Young women need to be present in informal power environments. The strongholds of the "old boy's network" are often bars, cigar lounges, fantasy football leagues, casinos, and sadly sometimes even strip clubs. Perhaps the ultimate power playground is the golf course. These are places where men meet for business and informal social bonding. These are the places were crucial professional relationships are cemented and business deals are made.
Ladies, it's summer, get out on the golf course! June is officially Women's Golf Month! But also, learn how to play poker, drink Scotch, or join next year's March Madness team. Until we have a critical mass of women in power to change the game, for now, we need to know how to play men's power games. We need to take our seat at these tables. Women's voices need to be in these spaces. For many years, I was one of the few young female members of the National Democratic Club. People always thought my boyfriend was the member, but no, everything was actually on my account.
Not even a year ago in August 2012, Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters golf tournament, finally opened its doors to women and extended membership to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore. According to the National Golf Association, women represent less than 20 percent of all golfers. Golf is an ideal sport for socializing, meeting new people, conducting business, and getting great exercise.
Last summer, I finally took affordable golf lessons at a public golf course in Washington, DC. Golf is definitely something you need to be taught, and it has a strict etiquette you need to know before you just go out and practice. Many golf courses have classes for women only, and especially in June, many places have discounted women's clinics. Check out your local women's golf association. Let's take our place on the golf course. Happy golfing!
Ladies Professional Golf Association
http://www.lpga.com/default.aspx
Women's Congressional Golf Association (in DC)
http://wcga.org/
Executive Women's Golf Association
www.ewga.com
Ladies, it's summer, get out on the golf course! June is officially Women's Golf Month! But also, learn how to play poker, drink Scotch, or join next year's March Madness team. Until we have a critical mass of women in power to change the game, for now, we need to know how to play men's power games. We need to take our seat at these tables. Women's voices need to be in these spaces. For many years, I was one of the few young female members of the National Democratic Club. People always thought my boyfriend was the member, but no, everything was actually on my account.
Not even a year ago in August 2012, Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters golf tournament, finally opened its doors to women and extended membership to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore. According to the National Golf Association, women represent less than 20 percent of all golfers. Golf is an ideal sport for socializing, meeting new people, conducting business, and getting great exercise.
Last summer, I finally took affordable golf lessons at a public golf course in Washington, DC. Golf is definitely something you need to be taught, and it has a strict etiquette you need to know before you just go out and practice. Many golf courses have classes for women only, and especially in June, many places have discounted women's clinics. Check out your local women's golf association. Let's take our place on the golf course. Happy golfing!
Ladies Professional Golf Association
http://www.lpga.com/default.aspx
Women's Congressional Golf Association (in DC)
http://wcga.org/
Executive Women's Golf Association
www.ewga.com
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