Crowborough Lighthouse Golf Club is consolidating its status as the champions of women’s golf and is preparing to welcome a second cohort of students to its successful Ladies Love Golf Academy.
The subsidized, four-stage program – which includes coaching sessions, golf etiquette classes, accompanying golfing sessions for existing female members and a range of social events – is designed to provide developing female golfers with all the tools they need to become thriving members of the club on and off the course.
Last year, 26% of women who attended the initial free tasting became full members, and the club expects to see similar results next time.
Ladies Day success
In June, women’s members also participated in the club’s Golf Festival, where members and guests came together for six unforgettable days of sport and camaraderie. In total, more than 600 men and women competed on the club’s par-71 course in all six events, with separate awards for the leaders in each category.
Arguably the highlight of the week was the Beacon Trophy and Salver, the re-launch of the club’s famous Beacon Trophy, with women competing alongside their male counterparts for the first time.
Intern Evelyn Parks, who has been heavily involved in championing women’s golf at the club this summer, is studying Applied Golf Management Studies (BSc) at the University of Birmingham and has spent a lot of time at the club helping to implement many of the strategies to promote women’s golf.
Other unique incentives include a multi-year new membership discount for women (50% off for the first year and 25% for the second year), a partner bonus offering discounts to membership partners and a 50% discount on the second club, which was recently accepted by European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) recognized golfer Aimi Bullock, who chose Crowborough Beacon over several clubs closer to home because of the course, facilities and player strength.
Chris Dowrick, secretary of Crowborough Beacon Golf Club, said: “Promoting women’s participation in golf and the club is absolutely vital to Crowborough Beacon’s long-term vision and we have significantly increased our focus on this area in recent years.
“We are really excited about the success of the first edition of the Ladies Love Golf Academy and if we can replicate the impact again it will be a fantastic result for the club.
“Our ladies members play a key role in the fantastic Golf Festival in June and we see a perfect example of how important they are to the club.”
As Europe prepares to host the 2026 Solheim Cup next November, there has never been a better time for UK venues to step up their participation in women’s golf.
Crowborough Lighthouse will also host the Sussex Women’s Amateur Championship in 2026 and has been selected by England Golf as the venue for the 2027 British Women’s Stroke Play Championship, welcoming girls from more than 40 countries.
Although renowned architects including Harry Colt and Alister MacKenzie have worked on the grounds at Crowborough Beacon since the club’s founding in 1895, the identity of the original designer remains unknown.
The club is renowned for its stunning views and panoramic views from one of the highest points in Sussex and was a favorite of legendary author and creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who captained the club in the early 20th century.
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