Roseville Golf Club in Sydney has long been recognised as a progressive force in Australian golf, and its recent signing of the R&A Women in Golf Charter reinforces the club’s commitment to inclusivity and equality.

The Charter, launched by The R&A in 2018, is a global initiative designed to support clubs in creating a more welcoming environment for women and girls. Signatories commit to increasing participation, providing leadership opportunities, and promoting visibility for women at all levels of the game. For clubs like Roseville, it’s more than a formal pledge, it reflects ongoing efforts to make golf accessible, inclusive, and engaging for members of all ages and skill levels.

At Roseville, that commitment is evident in the programs, leadership, and culture of the club. From women’s clinics and junior programs to opportunities for female members to take on leadership roles, the club has actively worked to break down barriers and ensure that golf is a sport everyone can enjoy.

This five-part series will explore how Roseville is leading the way in supporting women in golf, highlighting the programs, people, and culture that make it a model for inclusivity.

Part 2: Nerida’s Rise Through the Ranks

When Nerida first picked up a golf club, she wasn’t at a driving range or planning to join a club. She was at a work conference.

“One of the team-building activities was playing golf,” she recalls.

“I got to go out and just realised what a great game it is. Social, lots of fun, and a real challenge.”

That chance experience turned into nearly three decades in the sport, and eventually, a leadership role at Roseville Golf Club.

After moving from the eastern suburbs to the North Shore, joining Roseville was one of the first things she and her husband did. With full-time work limiting her golf to weekends, she didn’t become deeply involved straight away. But once she retired, that changed.

“I had the opportunity to start playing more regularly and got involved with playing on Tuesdays, the major Women’s Day competition,” she says.

“The club was so welcoming and inclusive. Such a great bunch of women.”

Those connections encouraged her to join committees and contribute more broadly, eventually stepping into the role of treasurer in 2019.

“I think it’s good to be involved in different aspects of the club,” she says.

“You get to know the members really well.”

A few years later, the board encouraged her to take another step.

“They suggested I might consider the role of president, and I was delighted to put my hand up,” Nerida says. She is now in her third year leading the club.

For her, it’s a chance to give back.

“It’s a great opportunity to give back to an organisation that gives you a lot,” she says.

“We’ve got a fabulous management team, and the board has great skills. Together, we’re able to do wonderful things for the members.”

One of those things is the adoption of the Women in Golf Charter, something Nerida believes was a natural fit for Roseville.

“Roseville has always been pretty special in the way it’s built its women’s membership,” she says.

“We’ve been running a women’s clinic since the 1960s. Our women’s playing membership is around 40 to 44 per cent, which is quite extraordinary compared to many clubs.”

Signing the charter, she says, simply reinforced values already long-established.

“It sits very well with what we feel is important in a golf club, great representation across genders and across age groups.”

Putting the charter into action is where Nerida believes Roseville stands out.

“The actions speak for themselves,” she says.

“Equal access to weekend play for women, support through the clinic, social activities, those things matter. And right now, our board of nine includes five women, which shows real commitment.”

Visibility, she believes, is one of the most powerful drivers of participation.

“It’s important for women to see women,” she says.

“To see women playing golf, on the board, on committees, in the management team. When you see women succeeding and enjoying themselves, that attracts more women.”

Success, for Nerida, is measured in simple, tangible ways.

“You look at the results. The number of women playing. The strength of the clinic—it’s oversubscribed every year. The women who go through it form a bond and feel comfortable when they join the club.”

While the charter has supported Roseville’s pathway, she says much of the growth has been organic.

“We’ve always had a strong women’s base. And with our Tuesday draw, we mix all the women up so you meet people quickly. I know when I joined, I felt welcomed very fast.”

As for why initiatives like the Women in Golf Charter matter, Nerida sees both the community and business benefits.

“Golf had a real regeneration of interest during COVID, but we can’t be complacent,” she says.

“We need to keep attracting people to this wonderful sport, and that means attracting both genders.”

For Nerida, the charter isn’t just a document. It reflects what Roseville already is, and where the club wants to go.