Australia’s sporting fervour needs to cross into women’s sport more than it currently does
And just like that, we say farewell to the warm weather. By now, many of us Aussies are feeling the change of season and are battening down for the cold stint (even if it’s brief – if you’re a Queenslander like me).
But I will not complain about the chill, especially after a recent winter rendezvous took me to Germany on a trip to visit the adidas global headquarters. Sitting in near-freezing temperatures at a Bayern Munich game, I had never been so cold in my life. I had hand warmers in my gloves and socks, plus a cup of mulled wine doing its best to keep frostbite at bay. But what truly warmed me was the energy in the arena – 75,000 fans, shoulder to shoulder, braving the elements for the love of their team. The locals were certainly better equipped than me, but the passion? That was universal.
It made me think: as Aussies, we’re undeniably sports-mad. We rally for our teams, we wear our colours, we follow our codes with loyalty. But how often do we bring that same energy to women’s sport? More specifically, how can we better show up for our female pros, especially those grinding it out on the feeder tours and international circuits far from home?
As I sat down with some of Australia’s up-and-coming women in golf, like our cover star Cassie Porter, rising talents Kristalle Blum, Kirsten Rudgeley and Sarah Hammett [pictured], I was continuously struck by their incredible resilience. These women aren’t chasing headlines. They’re chasing growth, chasing the kind of small daily wins that build a long-term career. They’re humble, hard-working and proud to represent Australia, whether or not there’s a gallery.
That same spirit runs throughout this Winter 2025 Issue of the magazine. You’ll meet voices that aren’t always front and centre in the game, but should be, like a young greenkeeper paving her way in a male-dominated profession, or a 19-year-old future PGA professional committed to making golf a more welcoming space for the next generation.
And because winter doesn’t have to mean packing the clubs away, we’ve pulled together a bumper guide to the best winter golf escapes, whether you’re chasing sunshine in Queensland, soaking in hot springs on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, or heading to the windswept dunes of Barnbougle in Tasmania with your crew for a girls’ weekend to remember.
More than anything, I hope this issue makes you feel a little more connected – to the game, to the people in it and to the quiet power of women carving their own path in golf. Whether you’re playing comp rounds every Saturday or hiring sticks for a social nine, there’s a place for you here.
So here’s to winter. To the cold, crisp mornings and coffee-fuelled tee-times. To windbreakers, woollens and the warm memories forged on fairways. And most of all, to the women who show up, on course, at work and in life with quiet determination and undeniable grit.
Main photo by oisin keniry/R&A/getty images
