustrated by the injustice and have apologized to me. But I’m tired of receiving excuses. I’m tired of people having to apologize for sexist acts they didn’t commit.
Actually, I don’t want an apology. I want this appalling treatment to be recognized and actively work to change it.
Reitz Wishtischin
Burlington
