Fall is rapidly approaching in Calgary – the leaves are turning, the sun takes longer to warm up, and recently I woke up to frosted rooftops. For runners, we can’t wait for cooler temperatures, the perfect combination of shorts and long-sleeved shirts. However, depending on your sport of choice and where you live, fall marks the beginning of the end. I’m talking about golf season.
I was never interested in golfing. My memories of golf as a kid were roasting in the sun in a golf cart, next to my sister and grandma, while my papa played and grumbled to himself. It’s difficult to learn, it’s expensive, and the season is brief in chilly Alberta. However, my other half is an avid, talented, and lifelong golfer. After we started dating, he almost immediately encouraged me to start playing (I mostly tried to avoid the subject). For our first Christmas together, he surprised me with a set of golf clubs, custom ordered in pink, with a golf bag to match. Okay, I guess it’s time to learn, I thought.
However, learning to golf is not like running. It’s not as simple as putting one foot in front of the other. In Alberta, where you can golf for only a few months of the year, it’s difficult to progress your skills. If the weather cooperates, you start playing in mid-May, and once you get into a groove, it’s time to put the clubs away again for the next eight months. While it was great to have my own set of clubs, I wasn’t playing regularly, and I struggled to improve.
After a few consecutive summers of this frustrating pattern, I decided it was time to join a women’s golf league. It would encourage me to play on a regular basis, and maybe I would get somewhat good at golf. A quick Google search found Golfaround, a women’s league in my city, and they turned out to be fantastic. Run by a mother and daughter team, they are inclusive and encouraging. From beginner golfers to 9-5 working gals to active retirees, there is an option for everyone to play on a weekly basis. The league takes care of booking tee times and coordinating foursomes. All you do is pick your course each week and show up. Membership includes a set of lessons to kick off the season, and there are additional events and weekend golf getaways throughout the summer.
I continued to join this league every summer for the next five years. It’s easy, it’s supportive, and most of all, it’s fun. Just like with running, if you don’t enjoy it, then why do it? I love getting outside for a few hours on a weekday evening, meeting other women and having some laughs.
Golf is a great combination of cross training and a rest day. I love to golf on the day after my long run, because it enables me to walk around for a few hours and work out the kinks in my legs. It doesn’t have to be strenuous or high impact, but it’s still good exercise and gives you a few hours of fresh air.
I decided not to join the league this year, because of life reasons – including house hunting, a different job location, and an unreliable car in the spring. I’ve had a great experience and I highly recommend any woman, who is even remotely interested in golf, to join a women’s league. Golf is a male-dominated sport and I think we have an opportunity to change that.
Try a trusty Google search, like I did, to find a women’s golf league in your area. Take a few lessons and check out local public golf courses. Bring your daughter, mother, or girlfriend with you. If you’re looking for fellow female golfers, then ask around at work, your community association, your running friends or workout buddies, or post on your social media pages. There are other women like you out there, who are interested in golf but maybe not sure how or where to start. All you have to do is reach out and find each other.