GOLF:

The game of golf is intimidating enough for people who know it, but for those starting out it is often too daunting to learn.

One segment of the game’s population that often gets cast aside is women. It is a male dominated sport, there is no doubt about it, but neglecting women, course operators have found is a huge mistake.

This was evident when American Golf began their campaign in the ’90s to get women into the game and now the five groups: Executive Women’s Golf Assn., the Golf Course Superintendents Assn. of America, the Ladies Professional Golf Assn., the National Golf Course Owners Assn. and The Professional Golfers Assn. of America have continued the goal of exposing women to golf.

For the last three years they have organized Women’s Golf Week to introduce women to the game and more than 68,000 women participated across the country.

This year organizers made it a full month, but there are only two facilities in Orange County that have signed up to participate. Quality Golf Products in Fountain Valley, Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine and Lake Forest Golf Center.

Though Costa Mesa Country Club is not involved in the program, one of its teaching professionals is actively working with women to get them involved in the game.

Mary Beth Arnold, who lives in Huntington Beach, got her first job in the business in 1986. She was trying to make it as a tour player and was supplementing her income by working in the shop and giving lessons.

She left to play on tour and returned nine years ago to work full time as a teaching professional.

Arnold sees women taking up the game for two primary reasons — business and to play with a spouse or significant other.

“I think the environment is a bit intimidating,” Arnold said. “Walk into a golf shop and it’s all men. Men don’t seem to be that empathetic toward women.”

Arnold works on making the women not only more comfortable around a golf course, but more educated.

“You have to hold their hands most of the way,” Arnold said. “You have to show them how to buy range balls, how to set up a tee time. It is a lot of stuff you and I take for granted, but people getting into the sport don’t know.”

Arnold says novices to the sport tend to be more comfortable around a woman.

“Yes, I think they are more comfortable,” Arnold said. “A lot of my students say they feel more at ease with a woman.”

No matter who Arnold teaches, she is focused on her main philosophy.

“My No. 1 thing is to have fun,” Arnold said. “If they aren’t having fun, then I haven’t done my job. This game will slam you. It’s hard. But you have to keep a sense of humor about it.”

Arnold is seeing more women take up the sport and golf courses are now trying to accommodate women golfers. Women in Golf Week certainly showed how important women golfers can be.

Last year, golf courses saw record participation — a 39% increase — with more than 34,200 women turning out for Play Golf America activities throughout the week. A record total of 1,358 facilities across the country hosted an event in 2007, more than doubling the previous facility record of 585.

The PGA of America estimates that Women’s Golf Week had a $2 million financial impact on the golf industry last year with host facilities reporting $2,150 in revenues from program activities on average.

Hopefully public golf courses in the area will sign up for this program next year. The cost of putting on the program could bring in some much needed new revenue for golf courses.

JOHN REGER’S golf column appears on Thursdays.