There’s a line I keep coming back to: I’m not trying to tear down tradition. I’m just asking for the same access, the same visibility, the same chance to compete and connect.
I wrote that in The Telegraph last month, after what felt like a lifetime of biting my tongue. Since then, my inbox has been full: messages from scratch golfers sidelined from their club’s flagship events, women who’ve burned through annual leave just to play, and younger players quietly wondering if they’re the problem or if the system is.
For many women, Tuesday wasn’t just a tee time. It was hard-won ground. Especially for older generations, that midweek slot offered something vital: structure, connection, and a sense of belonging. At a time when women paid lower fees, had limited tee-time access, and were treated as guests rather than members, Tuesday was theirs. And it mattered. It created community and safety in clubs that often didn’t feel welcoming.
Becky Gee uses most of her annual leave to compete in golf events
(Image credit: Becky Gee)
But what was once a lifeline has, in many places, become a limit. Too often, Tuesday is now held up as proof that women already have “their day,” and used as a shield against progress and a reason not to offer more. And the assumption that Tuesday works for everyone? It doesn’t. The problem isn’t tradition. It’s that tradition hasn’t evolved.
I grew up playing at a course where weekday and weekend competitions were open to everyone. No ladies’ day. No gatekeeping. Just golf. The women’s section thrived not because it had its own slot, but because it was part of the club’s core.
That experience left me with two things: a clear view of how golf thrives when it’s built around modern lives, and utter bewilderment that some traditional clubs still behave as if working women don’t exist. Often doing so with impunity, as if no one expects better.
Becky Gee on the golf course with her labrador, Luffy
(Image credit: Becky Gee)
At my current club, most events now have a weekend option. But two of the most prestigious women’s competitions remain locked to a Tuesday with no alternative. And that’s not unusual.
This year, I’ve used most of my annual leave just to compete, whether that’s club fixtures or external…
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