WOMEN have been recognised as a powerhouse at the Novotel Vines Resort in Western Australia with the entire golf department made up of dynamic females, which is unusual in a traditionally male-dominated sport.
Believed to be the only all-female golf team in Australia, the resort is also one of the few clubs with equal playing rights for women.
With the recent appointment of Sam Hodge as general manager of Golf and Sports, she now heads an all-female team comprising Kristie Jones (operations manager), Krystal Mosca (club membership manager), Trish Gentry (group/corporate golf manager) and Adelle Alberts (leisure and lifestyle manager).
Between them they have amassed close to 60 years of experience in the golf industry. From the beginning, in 1989, The Vines has been an equal opportunity members club. Ladies only, played on a Tuesday to get them started in golf and to join in social activities. Wednesday and Saturday were also available for ladies that wanted to join the competition with the men. Even though they could play with partners or any other man, they still had their own competition.
In July 2017, The Vines introduced credit-based memberships starting at $1250 per annum.
This was an innovative idea for those, especially ladies, who could not justify being a full member either monetary or time-wise.
The club started a women’s only nine-hole competition on a Tuesday to encourage women to come and play and even started a FaceBook community page for Vines lady members to communicate outside of the club.
The club’s golf professional Mark Tibbles had ladies’ clinics running, but women were not joining The Vines rather going to public courses to play.
A ladies committee was able to make themselves known to the ladies in the clinics, and they attended the lessons and explained nine-hole competitions and having a coffee with them after lessons.
Before they went on course, the committee provided course etiquette knowledge, pace of play and rules information.
With the increase in numbers, and many women moving from nine holes to 18 holes, The Vines Resort added more pennant teams to GolfWA.
The established Division 2, Division 5 and WABLGA, was joined by Division 6 and two senior pennant teams.
The Vines Resort is proud of the growth of its female membership, staff and management team and encourages all women who have ever wanted to try their hand at golf to give it a go at one of the introductory classes run by Mark Tibbles.
For more information contact The Vines Golf Club on memberships@vines.com.au or call (08) 9297 3000.
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