Ashley (Gomes) Kettman is a former Foothill High School in Pleasanton and San Jose State golfer. After college she competed professionally, including competing in two seasons of the Big Break on the Golf Channel, finishing runner-up in Big Break VII: Reunion at Reunion. She currently lives in Livermore with her husband Jeff and their four children. She teaches lessons at the Pleasanton Golf Center as well as privately and counts Golden State Warrior Andre Iguodala as a client. Kettman is the founder of Queen of the Green and can followed on Instagram under that title. Kettman is writing a blog for ACES about golf from a woman’s perspective.
What ever happened to the days where women were recognized in golf for their actual talent?
Gone are the days where people care if a female golfer can actually play golf and play it well. We have turned into a society where posing in a bikini for a photo while straddling a golf club holds more clout that being able to shoot under par.
Am I the only one that sees something wrong with this? These women have hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, and for what? For looking sexy while raking a bunker! Go get a golf lesson!
Please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. I am all about taking care of yourself and looking good on and off the golf course. And I fully understand that sex sells, but the half nude pics on the putting greens need to stop.
These women are on social media pretending to be amazing golfers and they are hitting golf balls with their long hair down! How many women on the LPGA play golf with their hair down?
Zero – because real golfers pull their hair back in a ponytail, bun, or braid under their baseball hats. Because real golfers are more interested in competing and beating everyone they see on the golf course, instead of how many followers they can get by pretending to play a sport while looking like they are competing in a wet t-shirt contest.
Let me change perspectives for just a minute. Let’s all imagine a bunch of men who have handicaps of 10-15. And now let’s imagine that they have nice toned, tanned physiques. How many followers would they get if they posed seductively on the roof of a golf cart?
How many followers would they get if they posed in briefs while holding a putter in between their legs while licking their lips? I’m sure they would get a few, because some people are into that. But would they get more attention than Rickie Fowler? How about Jordan Spieth? The answer is no. Because those professional golfers and celebrated for their raw talent and their wholesome, boy next door, fun loving images.
I love women’s golf and I love teaching young girls how to fall in love with this wonderful sport. But what are they going to learn once they are old enough to have their own social media accounts?
They will learn that in women’s golf, talent means nothing and will only get you so far, but if you have a decent swing in heels, then you have just hit the jackpot.
People will say that I’m on this rant because I’m bitter. Guess what, I’m not. After four kids, I could easily put on a bikini and take a few swings and post them on my Instagram to gain followers – and I would look good doing it.
I have no problem going out on the golf course with my friends and having a few beers and being the life of the party – it’s one of my favorite things to do!
But there’s a time and a place for everything and unfortunately the sexiness and fakeness of social media is ruining women’s golf. I want to challenge these bikini clad golfers to actually start practicing and working on their golf games.
With a little practice and hard work, they might just see that it’s way more fulfilling and fun to be known as a bad ass golfer as opposed to a bikini clad model that looks good holding a golf club. #makegolfclassyagain
By Ashley Kettman