The Ladies Club at the Revelstoke Golf Club is making a push to get more women on the course this year by offering several programs designed to give the game a more casual feel.
“We’re promoting people to come out for a casual game of golf. To have fun, exercise,” said Sabina Spahman, the assistant captain of the Ladies Club. “This beautiful course is everybody’s backyard. It’s definitely not getting used to its greatest potential.”
Spahman, is the youngest (and only under-30) female club member. She has been golfing since she was 13 and attended the University of Arkansas on a golf scholarship.
She is leading the push to get more women – and especially younger women – involved in the sport. For her, the sport is a great way to get outside, get some exercise, enjoy some camaraderie and play a great game.
The club has started up a Get Golf Ready program, a five-day course designed and taught by PGA professionals to get people out golfing. The cost is $99.
For women specifically, the club has two nights – Ladies Night on Tuesday and Hits & Giggles on Thursdays; both start at 5 p.m.
For the former, the club has started a new nine & dine special where for $25 non-members can come and play nine holes and get a $5 gift coupon for the restaurant. The promotion is designed to make it easier for casual players who don’t have time for a full 18 holes to come out for Ladies Night, said Spahman.
“I know people are intimidated by the game because they don’t have four hours to play 18 holes or they don’t know the rules,” she said. “Maybe they’ve never picked up a club.
“It’s fun, its good exercise and it’s right in our backyard.”
Hits & Giggles is a very informal evening designed for beginners, or for experienced players to just have fun. There are no rules and no scores are kept. If you hit your ball into the woods, you can toss it back onto the green with no penalty.
There is also talk of a mixed social night on Fridays after work, said Spahman.
The club has also set up a friendship committee to pair members with new golfers and help them with equipment.
“I think the biggest issue with people my age particularly is the cost,” said Spahman, 28. “Not a lot of people my age move to Revelstoke for golf. That’s why we started these programs where you don’t have to be a member to play in.”
What else is going on at the golf course?
The Revelstoke Golf Club has a full roster of events scheduled for this summer. Men’s Night is taking up its regular Wednesday night spot.
The men’s spring team event is Sunday, May 26, and the ladies spring team event is Sunday, June 2.
On Friday, June 7, the club is hosting the annual RCMP Trees for Tots fundraiser tournament.
On the weekend of June 8-9, the club hosts the B.C. Zone 2 Junior Championships. The club is also hosting the B.C. Junior Boys Provincial Championship from June 30 to July 5.
The Labour Day Open returns for the 83rd year from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.
The final men’s day is set for Saturday, Oct. 5, and the final Ladies Day is Sunday, Oct. 6.
Visit www.revelstokegolfclub.com/tournaments for a full schedule of events.
