Tournament time & prize money do not add up for many Scottish women golfers

It all begins by getting females to take that first swing or putt.

Scottish Golf say that out of 170,000 golf club members in the country, 22,500 are women, with 2,600 of those girls.

Carol Harvey, the women and young people development officer for the governing body, says women’s perception of the game is a huge barrier to getting more signed up.

“It’s maybe the experience they’ve had in the past or expect to have when they go out on a course,” she told BBC Scotland.

“So part of our job is to break down these barriers and provide a welcoming environment.”

She points to the upcoming mixed team events at the inaugural European Championships at Gleneagles as the ideal opportunity to attract more women, girls and young people.

“We’re hoping we’ll see a boost in numbers in our clubs as a result and more people, particularly women, playing the game,” she said.