The recently completed Villages Championship showcased golf in The Villages at its finest, or did it?
Of the 269 participants who teed it up at Bonifay on Friday, there were 191 men, and 78 women. At the conclusion of the three day tournament, golfers received their earned awards and drove their golf carts home.
Let’s look a little closer at those who received awards, and how they were earned. Prior to the beginning of the tournament, as sign ups began, men were asked which of three tees they would like to compete from: White tees which were 5497 yards, blue tees which were 6153 yards, or gold tees which were 6621 yards. As everyone in The Villages knows, there are different skill levels in all sports, and those that golf understand which tees they are most comfortable in competing. Sign ups complete, men who signed up for the tourney took their respective tees and competed at a level that challenged them.
When women signed up for the same tournament, all were told they would be competing from one tee, and one tee only, the green tees. There would be no choice of tees. There would be no choice to challenge golfers of different ability levels. This is the third year this same scenario has taken place. Why you ask? Great question. Every single golf tournament offered to women in the Villages competes from the green tees and green tees only. Are other tees available? Yes.
How would the men’s gold tee or blue tee group feel if they were told they could only compete from the white tees in every tournament they played? No other choices. How many would sign up for the tournaments and support the Villages golf?
The disparity of offerings in golf tournaments the Villages offers is concerning. Did The Villages really challenge all of its participants in the Village Championship?
Meg Giusti is a well-known golfer in The Villages.
