Women’s golf in Ireland is undergoing a transformation. In 2025, the number of women playing golf passed 40,000, girls’ participation rose above 5,000, and a record 175 clubs achieved Gold Standard in the Women in Golf Charter.

As part of our series looking at the key advances and achievements in the sport through 2025, this is today’s area of focus.

This cultural shift is captured under the umbrella of LevelPar, Golf Ireland’s programme for women and girls. What makes this growth unique is its depth: more women playing, more women joining, more women leading, and more girls experiencing golf for the first time.

Get into Golf: The Pipeline Powerhouse

Central to this success is Get into Golf, the beginner programme that 136 clubs ran in 2025. With 3,487 participants and a 59% conversion rate, it remains one of the most effective entry programmes in Irish sport.

The success is rooted in its design:

  • group-based
  • social
  • supportive
  • low-pressure
  • club-led

For many women, it offers a re-entry or first entry into sport in a comfortable, inclusive environment.

The Women in Golf Charter: Progress Through Standards

The surge to 175 Gold Standard clubs marks a major milestone. To achieve this, clubs must demonstrate commitments across:

  • equal access
  • leadership representation
  • competition formats
  • volunteer opportunities
  • safeguarding
  • facilities access

The charter has changed club culture. Women now have more influence over decision-making, more visibility in competitions, and better support pathways.

Chip & Chat: Social Golf for Modern Lives

Golf Ireland’s Chip & Chat series has expanded to 13 venues across all regions. These events allow women to enjoy golf in a non-competitive, social setting — perfect for newcomers who may be intimidated by traditional club structures.

Girls’ Pathways: Building Community, Confidence and Belonging

A review of girls’ golf programmes led to 125 clubs receiving support to deliver tailored initiatives. The rise of girls’ festivals, which saw 20 events delivered in 2025, has created spaces for fun, friendship and skill development outside of formal competition.

The KPMG Women’s Irish Open

2025 was the fourth year since the return of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open and the second year of it being played at Carton House.  The winner Lottie Woad, has the potential already to go on to being one of the greats of the game.

There were a record 16 Irish players that took part, the number was only two back in 2022, and many of those have been inspired by seeing the viability of playing on the tour.

Players including Lauren Walsh, Sara Byrne, Anna Foster, Annabel Wilson, Canice Screen and Olivia Mehaffey have joined Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow who were flying the flag solo for a number of years.

In 2026 the tournament will be played at the K Club, in August on the swing towards the Solheim Cup being hosted in the Netherlands.  That will hopefully give rise to deeper fields again and a continued development of this jewel in the crown.

Leadership: Drive On

One of the defining achievements of 2025 is the launch of Drive On, Golf Ireland’s leadership programme for women. Led by Niamh McElwain, the inaugural cohort of 17 participants completed a programme built around confidence, communication, governance and cultural change.

Inclusivity at Events

All Golf Ireland national events are now Period Positive — an important, practical step in making competitive golf more inclusive and comfortable for women and girls.

The Next Phase

With 40,000 women and more than 5,000 girls now engaged, Level Par is entering a new era: expanding pathways, embedding leadership, and ensuring sustainable cultural change.

The sport is now one of Ireland’s fastest-growing female participation sports — and the movement is only gaining momentum.
Keep following as we dive deeper into Golf Ireland’s successes of 2025.

 

Further Reading for Sport for Business members:

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