Faced with a dwindling women’s section, one member at Tandragee Golf Club in Northern Ireland decided to act. The result is a community-driven success story that has brought nearly 200 women and girls into the game; more than 150 have become full members and one even went on to become the club’s secretary.
The future of women’s golf had looked bleak at Tandragee Golf Club in Northern Ireland in 2015, few new members were joining and the section was struggling to maintain numbers.
A decade later, and the club has an entirely new outlook. It is a thriving community of players who have helped make the Armagh club a vibrant centre for women’s golf, a transformation driven by one volunteer’s vision.
At the heart of this change is Dolores Hamill, who’s been a member of Tandragee for over 30 years. Her passion and dedication as a volunteer have helped introduce almost 200 women and girls to the game. Through her leadership and development of the Get into Golf programme, she has created a welcoming pathway for beginners and helped build a strong community of female golfers.
Hamill took up the role of women’s captain in 2015, at a time when female membership at the club was struggling.
“I appreciated how much golf enriched my life’s experiences, so I felt passionate about wanting other ladies to have those sorts of golden opportunities,” said Hamill.
“I decided to start up a golf programme myself in October 2015. It was largely my work colleagues, my former colleagues or maybe golf members’ families.”
Later it would be club professional Dympna Keenan who approached Hamill about developing a more structured programme.
“At that time, it was Dympna who approached me and asked would I consider working with her to offer the Get into Golf programme. Along with Rory Leonard (Golf Ireland) we planned our new programme.”
Beginning with just a group of eight in October when Hamill initially set out to improve membership, her work with Keenan and Leonard on the Get into Golf initiative attracted more than 20 eager participants in its first year.
Since then, Hamill has helped oversee a remarkable rise in women’s membership at Tandragee, not only building a strong community of golfers but also inspiring many along the way.
Hamill’s dedication has been particularly inspiring given the personal challenges she has overcome.
Despite all she has faced Hamill remained committed to the programme.
“I had a cancer diagnosis on June 2, 2020, my operation on the 22nd and I was back playing golf and involved in golf in July.”
One of the defining features of Hamill’s approach is her personal touch as she welcomed each participant personally, creating an atmosphere where beginners could feel comfortable asking questions and learning at their own pace.
The introduction of a buddy and mentorship system paired new golfers with experienced members, helping them learn the rules, etiquette and spirit of the game in a fun, social setting. Camaraderie and enjoyment were central to Hamill’s approach, ensuring that every new player built confidence both on and off the course.
Over the past decade, 191 women and girls have participated in the Get into Golf initiative, with 154 of those going on to become full members of the club. Today, nearly half of Tandragee’s female members started through the programme, highlighting its profound impact on the club.
Past participants have gone on to become club secretary and match and handicap secretary, while Esther Paul, who joined through the programme, became lady captain in 2025.
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