Berkhamsted Golf Club’s decision to allow both sexes to compete in the Berkhamsted Trophy, announced today, is a world-first for elite amateur golf. The landmark decision, which has the support of The R&A and England Golf, represents the first time that one of amateur golf’s long-established, prestige tournaments – the Berkhamsted Trophy is entering its 61st year – has transformed from being a men-only tournament, into one which invites both sexes to compete for the same prize.
From 2020 the traditionally season-opening Berkhamsted Trophy, a 72-hole event on Berkhamsted Golf Club’s bunker-free natural heathland golf course, will feature both male and female competitors. The 61st Berkhamsted Trophy will take place from Thursday April 2 to Saturday April 4, 2020. Entries are now open to golfers with handicaps of one or better, with invitations being sent to a number of elite female players. The club is working on a flexible teeing system with The R&A and England Golf which will ensure that both sexes compete on an equal footing. The event will be eligible for World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) points for both men and women.
“It is unsustainable, in the long term, for golf to continue to keep men and women apart like it has historically done,” said Berkhamsted Golf Club Captain, Henry Tse. “Berkhamsted has always been a progressive club, and we like to play golf as nature intended – as expressed by the lack of man-made hazards on our golf course. This decision is a natural evolution not only of that ethos, and but also of the way the modern world works. We will be excited to see men and women compete equally for our beloved Trophy.”
Club manager Howard Craft said: “We are not afraid to challenge the status quo here. There is a lot of talk in golf about embracing change, but the pace at which things fundamentally change in the sport can be a little slow. We are enthusiastic supporters of The R&A’s Women In Golf Charter, and what could be a more shining example of this than allowing men and women to play golf together in competition at the very top of the amateur game, as they naturally do anyway in general play?”
Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A said: “The R&A’s Women in Golf Charter is a call to action for everyone involved in golf, from national associations to clubs, to do more to attract women and girls to take up this wonderful sport. There are many different ways in which this can be achieved and we are supportive of initiatives, such as this by Berkhamsted, which encourage women to compete and play golf at all levels of the game.”
Nigel Edwards, England Golf performance director and Team GB leader in the 2020 Olympics, said: “As the country’s governing body for male and female amateur golfers, at England Golf we are delighted to support Berkhamsted Golf Club’s forward-thinking initiative in making the prestigious Berkhamsted Trophy a mixed gender event.”
The Berkhamsted decision has also been welcomed by Elaine Ratcliffe, Captain of the 2020 Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team. “I applaud Berkhamsted for their forward thinking, and I am delighted to have been asked to help set up the golf to provide an equal test for both men and women during the event” she said. “I will also help the club to secure as strong a women’s list of participants as possible.”
