MAt Smiley, executive director of the Virginia State Golf Association, quickly fills his hand as he begins to outline the ways in which women’s golf is thriving in Virginia. The evidence is everywhere, from expanded women’s programs to growing women’s membership to a large female presence on the association’s board of directors.
On the inside, things look different, too. The history of the VSGA dates back to 1904 with a separate women’s subdivision largely focused on the tournament in 1950.
In 2015 the two were amalgamated into one full service association.
One thing is quite to do with the other, and as Smiley notes, “This story is not unique.”
Over the past decade, more state golf associations serving men have joined forces with those serving women. Pooled resources can mean increased offers for both men and women. In many cases, mergers also amplify women’s voices.
Some government associations naturally consolidated where it made sense to do so. But starting in 2016, men separated from …