Vision 2025 is up and running.
The program that will revolutionise women’s golf in Australia had its first committee meeting this week.
And the significance of the program was clearly evident with a strong representation of many of the sport’s key decision makers at the Golf Australia office.
Vision 2025 is a blueprint that sets out how golf in Australia can become a sport where women and girls are inspired to participate, welcomed, nurtured and developed to achieve their goals.
Under chair Jill Spargo, legendary professional Karrie Webb, ALPG chief executive Karen Lunn, PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman, Golf NSW board member Sally Kirkright, Golf Management Australia executive officer Jim Cail, ASC senior consultant Richard Redman and Stretch Forward consultant Rachel Piastri joined Golf Australia’s chief executive Stephen Pitt, golf development director Cameron Wade, female participation manager Chyloe Kurdas and female pathway manager Stacey Peters to set in train the incredibly important program.
Among other achievements of a productive session were refinements made to solidify Vision 2025, consideration of the key performance measures and a review of the draft women’s high performance strategic plan.
It was agreed that the year one priority activities will be to:
• focus on culture and leadership
• lay the foundations for success
• prompt nationwide stakeholder engagement and whole of sport approach
• seek commitment from all key golf bodies to support the Vision
• educate in the area of equal opportunity and the importance of diversity
• undertake benchmarking to establish robust baseline data
• complete an audit of clubs and facilities
Pitt said the meeting had been dynamic and fruitful.
"Everyone in that room understands the importance of what Vision 2025 is all about and the fundamental importance of ensuring change happens smoothly and quickly," he said.
"It is vital to have so many key elements of the industry involved in this project and to see everyone's willingness to buy in was really encouraging."
In an ongoing sense, the group’s purpose includes to monitor the implementation of Vision 2025, provide recommendations on any other initiatives that drives the growth of female participation in golf at all levels throughout Australia and to influence its membership constituents to support the strategy and communicate its progress.
The R&A has provided funding to support the appointment of development managers in Australia, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and will soon be launching its Women in Golf Charter to galvanise the golf industry around increasing participation by women and girls and the number of women working within the sport.