Seventeen Tasmanian clubs have taken the opportunity to undertake Even Par workshops under the auspices of Golf Australia as they work to create equal opportunity environments and encourage women and girls to play. The workshops in Launceston and greater Hobart were facilitated by GA’s Tasmanian golf development manager, Simon Weston, and have already yielded results. Weston pointed out that one of the clubs – Richmond – has already changed its constitution as a result of the workshops, and several others have implemented significant change. “All the clubs were unsure what it all looks like when they started,” said Weston. “But they’ve bought into it and they’ve enjoyed the process.” The Hobart-area clubs included Claremont, Richmond, Kingston Beach, Royal Hobart, Tasmania. In Launceston, the Riverside, Mowbray and Prospect Vale clubs took part, with GA’s female engagement senior manager Chyloe Kurdas dropping in via Zoom call. “These (Launceston) clubs reported having 12 to 20 percent female membership and very few, if any, junior members,” said Kurdas. “All clubs talked about how Even Par has helped them to understand the importance of having an inclusive mindset in bringing more women and girls to the game.” Kurdas said some of the key actions discussed included: - Investing in a new generation of junior female golfers through MyGolf. - Communication of their intent and action to their members, sponsors, and local communities. - Identifying and supporting women at their clubs to become community instructors to assist in the delivery of MyGolf and Get Into Golf. - Implementing multi-day club championships and weekend access to other honour board events for women. - Reviewing their prize structures to be more equitable and not only determined on field size. - Auditing all signage around their clubs and changing language and messaging where required. - Reviewing their constitutions to ensure there is strong female board representation. - Offering shorter competitions and having less emphasis on competition golf. Weston said the Even Par workshops would now be focused on north-west Tasmania. “It’s been great for the clubs to take part,” he said. “It makes them start to think about and they end up realising that they do need to do something.”