Prestbury Golf Club Celebrates England Golf’s ‘Women in Golf’ Charter Recognition Prestbury Golf Club is proud to have signed The R&A Women in Golf Charter, receiving formal recognition from England Golf for its commitment to creating a more inclusive, welcoming and accessible environment for women and girls in golf. The recognition marks another important milestone in the Club's continued development and supports the ambitions outlined in its recently launched Strategic Plan, which places inclusion, growth of the ladies’ section, and the long-term sustainability of the Club at the heart of its strategy. The Women in Golf Charter, established by The R&A and supported by England Golf, encourages golf clubs and organisations to take meaningful action to increase the participation and representation of women and girls across all areas of the sport, from playing and membership to leadership and employment. Prestbury Golf Club has demonstrated its commitment through a comprehensive programme of initiatives, supported by clear objectives and measurable targets designed to deliver consistent change. Building on a Strong Foundation Women's golf at Prestbury has enjoyed significant progress in recent years, with the Club introducing a number of initiatives designed to make the game more accessible and encourage greater participation. The Club has increased its playing women's membership to 107 members in 2026, an increase of six during the year, alongside nine junior girl members. This progress has been supported by beginner coaching programmes, a dedicated women's academy pathway and initiatives aimed at creating more flexible opportunities for women to enjoy the game. The Club's new Strategic Plan reinforces this direction, with a commitment to increasing women's membership over the next five years while ensuring that Prestbury continues to develop as a welcoming, friendly and inclusive members' club. The Charter sets a target of at least 120 playing women members over the next five years, alongside a 10% increase in junior girl membership. Turning Commitment into Action As part of its Charter commitments, Prestbury Golf Club has identified eight key areas of focus, including: • Growing women's and girls' membership: Building on recent recruitment and retention research, developing new initiatives and encouraging greater participation. • Flexible membership pathways: Reviewing the existing women's academy structure to provide greater flexibility and support long-term retention. • Inclusive leadership and governance: Ensuring that Board positions, committees and leadership opportunities remain accessible and representative of the wider membership. • Welcoming communications: Promoting inclusive language and imagery that reflects the diversity of golfers across the Club. • Greater competition opportunities: Exploring additional nine-hole, mixed and multi-tee competitions to make competitive golf more accessible. • Research-led improvement: Using member feedback and research to continually improve the experience of women and girls at Prestbury. • Accountability and progress: Appointing a Charter Champion and reporting annually to England Golf on progress against the Club's commitments. These initiatives will be incorporated into the Club's operational planning and reviewed regularly to ensure meaningful and measurable progress. Recognition from England Golf In a letter confirming Prestbury Golf Club's status as a Women in Golf Charter signatory, Jeremy Tomlinson, Chief Executive Officer of England Golf, praised the Club's commitment to developing a more inclusive culture. He commented: "Prestbury Golf Club will be inspiring other clubs from across the country to develop a more inclusive culture within golf for more women and girls to develop across all levels of the sport." He also recognised the breadth of the Club's approach, highlighting its focus on both governance and membership recruitment and retention. The endorsement reflects the importance of clubs taking positive, practical steps to ensure that golf continues to evolve and appeal to future generations. Supporting Prestbury's Long-Term Vision The Charter aligns closely with Prestbury Golf Club's new Strategic Plan and its core values of Open & Inclusive, Teamwork, Communication, Engagement, and Social & Environmental Responsibility. These values underpin the Club's ambition to provide an outstanding golfing experience while fostering a friendly, welcoming environment in which members, staff and volunteers work collaboratively. The commitment to women's golf is an important part of this wider vision, recognising that a thriving and sustainable golf club must continue to adapt to the changing needs of its membership and the wider community. Brian Purves, Chairman of Prestbury Golf Club, said: "We are extremely proud to receive this recognition from England Golf. It reflects the considerable work that has already taken place at Prestbury to develop women's golf and, importantly, our determination to continue making progress. "Our new Strategic Plan places a strong emphasis on being an open and inclusive club, and the Women in Golf Charter provides a clear framework to turn those ambitions into meaningful action. "We have seen some good progress in growing our women's section, supported by our coaching programmes, academy pathway and the commitment of our members and volunteers. This Charter, however, is about much more than membership numbers. It is about ensuring women and girls have opportunities to enjoy golf, participate in competitions and contribute to the leadership and future direction of our Club. "We want Prestbury to be recognised not only for the quality of its golf course, but also for the welcoming environment and opportunities we provide for everyone who wishes to be part of the Club." Looking Ahead Prestbury Golf Club will now focus on delivering its Charter commitments, with progress monitored through the Club's management and governance structures and reported annually to England Golf. The Club hopes its continued efforts will encourage more women and girls to take up golf, develop their skills and enjoy the many sporting, social and personal benefits of being part of a golf club. Through its Strategic Plan and Women in Golf Charter commitments, Prestbury Golf Club is demonstrating that its ambitions extend beyond the golf course, helping to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for the game.