One of the last bastions of all-male dominance, the golf course, is crumbling like Brooks Koepka’s lead at The Masters. OK, women have been playing golf in the Upstate for decades, but a new group, with a new approach, is rolling out the red carpet to greens the finer sex never thought possible.
“The goal was to create an environment that was less intimidating for girls to play golf,” explains Social Tee cofounder Peyton Roach. “There’s all this pressure at country clubs and you have to spend all of this money. Women don’t know where to go. This is a safe space.”
That space started on Instagram. Former PGA golfer Tommy Biershenk had an idea for a girl’s golf club. (Pun intended.) He contacted Roach, who once hit the links for Wade Hampton High School and then majored in communications at Clemson University.
Within a couple of months, they had thousands of ladies following the Social Tee feed, promoting monthly events that are part golf, part party. “It certainly snowballed more quickly than I anticipated,” Biershenk says with a chuckle. “I didn’t realize how many women weren’t initially comfortable on a course, maybe a little scared to learn, or were afraid of looking bad. But they want to play and get better. Our events remove all of that [fear] and are fun.”
Social Tee Time
Almost 200 women attended the first gathering at District Park in Easley. Chilled wine and selfie backdrops stood alongside boutique vendors and golf instructors. Ladies mixed and mingled—when not driving balls. “I’m shocked at the diversity,” says Roach. “We have beginners and experts. Girls in their 40s and 50s and 60s are coming, along with 21-year-olds. Lots of women come by themselves, and leave with six new girlfriends who they can play golf with.”
The growing local interest is part of a bigger trend. The National Golf Foundation reports that 2024 marked the fifth consecutive year there’s been an increase in women playing golf. “We’re having fun with it,” says Biershenk. “I never thought my job would include making mimosas and blowing up balloons. We’re thinking of getting shirts made that twist the old slogan that GOLF stands for ‘gentlemen only ladies forbidden,’ to ‘guys optional ladies forever!’”
Local businesses are joining the gallery. “Orange Whip (a Greenville-based company that makes golf training aids) is working with us, and Wilson is really involved and giving incentives on clubs,” says Roach. “We have upcoming events with the PGA Tour Superstore, and we’re teaming with BMW for the Pro-Am. We invited Justin Timberlake to an event. Who knows, he may show up!”
It’s all part of the support for ladies learning a new skill for a lifetime. “There are a lot of great things about golf,” Roach says. “It helps in business and socially. It’s such a guy-dominated sport, but it’s really cool to come out and know you can dominate. It’s empowering.”
Scorecard
- Nearly 8 million women play golf.
- 28% of all on-course golfers in 2024 were women.
- Female participation in golf has increased by 2.3 million since 2019.
Statistics from the National Golf Foundation
Look for upcoming events on Instagram @_thesocialtee.
