By Matt Smith
Cancun, London, Dubai, London (again), Amsterdam, Rome, New York …

It reads like a pro golfer’s tour schedule, but this was the impromptu late-July/early-August travel itinerary for Tuscany Williams, the mastermind behind Women Who Golf — the female-only community platform that is taking social media by storm.

What began as a simple online nosey by Tuscany to try to find some like-minded women to play a round of golf with while on her travels has now become a Facebook phenomenon, with more than 55,000 members that provide a truly worldwide engagement. 

Golf Digest Middle East managed to pin Tuscany down long enough for a chat during her time in Dubai to find out what all the fuss is about.

“The reason why I started it was as a result of a simple online search,” explains Tuscany. “I was trying to find another social group of women golfers that I could slot into and meet some other ladies. I just couldn’t find a thing — there was nothing that existed.

“So Josh (my husband) and I decided to set up this group ‘Women Who Golf’ to try to get some like-minded people together and it was just like — boom! 

“It just went crazy, they just kept coming — women from all over the globe kept joining and joining. 

“It really showed that the demand and interest was there. 

“Take this for example. Some people we met in Costa Rica through the group saw we were in Amsterdam, and we met up, along with some other members from America. It is crazy to think that from a small Facebook group just over three years ago we could have this big group of people from all corners of the globe meet up in Amsterdam.”

The group was established in 2019 and Tuscany was determined it was going to be different from other golf platforms and forums: No abuse, no advertising … and no men.

“What I was doing was what I do in life — create a positive vibe and a really inviting place with no promotions within the group or sponsors,” she says. 

“It is a place where women can come and not only celebrate golf but have a great time doing it as well, without any negativity or people plastering adverts or pushing you to pay a subscription or buy something on the back of it. It is just a social club that has become global. “

And it keeps on growing.

“Almost by mistake, we created this community we people felt safe and as a result everyone wants to get in there,” Tuscany adds. “It is a place where you are not going to be sold to and you are not going to be criticised — there are many sites and platforms that become poisonous with negative comments for the sake of it by the keyboard warriors and knuckle-draggers. That is something that has a zero-per-cent presence on Women Who Golf and that is why everyone enjoys it, and that just brings more, again, like-minded spirits to the ‘club’.

“It doesn’t matter about your personal or political leanings, the site is just a celebration of golf and everyone there has that same interest.”

The women-only policy has also helped create that ‘like-minded spirit’ in the group. 

“One of the biggest things I had growing up playing golf and also with our lifestyle of travelling was there was always this issue of it being hard to meet other women golfers,” explains Tuscany. 

“It felt impossible at times to be able to connect and that’s why I jumped on Facebook to see if there was any solution online.

“As I said, I couldn’t find one and I thought: ‘OK, I will create my own and get a couple of nibbles and make one or two golfing connections.’ Now one or two is more than 55,000.

“The girls love the women-only rule as it is their hub, their den,” Tuscany adds. “One member told me they felt very ‘VIP’ getting into the club.”

“The other feedback I get is how everyone appreciates it costs no one any money to join in and everyone can get all the benefits — be it golfing tips, a pat on the back, a good laugh and even
new friendships.”

The growing community also makes it easier to get a feel for what is good — and bad — in the current game for female golfers.

“I am asked ‘What is it that women want?’ and I don’t need to go to fancy research companies. I just ask, and I have 55,000 women who will tell me: ‘This is what I hate,’ or ‘This is what I love’. And together we can come up with solutions with our hive mind to get a consensus.”

Tuscany’s travels have taken her all over the world and — of course — to Dubai, which has been a long time in coming.

“A while back we played with the head of tourism in Mexico and she talked about Dubai being a really interesting place and a great hub for golf,” Tuscany says. “That was a couple of years ago and it was something that always stuck with me. 

“We always really wanted to come and check it out first-hand. So here we are to experience this progressive place and get a feel for how I can use that to help the female golfing society. Dubai is progressive on all fronts, not just golf, so that helps when it comes to forward-thinking and creative, positive ideas. 

“I was really curious to see how women’s golf is going here, how they are pushing forward. It is so refreshing to see how it is done compared to other countries, where the more traditional route and ‘status quo’ is firmly in place. 

“We have found that clubs around the world can be struggling for female members and participation, particularly younger players. We have been asked by Golf Australia and many others how to get more women into golf. I always say the same thing and that is the one thing I see in Dubai: Fun! 

“The key is making that first experience enjoyable and making the females in particular want to go back. I could see Dubai thinking outside the box and not just pushing the traditional standards for someone to come and join.  

“They have the best courses, the best tech and the best carts, for example, but there is also the social side, with women’s societies, groups and after-golf drinks. Those little aspects make all the difference to leave that positive mark and make players want to return. 

“It’s not just: Go in, get tee-time, play golf, then ‘Bye!’ Forming connections and having a good time is key.”

WWG is also out to give female golfers that level playing field, so to speak, in the clubhouse.

We have been asked how to get more women into golf. I always say the same thing and that is the one thing I see in Dubai: Fun!

“One thing I find, one thing that comes up a lot from girls on the site, is that sometimes at a club they feel like a bit of an afterthought and there are a few things like that that still need to change and be improved,” explains Tuscany. 

“Consider the stereotype: you are a guy and a beginner and you stink it up on your first round. You have a whole support network of guys slapping you on the back and helping you out with a laugh.

“Now if you are a woman in that situation, you have no such support. You feel out of place and it can feel like all the men are laughing at you. What are the odds of that woman coming back? 

“Like you see in Dubai, if there is that network of support from other ladies, I guarantee you she will be back to do better next time rather than go away with this negative feeling and never touch a golf club again. We just need to grow that: Having not just one or two girls you may know at the golf club, but a whole group where you can celebrate your wins, support those who have had a tough day and have a laugh about it at the same time.

“We are doing the same online with Women Who Golf. For example, when a member posts about her first-ever par, they can get over 1,000 likes and nothing but encouraging comments. That feeling is like no other and, again, will only establish a positive feeling towards the game. 

“I recall one girl wrote: ‘I have no one in my social circle I can share this with, and I can post it here and the feeling is amazing.’ While she couldn’t get the pats on the back in person, she was given an explosion of support to help celebrate that achievement. These little stories I hear are what it is all about.”

With members from every continent and as far afield as Canada, Australia, Costa Rica, the UAE, Mexico, Scotland, eastern Europe and eastern Asia, one concern for Tuscany was the communication hurdles. Thanks to a unified love of golf (and a little technology), she needn’t have worried. 

“I initially thought language would be a barrier but there are more members coming in from everywhere. Some of our newest have signed up from Korea and Singapore,” she says. “I recall one member who posted a query in Italian and — thanks to that magic translation button — she got the exact feedback she required. It was a real laugh as it led some of our other members having a bash at Italian and that was a great illustration of what we are all about.”

Tuscany also plays her part in meeting her social media friends in person. 

“One thing we do on our travels is to encourage members to come and meet up for a hit, laugh and meet your fellow members,” she says. “We are off to LA shortly for one such event at TopGolf there, and that should be fun. 

“We are back in Dubai in October and we are planning to have a WWG meet-up. With the TopGolf at Emirates Golf Club, it is an ideal spot, as you don’t need to worry about tee times, numbers or ability, and it creates such a relaxed vibe where I guarantee new friendships will be formed.” 

So, all female golfers in the UAE now know where to head if they want to grow their own group of friends and fellow players — both online and on the golf course.

Sign up at facebook.com/womenwhogolfcommunity
womenwhogolf.net

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