Canterbury Golf Club in Kent has launched its new membership category designed to attract women who are new to golf, as well as those returning to the game to be able to enjoy the range of facilities on offer at the club for £950 per year.
This new Women’s Colt membership is on line with the current push in golf, supported by The R&A, to encourage more women into the game on a long term basis.
“Canterbury has always boasted a strong female membership but we have become aware that many women, especially working women and those with family commitments, are finding it increasingly harder to justify taking up or returning to golf,” says Club Chairman Steve Eeles.
“We believe that our new Women’s Colt Membership makes it a lot easier for women to enjoy the benefits of club membership at a reduced cost and at times that are more convenient for them. Similar programmes have been launched at some other clubs in the past but they have in general been restricted to a maximum of say six months. We don’t believe that is nearly long enough for someone to get to grips with golf and to find out if the Club is the right one for them, hence the two year term of the membership.”
Canterbury, home to a classic Harry Colt course, has a long tradition of being an inclusive club; it was the first in Kent to have a woman both as Club Captain and Chairman of the Club, two of the most important roles within the organisation.
Former Ladies European Tour winner, Maxine Burton, is a professional at the Club who is fully supportive of the new membership.
She said: “We have for a while participated in England Golf’s Women in Golf programme but we feel that this goes to the next level, and I look forward to welcoming more women into our Club and helping them with their game and introducing them to fellow lady members.”
The Women’s Colt Membership is limited to 20 golfers and is limited to a two-year term. A Colt member cannot play on Mondays, or before midday on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays unless playing in a club competition.
The current full adult annual membership fee at the club is £1,595.