Singapore: The Singapore Golf Association (SGA) and the Singapore Ladies Golf Association (SLGA) have reaffirmed their commitment to The R&A’s Women in Golf Charter.

The key objectives under the Charter are to increase female participation in golf, ensure representation and inclusion at the board level, host regular activities for women and enhance high performance.

At a signing ceremony at the Seletar Country Club during this week’s SLGA Cup, the SGA and SLGA said they’ll work collaboratively to meet these objectives and continuously review and adapt strategies to ensure the effective implementation of the Women in Golf Charter.

These include striving for a 15% increase in women registered in the SGA Central Handicapping System, from 8,000 to 9,200 over the next three years, and increasing the proportion of junior female golfers participating at SGA junior golf activities from 30% to 40% over the same period.

Apart from having at least one representative from SLGA included on the SGA Executive Board, the Charter also aims to increase female engagement by involving more women in golf events, clinics, technical seminars, networking sessions and corporate social responsibility activities.

High-performance initiatives will be enhanced where the aim is to increase the number of female golfers listed on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) by 20% within three years (from 19 to 23).

Targets have also been set for the number of female golfers ranked within the top-500 on WAGR to increase from three to five players, within three years and have two female golfers qualify for the 2028 and/or 2032 Olympics.

At the club level, Singapore Island Country Club demonstrated its commitment to growing golf among women and girls by signing the Charter when it hosted the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship in 2023.

Seletar Country Club has also pledged its commitment to the Charter with the hosting of the SLGA Cup this week.

Tan Chong Huat, President of the SGA, said: “Golf is an inclusive sport and we certainly want to encourage and support more women to play and excel in the sport.

“The R&A Women in Golf Charter provides that additional platform for us to achieve that objective and we are delighted to be working closely with the SLGA to do that.”

Gillian Sim, President of the SLGA, added: “The popularity of women’s golf in Singapore is on the rise today. But through The R&A’s Women in Golf Charter, we are confident of further raising the participation of women in golf and also inspiring them to take on a more active role in the sport – whether it’s inside or outside the ropes.

“Together with the SGA, the SLGA will be working with more clubs to encourage them to sign up to the Charter.”

*The Singapore Golf Association (Associate Business) and Singapore Island Country Club (Facility) are members of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.