Golf has always been a special way to help build relationships, and on International Women’s Day, it’s important to help showcase those relationships and why growing the number of women who are playing the game is great for the future.

We are thrilled that two of our ambassadors, Brooke Henderson and Lisa ‘Longball’ Vlooswyk, are considered part of a strong, empowering, and influential group of women leaders for golf in Canada.

“When I think of it, I have so many inspiring women and successful women that are role models for me, so it’s just great to see women are pushing the boundaries in business and sport and the arts and music, so it’s just really cool to be part of this movement and the Drive On campaign with the LPGA Tour,” says Brooke.

Lisa says in 2020, after she completed 17 videos for Golf Town on golf instruction for people who were at home through the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, she received notes from hundreds of women who tried golf for the first-time last year and how excited they were for 2021.

“We couldn’t get together at bars and restaurants with friends, but you could at the golf course,” says Lisa. “It was active living, people were laughing… and that’s the beauty of golf.”

Lisa, who is also a motivational speaker and has been asked to appear at dozens of conferences and on panels across North America, says the big thing she sees with women is that they are so responsible. As mothers, wives, daughters, and friends they have a lot of things on their plate day after day. But that doesn’t always mean there is time for things that bring women joy.

“The first thing they’re going to cut out from their life when they become busy is… stuff for themselves,” admits Lisa.

But, Lisa says, this is why she encourages women to pick up golf as a group or join a weekly league

“A woman won’t let three other women down. If time is tight the first thing that’s going to go is not stuff for her family or stuff for her work, she’s going to cut out stuff for herself,” says Lisa. “At least at the golf course and with a golf group, she’s carved out some time for herself!”

With so many young girls as members of the #BrookeBrigade, Lisa says it’s great that there is a hopeful influx of more women taking up golf at a younger age. When Lisa does her keynote speeches at conferences, she always makes a point of saying how important it is to get young girls into the game.

“Even if they leave it in high school or university, when they grow up and whatever career they pick – a lawyer or doctor or property manager or whatever – there are key business networking opportunities that women are still left out of,” says Lisa. “Women… it’s never too late to get in! I’ve always used that message through my key-note speaking.”

“Hopefully,” adds Brooke, “we can make a difference for the next generation coming!”

But it’s not just young girls who are being encouraged to pick up the game. Lisa says in 2020 she heard from hundreds of women who realized that during the pandemic last year they identified that time as the perfect time to learn. They realized playing golf is a skill just like anything else in business that could allow women to go out with clients, customers, and friends.

And regardless of whether you’re watching Brooke on TV, hearing Lisa speak at a virtual conference, or just talking to your friends about your springtime activities, on International Women’s Day there’s a simple message connecting women and golf, according to Lisa – it’s time to celebrate and support each other.

“I have this belief in women and it’s funny… it seems to be growing each year. The more I’m working with women and standing on stages and taking advantage of the opportunity to be a leader and to be a role model I want to sing from the rooftops the praises of women,” says Lisa. “If there’s anything I could say to other women it’s take time to lift other women up and I’m seeing it. I’ve seen people take the time to celebrate other women, to celebrate their successes and the more we can support each other and lift each other up, that’s when we can become better together.

“I’m seeing more women to do that, and I want to be that agent for change. I want to be that person that does that for others and encourages others to do that for other women in their lives.”