More and more, it's women who are hitting the links, whether for business or for pleasure

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Golf is one of the most popular sports in Canada and locally the sport is also growing steadily. One of the contributing factors to the games growth has been the increasing number of women getting involved in the game.

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Golf is proving to be more popular with women of all ages.

"We've seen an increase in the number of women playing in the past several years," says Greg Neath, General Manager & CPGA Head Professional at Magnetic Hill Golf Club. "We haven't tracked the numbers for where they're from but ladies are definitely growing the game."

Similar trends are seen in Albert County, at the Hillsborough Golf Club.

"About 25 per cent of our players are women," says Norm Huffman, manager of the Hillsborough Golf Club. "We've definitely seen a steady increase in women starting the sport in each of the past several years."

Many women who are looking to get more physically active are drawn to golf for a variety of reasons. Fitgolfforwomen.com points out several of the more common reasons why women pick up the clubs and get started.

Socially, golf is one of the better games for enjoying a healthy amount of exercise while still having a chance to interact with family or friends.

Golf is also a great stress reliever and the sense of accomplishment one gains from improving their individual game is a great plus.

"It really is a family oriented activity," says Greg. "It's a heart healthy activity, it's low impact and everyone can be competitive regardless of age or gender. A lot of businesses deals are done on the gold course as well, so men and women are taking up the sport to add to their resumes."

In Hillsborough, a lot of women get involved by coming out with a significant other.

"We see a lot of women who come out and just pay green fees for the day to try it out," says Norm. "A lot of the time they first try it out with their boyfriends or husbands and that gets them hooked. For a lot of our female players it seems to be more of a couples sport."

Courses often run programs that are designed to encourage female players to get out and try golf, as well as to improve their skills. At the Magnetic Hill Golf Course, there has been an Introductory Ladies Golf Group that began in the middle of June and is running for 12 weeks throughout the summer.

There are also Introductory Ladies clinics as well, covering such topics as basic fundamentals, chipping putting and others. In Hillsborough, there is a weekly Ladies Night on Tuesdays.

For more information about programs at any of the local golf courses, you can contact the Hillsborough Golf Club at 734-6000, Magnetic Hill Golf Course at 858-1611 or the Moncton Golf and Country Club at 387-3850.