The 'Chicks With Sticks' group enjoyed a fun day at the Driving Range during the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

‘Chicks With Sticks’ and their leader, Jenny Hennessy, known as the ‘queen of the fairways,’ attended the $10 million DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates over the weekend. Jenny, with a two-handicap, is on a mission to grow the sport among women, a previously under-represented community in golf. She founded ‘Chicks With Sticks’ four years ago in Dubai, where she found few female players to join her on the golf courses.

Jenny said: “I saw a significant gap in the market when I moved to Dubai. The emirates have perfect weather, top-class facilities, and amazing coaches, yet there weren’t enough women playing golf.” She recounted how at social events, women would approach her, eager to play golf but with no organized platform to do so.

‘Chicks With Sticks’ began as a WhatsApp group with a few friends. The inaugural event saw 30 participants, which tripled to 90 within a month and grew to 200 members six months later. Today, the group has introduced thousands to golf, aiming to break down traditional barriers to entry.

The group offers weekly golf lessons at Claude Harmon’s CH3 Performance Academy at The Els Club, Dubai, with around 100 ladies attending weekly. They also host seasonal events and are working on merchandise. Jenny emphasizes the importance of creating a community for newcomers in a city like Dubai.

Jenny’s goal is to expand ‘Chicks With Sticks’ across the UAE and beyond, with bases already established in Cork, Limerick, and Dublin. Her passion for golf, instilled by her father, a scratch golfer, drives her mission to make the sport more inclusive and accessible.

Primary school teacher Cat Moon’s journey into golf through ‘Chicks With Sticks’ exemplifies the group’s impact. New to the region and having never played golf, Cat joined the group after seeing a post on Instagram. She now plays in the advanced group and plans to continue after having a baby.

Cat’s experience highlights how ‘Chicks With Sticks’ is making golf more accessible and enjoyable for women in the UAE, breaking down stereotypes and creating a welcoming community.

Source link:   https://www.khaleejtimes.com