Both the LPGA and the USGA announced updates to their gender policies on Wednesday, which effectively prohibit most so-called transgender women (biological males) from competing on the women’s tour. The update reverses a 2010 policy that allowed biological males to play as females, providing “gender reassignment” surgery and the acompanying hormone treatments had been done.
The new policy takes effect January 1, 2025 and applies to the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, LET, LETAS, LPGA Professionals, and Girls Golf. Unfortunately, there remains a carve-out for individuals who have undergone gender-reassignment prior to puberty.
“We remain committed to providing opportunities for everyone to compete for a national title or team but have made changes to our eligibility criteria that reflects current scientific data and strives to maintain competitive integrity,” USGA CEO Mike Whan said in a press relase. “Our updated policy reflects a thoughtful and thorough process during which the USGA consulted with leading medical professionals from around the world.”
Shattered Dream
This means that Scottish-born American golfer Hailey (formerly James) Davidson, who played in college as a male, will not fulfill his dream of playing professional golf as a woman. Davidson was only a middling male golfer when he played at Wilmington University in Delaware.
“Can’t say I didn’t see this coming,” Davidson said on Instgram. “Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.”
Davidson’s inclusion and participation in this year’s LPGA Q School in October prompted 275 players to demand a reappraisal of the policy. Ultimately, Davidson failed in his quest in Q School, but it still ignited rancor among female golfers.
Essential for “Integrity and Fairness”
“It is essential for the integrity and fairness of women’s golf to have a clear and consistent participation policy in place based on a player’s immutable sex,” the letter stated. “There are differences between the sexes — female and male — that specifically affect our sport of golf.”
And now, belatedly, the LPGA agrees.
“The LPGA has updated its gender policy for competition eligibility, effective starting with the 2025 season,” the women’s golf governing body said in a statement. “The policy — informed by a working group of top experts in medicine, science, sport physiology, golf performance and gender policy law — was developed with input from a broad array of stakeholders and prioritises the competitive integrity of women’s professional tournaments and elite amateur competitions.”
“This working group has advised that the effects of male puberty confer competitive advantages in golf performance compared to players who have not undergone male puberty.”
That the LPGA needed a “working group” to inform them that males have certain physical advantages over females seems absurd. Still, eventually, they came to the correct conclusion.
Science-based
“Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan in a statement. “The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.”
This assault on female athletics by the transgender community is finally getting the pushback it so richly deserves. Female athletics is about finding the best athletes among females; it’s not a second chance for average male athletes to find the glory they couldn’t attain when competing against other men.
