WARRANT
Officer Lainie Thorn, the Air Force’s 2003 Women’s Golf
Champion, has a message for female Air Force golfers or those
who might be interested in the sport: “Have a go.”
Her comments came after some 55 Air Force golfers braved Canberra’s
blistering December conditions for the 2003 ADF Golf Association
(ADFGA) National Championships.
Only three of them were women.
WOFF Thorn said the championships were a very well run tournament
and the chance to play for four or five days was outstanding.
“The level of competition was amazing. That so many ADF players
– all great in their own right – play off single figures
is incredible and it is fabulous to see them come together especially
at the Federal [Golf Club].”
WOFF Thorn believes the reason many women do not play is threefold.
There is a very low level awareness of the tournament among the
relatively few Air Force female golfers, there is a view that
the tournament is male-dominated or that women are not entitled
to play, and many women may feel they are simply not good enough.
The current operational tempo might also have had an impact.
WOFF Thorn said the tournament was open to all women, permanent,
reserves and civilian. There is currently no handicap limit for
women.
“I ask all female golfers to please come along and have a
go, no matter what your standard. You’ll have a lot of fun
and this is how future champions are made,” she said.
Any female players who would like more information or would like
to speak to WOFF Thorn about service golf can contact her by email
at Lainie.thorn@defence.gov.au.
– Andrew Stackpool
