The State of Women’s Golf in Colorado

The growth of the number of golfers since 2020 is genuine and many green-grass courses have seen crowds and full tee-sheets for four years running now.

But hidden a little in the data about new golfers is an interesting nuance: the majority of them are women. And many are perfectly happy to play off-course: playing with friends and family at ranges, simulator bars and specialty golf facilities and rarely darkening the doorway of a traditional 18-hole course.

Now of the estimated 45 million Americans who play any kind of golf – on-course or off – 33 percent are women, according to a study by the National Golf Foundation in 2024. But 42 percent of players who play just off-course golf – the industry term for folks who play only at entertainment-based facilities – are women.

The industry is paying attention.

“That bodes well for future growth potential within the green-grass game, as does the fact that females account for more than one-third (35%) of ‘Latent Demand,’” the NGF wrote. “This means another seven million females categorized as non-golfers have said they’re “very interested” in giving traditional golf a try. This heightened level of interest is, at least in part, a byproduct of more welcoming and less intimidating off-course forms of the game.”

In Colorado AvidGolfer’s annual check-up on how Colorado is doing in helping women access the game, we spoke with several women who started up in the game recently to find out why and what was working for them.

RACHEL ROBERTS

Instead of rolling her eyes when her fiancé, Brandon, booked tee times to play golf, Rachel Roberts, 30, started tagging along and was happy chauffeuring him from shot to shot. Roberts did not have an urge to play herself. However, when Brandon suggested they watch Full Swing on Netflix, she became fascinated with the intricacies of the game and was intrigued.

Roberts says the pressure and passion that the show masterfully captures changed her perspective of the game and she has been following PGA tournaments as a fan ever since.

“Even though I’m new to golf, one of the most memorable moments for me so far actually occurred off of the course,” Roberts says. “Watching Rory McIlroy win the Masters to complete the career Grand Slam. I’ve been learning more about the game and seeing someone accomplish something that historic made it even more exciting to follow. You could feel how much it meant—not just to him, but to everyone watching. As someone just starting, it was one of those moments that made me think, ‘Wow, this sport is something special.’”

Roberts started playing this year, going to Topgolf first. It was a humbling experience. Like others who have spent their lives as athletes, she looked at golf and thought, “How hard can it be?” After completely missing the ball on her first swing, she says she learned quickly just how hard it is.

Her father encouraged her to take lessons, which is where she met her instructor, Jaylee Tait, at Lone Tree Golf Club. Tait put her at ease and simplified the game the way all great instructors do.

“Thanks to her encouragement, I actually started hitting the ball,” Roberts says. “That moment hooked me. There’s something addictive about finally connecting with the ball and seeing it fly.”

VERONICA BARTH

When it comes to father-daughter bonding, golf may be one of the best activities available. Veronica Barth, 38, lives in LoDo and took up golf after her dad encouraged her. She played her first round at a short executive course in 2017 and said it was stressful. But she was inspired to take on the challenge after seeing others make it look so effortless.

In January of 2024, Barth began taking lessons with Jaylee Tait’s sister, Ashley Tait. With Tait’s guidance, Barth is hitting the ball farther than she ever has and her short game has drastically improved. Tait encouraged her to join a league.

“My most memorable golf experience was playing in a Pro-Am tournament with Ashley,” Barth says. “Before then, golf had always been a casual hobby I enjoyed in my spare time. With Ashley’s encouragement and guidance, I decided to take the next step by establishing a handicap and joining her in the tournament. That day was a turning point for me – I had an incredible time playing and learning from the pros as I watched them in action. To top it off, I played my best round of golf yet!”

NIKKI DICKSON

Nikki Dickson, 32, of Denver, has been playing golf for nearly three years thanks to a set of clubs that her husband Jordan bought her. Like Roberts, the first time she played was at Topgolf and the experience was painfully memorable. Nowadays, Dickson is officially hooked as she frequently takes lessons and plays as often as possible.

In April, she joined the ExperienceGolf lesson program at CommonGround Golf Course. Thanks to her career in healthcare with a schedule of three 12-hour shifts, she can attend a good amount of the lessons taught by Stefanie Ferguson and Elena King. When she’s not improving her game through the program, you can find her squeezing in nine holes whenever possible.

Dickson said her stepsister and close friend Allison Bernhardt helped her get interested in the game. The two of them play in a nine-hole league at Broadlands Golf Course and she says it is great to have a fellow female golfing companion to celebrate the highs and lows of the game with. While they push each other to get better, she also enjoys playing with her husband.

“Some of my favorite golf days are just getting out there and walking nine holes with my husband before work with a cup of Starbucks coffee,” Dickson says. “It’s a great way to start the day and we have a lot of fun together.”

ALEX HOUGHTALIN

When Alex Houghtalin, 37, moved to Boulder, she took up golf as a way to get closer to the people around her. It was both her father-in-law and colleagues at the software investing company, Access Venture Partners, that inspired her to step out onto the course about a year ago. “I’m so sick of happy hours,” Houghtalin said, “I would much rather be active.”

At first, Houghtalin was worried about the time commitment. As a wife and mother of young children, she always wants to be there for her family and has worked to balance both. This allowed her to learn the game quickly and practice a lot. “I feel really comfortable on the golf course in just a year,” she said.

Now, Houghtalin attends work events held on the course and at golf simulator locations. “Whenever my company hosts events at the simulator, everyone will show up. I will take any and every chance I get to swing a golf club,” she said.

She still has that passion for outdoor sports, inspired by her time playing softball in college. Even though the green grass might feel a little intimidating, Houghtalin said she prefers the physical aspect of getting out on the course.

Fortunately, her company hosts more traditional golf events as well. “Even though I’m playing with my partners at work, it really doesn’t feel like work,” Houghtalin said. “It’s also really helpful for me to build new and better relationships. I have something to talk about with both men and women whom I wouldn’t have been able to connect with previously.”

MONICA SMOLAK

Monica Smolak, 43, based in Denver, said her interest in golf began during the COVID pandemic.

As a 20-year veteran of Grainger Industrial Supply, where she leads the sales team for the western region, Smolak is looking to push herself out of her comfort zone. When the pandemic hit, she made a goal to try something new every year.

In 2022, that was golf.

“I really got into researching the sport. I wanted to know how to get started and what it would look like to dedicate my personal time to golf,” Smolak said. “My first full year playing was in 2023 because I ended up loving it.”

She said the game was difficult to learn. But she enjoys that it is something she can do by herself. “Making the leap to book my first tee time was nerve–wrecking, but once I got out there, I realized it really wasn’t that bad,” Smolak said.

She said she loves that golf is something she can combine with her passion for international travel. About a year and a half ago, Smolak went on a solo trip to Africa and was able to golf in Kenya.

“You could definitely tell that they don’t see many solo female golfers, but the two local gentlemen who played with me were very accommodating. It was a very fun and unique experience.”

This year, Smolak hopes to rely less on golf lessons and focus on improving her game independently.