Setting up a course for female professional players in mixed gender tournaments

The Policy

PGA tournaments, with limited exceptions, are open to Members irrespective of their gender. The PGA’s Tournament Regulations address the need for an adjustment to course set-up where female Members are included in a tournament field, to support the presentation of a fair and equitable course for all participants.

A policy note, with good practice guidance, has been developed and approved for full implementation in 2023. The guidance, which has been circulated to National and Regional Tournament teams, is intended to support consistency of course set up practice in mixed gender events throughout The PGA’s Tournament portfolio, regardless of their geographical spread.

Planning is essential to the success of implementing this policy.

The Practice

In practice, where female Members are included in a tournament field, the course they play must be set up between 10% and 14% shorter than the main tournament course. While it may be necessary to shorten an individual hole by more than 14% or less than 10% to make the hole play fairly for female professionals, it is essential that the overall length of the female course falls within the parameters of a 10% to 14% reduction.

In reaching conclusions on the course set up for female professionals, particular attention will be given to:-

• Available teeing grounds
• Holes with long carries
• Topography of the holes
• Position of fairway bunkers and penalty areas
• The prevailing wind
• Heavy ground conditions
• The respective pars and stroke indices for holes
• Hole locations

Movement of the main tournament tees, if possible, should be mirrored on the female professionals’ course, with these changes to apply each day, while changing the overall par for the course to accommodate similar shots for male and female competitors is not recommended.

Once tees are set, this information will be entered onto BlueGolf, and a course detail printout given to female professionals, identifying the yardage.

How can you help?

If you have any observations about course set-up on the day of a tournament, you are encouraged to speak to the Tournament Director at the time.

The guidance will be subject to annual review at the end of each playing season, so your feedback during the course of the season is welcomed.

If you become aware of good practice in relation to course set-up at any of the tournaments you are playing in, or indeed if you identify matters for potential improvement, please drop a note to womenspga@pga.org.uk .

In the meantime, best wishes for the season ahead.

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