Donna Hoffman loves her job. As founder of Women on Course, it includes travel, golf and meeting amazing people. The ironic part is that she had had another idea in mind until a series of events changed her course.
Donna had been a television producer when she found her passion for golf, thanks to her second husband, Mark. Like so many women, she wanted to marry her career with her loves of travel and golf by filming behind-the-scene shows of golf courses around the country. The response from female viewers was so great that she decided to host some happy hour / focus groups to see what was driving the numbers.
After meeting with several groups of viewers, it turned out that they wanted more happy hours. Donna coordinated a few more and then they asked if they could golf together too; so she arranged a few of those. Soon, they wanted to formally “join” this emerging club and Donna gladly obliged.
Since 2006, Women on Course has grown a community of over 25,000 women golfers who meet in 20 cities across the US to golf, socialize and have fun. Donna has created an engaging process for beginning golfers (and experienced ones) to have more fun and keep them interested in the game, including sharing tips on how to play their own way, offering discounted golf lessons and ways to keep up with pace of play.
“The most surprising thing I’ve learned along the way is how many women are interested in golf,” Donna says. “Maybe her family plays but she doesn’t or her business associates play but she doesn’t. There’s interest but they don’t know how to start.”
Each Women on Course event is hosted by an Ambassador who greets guests and is the go-to gal. Events range from the original happy hours (their most popular event), to scrambles and spa days. Annual membership is $125 (as of publishing) and includes opportunities for networking, instruction and fun. If you travel a lot, it’s also a great way to find a foursome when you are on the road.
What’s in it for Donna? “Telling from the hugs and tears,” Donna says, Women on Course members feel connected to other women and to something more than what Donna calls “putting the ball in the hole.” “Some have said they feel more like they belong when there are 12 or 20 women there [at the golf course] rather than just two.”
For more information about how to join WOC’s community and their events, go to www.womenoncourse.com.
