Singapore: The Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) has signed up with The R&A’s Women in Golf Charter with a view to achieving gender balance and a more inclusive culture within the golfing industry in the region.

In joining the Charter, the AGIF, the region’s umbrella golfing body, has committed to a variety of initiatives aimed at encouraging female participation and leadership in all areas of the industry.

“The Asian Golf Industry Federation is committed to supporting The R&A and the Women in Golf Charter,” said Richard Walne, President of the Federation, a not-for-profit organisation now into its second decade.

“Working closely with the governing bodies and organisations in Asia, we will strive to encourage female participation and leadership in all areas of the golf industry,” added Walne.

Formed in 2010, the AGIF has members and partners involved in all facets of the industry throughout Asia. The Federation seeks to assist the golf industry in Asia to take the next step in development toward a sustainable industry.

Walne added: “There are clear and demonstrated benefits to growing the sport through increased engagement of women in participation, on committees, in management and leadership positions and this extends to women who are actively involved in the profession of agronomy and club management.”

In support of The R&A-led Women in Golf Charter, the AGIF will commit to the following specific actions to increase the number of women engaged in the industry:

• Encourage more women into turf management as a career, through actively engaging with the AGIF Certificate in Greenkeeping programme.
• Encourage more women into operations management as a career, through actively engaging with the CMAA Certified Club Manager programme.
• Strongly promoting and advocating for more women and girls playing, working and volunteering in golf.
• Encourage clubs, facilities and golf stakeholders around Asia to be more welcoming and accessible for women and girls.
• Advocate for increased opportunities for women in governance at all levels of golf.
• Establish an AGIF Women in Sports programme as a key initiative for developing a platform for females in the golf industry.
• Appoint at least two females on the Board of Directors at the next annual general meeting, with further increases in the following years.

Among the signatories to The R&A Women in Golf Charter are The PGA of Great Britain & Ireland, Sports Marketing Surveys and Syngenta, all members of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

This year the AGIF launched a new initiative that shines the spotlight on females in the sporting world.

Over the coming months, a broad spectrum of women who have stamped an indelible mark on sport – as competitors, leaders, pioneers and role models – will be featured in the Women in Sports series.

The exclusive interviews are being conducted by AGIF Board Member Karen Proctor, Director of Sales – APAC with Textron Specialized Vehicles.

Proctor said: “I’m proud and honoured to be involved in this AGIF project and to have the opportunity to meet with some extraordinary women and discover how their careers have evolved, what makes them tick and how they find a work-play balance.

“As well as striving to find out what drives and motivates them, and who are the people that have positively influenced their careers, we’ll be asking what advice they’d pass on to those who would like to follow in their footsteps.”