Golf Course Architecture - Issue 63, January 2021

59 recent years, the public perception of the game, in much of the world, is still of domination by middle-aged and elderly men. That the urban myth that golf got its very name because it stood for ‘Gentleman Only, Ladies Forbidden’ should have any traction at all emphasises the point. German architect Angela Moser, who works with some of the industry’s leading lights, including Tom Doak and Gil Hanse, says: “There are not many footsteps to follow as a female in the golf industry, but big ones to fill. From Ida Dixon, May Dunn, Marion Hollins and Molly Gourlay to Alice Dye, there have always been women in golf design. These women stepped up to, advised and inf luenced architectural legends like Alister MacKenzie, Tom Simpson, Tom Dunn and Pete Dye, who saw them as having a valuable opinion. But no clients saw them as equal or sole designers. With a wholly different social environment, these women found the courage to speak up and are the reason for some of today’s most iconic golf holes and courses. “In a sport that has such a long history of being for ‘gentlemen only’, the golf industry will need more time to adapt to the social change that is happening worldwide. Today our society is already transitioning to open up clubs, workspaces and job opportunities to women. We are setting the standard for the liberal industry-to-be.“ Moser continues: “Yes, we need to break old habits, pride and prejudices. But this does not mean supporting a person because of her gender to get the numbers right. We have to look at their personality, performance, talent, potential and grit. “I fell in love with golf design while playing amateur tournaments as a teenager and started to work in the industry to learn every aspect of the business. While I never thought to operate an excavator or bulldozer daily, I was convinced that it would not hurt to learn the craft of shaping. I try to keep my mind open and learn different styles, methods and make my own experiences to expand my knowledge. To me, it is about using those possibilities best and give back, to educate the next generation’s talents, no matter what gender.” Canadian designer Christine Fraser, who, like Ferroni, got her start working for the Hawtree firm in the UK, says: “We can substitute almost any male dominated profession for golf design, and the answer to the question ‘Why aren’t there more women?’ will be the same. Is it because men simply Angela Moser began her own practice working on big new-build and renovation projects. “I am forever grateful to have an excellent mentor, colleagues and friends that treat me as one of them.” “ If we continue to perpetuate a top-down approach, golf will always be governed by men” Photo: Michael Haggenmueller/Studio Augsburg WOMEN IN GOL F DES IGN