Diversity and inclusion charter — is it needed?

   By Neville Idour

Golf New Zealand recently released a new inclusion charter which has created some reactions. For those who may not be aware of it here is the opening statement.

“We believe golf provides lifelong enrichment to all involved with the game and we wish to share this value with as many people as possible. 

``We believe that diversity and inclusion create a richer environment within our sport and that by actively fostering diversity and inclusion, we enhance the inherent value of the game to everyone involved. 

``We are committed to proactively encouraging the inclusion of under represented populations and people within our game.”

No one will disagree with the sentiments of making the game available and welcoming to all, irrespective of position in society, age, gender, or anything else. 

Apart from a few clubs, which are still what you might call exclusive and demand multiple references from members to join or even play, the game of golf is certainly maturing in its approach to people of all persuasions, shapes and sizes who wish to play.

Strict and outdated rules regarding dress have been relaxed by proactive clubs to allow more casual but tidy attire. 

I well remember at the first club I joined, longer ago than I care to remember, I went into the clubhouse after my first game there with my cap on and this voice bellowed at me across the crowded lounge to take it off. I did not know it was taboo. 

He was an officious committee member well known for his unpleasant manner. I even had the misfortune to be in his group on a club day and had to put up with some unhelpful disparaging advice as well. Such members are anathema to a club. I weathered the storm and stayed a member avoiding him at all costs.

I digress, so back to the point. One club in Dunedin has responded by changing the colour of it's tees. The stated aim is “To remove all references to gender when referring to the tees used at the golf club.” 

So it's answer to removing the “stigma” of ladies' and men's tees was to change the colours from yellow, white, blue and black to bronze, silver, gold and black. I can’t understand why the black hasn’t been changed to diamond or platinum to fit in. They contend the new colours are  gender neutral but the previous colours were not. I cannot see the difference.

My question is how does changing the tee colours change that perception of ladies' tees and men's tees. Surely bronze sounds pretty bland compared to yellow. All over the world the colours are fairly common although some courses such as Tieke Golf Estate near Cambridge have no colours just names for their tees which reflect the course environment. Very innovative and requiring some thought when deciding which tee to play from. Definitely made you think of distance rather than colour and seems a more relevant method than changing colours. I can think of several courses that could use their special environment to emulate Tieke Golf Estate.

I have been playing the game for more than 50 years and have always felt free to play from any tee and have never seen a card with ladies' tees and men's tees. They only refer to colours. Same now when you  get your card printed and it comes up with all the colours and asks which tee you wish to play from. No mention of ladies or men. If the current colour order is a problem why not reverse them and make the back tees yellow and the front black. So this stigma of the existing colours demeaning a male playing off the ladies’ tees is in reality a figment of the mind. That is what needs to be changed, but how?

So with all the foregoing in mind, I canvassed several golf clubs throughout the country and one in the United Kingdom to get their thoughts. They shall remain anonymous for obvious reasons. 

One southern club is having nothing to do with it at this stage and others are not aware of it, have not even thought about it or are unlikely to. Reactions varied but apart from the club that has changed tee colours none in the north or the south that were spoken to felt it was something that the charter itself needed immediate attention. The clubs spoken to are all fully aware of the need to be welcoming and encouraging and are actively promoting the game to all.

One club has introduced family golf where families can play a four-hole ambrose on one half of the course while the semi serious can play twilight on the other nine. Another club manager offered an excellent suggestion regarding the tees saying: “Why not just call them 1, 2, 3, 4.” Far too simple. 

One club ran a men’s event recently, playing from the yellow tees. It was a successful day with many of the better golfers finding their miscues got them into more trouble than usual.

A spokesperson from the UK club Rushmore said: “Even now tees can be designated gender neutral and I see no reason why a men’s competition could not be played from the red tees. Similarly you can run a ladies' comp from the white tees which our club did successfully recently.”

What is the answer to this perceived problem of diversity and inclusion? When I play with others the only things that concern me are that my partners play fairly and are pleasant company, not whether they are male, female or other as some institutions now have on their personal detail forms.

There is so much that is positive being promoted by Golf NZ and districts and clubs throughout the country. There just needs to be a countrywide goal to make golf welcoming to all people, whatever persuasion, ethnicity, status or physical limitations they may have, along with some clear guidelines. As the saying goes, keep it simple.

I well remember playing a round many years ago at Terrace Downs, south of Christchurch, with a fellow with just his left arm. He had lost his natural right arm but left me for dead on his remarkable 10 handicap. This is inclusion at it’s best. 

Two of the most successful promotions in New Zealand are she loves golf and the gradual rollout of the unique Wakatipu Junior Golf Club template. These various initiatives are likely to be more useful than changing tee colours. The Tieke model makes more sense in that regard.

In conclusion, golf seems to be in good heart at present with many clubs busier than ever growing the game by welcoming all who want to play golf, so the question is, do we need a diversity and inclusion charter?