Step into your golf era with Queen City Links Ladies
I’M MARY
Founder & CEO of Queen City Links Ladies
In 2022, I founded Queen City Links Ladies to help women find, learn and enjoy playing golf.
You haven’t experienced golf like this before…
Golf is…
An opportunity to build skills and personal accomplishments
An incredible challenge in practicing presence and mindfulness
A place where you can feel supported and make lasting and meaningful connections
A sport that enables you to be active, healthy and strong throughout your life
Golf is NOT…
Only a guy’s sport
Only for “good” golfers
Too difficult for you to learn
Snooty and exclusive (well OK sometimes it can be, but we’re here to shift that culture!)
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes! That’s exactly why I started QCLL - to enable more women to experience the benefits of playing golf: exercise & fresh air, spending time with friends, the personal growth that comes from improving your skills while conquering the challenges the golf course presents.
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Don’t have clubs? No problem. For clinics & driving range meetups, simply indicate you need clubs during the registration process and QCLL will provide some for you to use during the events. Some events will require you to have golf clubs but the registration will clearly state that. Most events you’ll be able to use QCLL clubs at no extra cost.
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Experienced golfers welcome. We usually get a good mix of beginning, intermediate and experienced women golfers at events.
Experienced golfers: I’m really interested to hear from YOU - do you have an event idea? A tournament or competition format that excites you? How can QCLL help you accelerate your golf game and make it more exciting for you? Email me!
We all benefit when more women play the game of golf - so please come out to the events and help QCLL build this women’s golf community. I need and value your input which will continue to evolve this community to serve across skill levels.
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Not at this time. Pay per event.
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QCLL hosts events about monthly, alternating between driving range meetups, clinics and 9-hole scrambles. Right now most events are on the East Side of Cincinnati. QCLL is growing so we hope to have events at a golf course or driving range near you soon. Subscribe to to our email list to be the first to know about upcoming events.
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Subscribe to our email list to be the first learn about new events. Events are also announced on socials - follow us @queencitylinksladies on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
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9 out of 10 times, YES, I am there! I LOVE meeting everyone and my intention is to be at every event possible.
QCLL is growing and unfortunately I cannot always be at every event. However, I assure you there will be another awesome person running the event on behalf of QCLL. This is such an amazing community. Please know I am doing the up-front, behind the scenes work to be confident that even in my absence, you will still have a great experience and connect with your golf girl crew at QCLL events.
What makes QCLL different?
I believe golf can and should be a great experience for everyone - and especially for women. The following core beliefs and behaviors drive all of the good vibes you feel at our events. At Queen City Links Ladies, we…
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Learning to play golf is a journey. We are all somewhere along the continuum that spans beginner to expert. Without the early milestones, no progress can be made towards the goal or acheivement you have in mind for yourself. Celebrating the first time you hold a club in your hand is just as important a milestone as celebrating breaking into single digit handicapper status. When planning events, I like to add in a little element of celebration - whether it’s a raffle or a prize for winning in a friendly competition.
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At almost every event you will hear me say: “There are no silly questions.” If you are wondering it, someone else is probably thinking the same thing. Golf lingo is nuanced but it’s not a secret nor should it be held against you for not knowing or understanding the terminology. If you have a question, ask it! If someone in your group or nearby knows the answer, they will answer kindly and in a helpful manner.
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Learning to play golf and improving your skills requires movement and activity - whether you walk with your push cart or ride in a golf cart. We enjoy being outdoors and moving our bodies. We value playing golf for the opportunities it gives us to include movment in our lives and to explore new courses.
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Everyone benefits when more women play golf. Creating more opportunities to find, learn and enjoy women’s golf results in better representation and visibility of women in this sport… which then begets more demand for everything connected to women’s golf - clothing, equipment, instruction, league, girls golf programs, etc. More is more for everyone… not only women.
Let me pause a beat…
Before you scroll down to the Queen City Links Ladies Origin Story & the why behind the mission… I want to hear about YOU. What landed you here at QCLL?
What are you looking for in women’s golf?
What events do you want to see?
What advice or tips are you looking for?
What got you into golf? What do you love most about it? What do you want to see different in the future? What is your story - are you a beginner, intermediate or have you been playing for a while?
Tell me!
Even if you just want to give me a shout out to say hey - that’s also much appreciated.
Queen City Links Ladies
The Origin Story
I wasn’t always a golfer…
I didn’t grow up around golf. I went out one time to play golf with a friend in my early 20s and it was awful. By the end of it, I was so frustrated. I was so tired, and I remember being extremely hungry. It was not a good experience. I didn’t think golf was for me.
Fast forward through COVID, everyone was looking for activities to do together safely. I decided it was time to give golf another try. So as a total beginner, knowing almost NOTHING, I went to the driving range. I took a 4-week beginner series clinic. I played some par 3 courses. I found out that I was not bad at playing golf. I could hit the ball pretty well, and I enjoyed being outside. Every golf course has a story and every round is an adventure… I was hooked!
After I caught the golf bug, it was tough finding both the time to play & practice, but even tougher finding regular playing partners. When you go to the driving range or golf course alone as a woman, sometimes it’s kind of weird. I’m much more comfortable with it now - but at first - it was very intimidating. I had to find more women to play golf with. I joined a 9-hole weeknight women’s league and that was absolutely the best decision!!! But I kept thinking that I could do more…
What was the
inspiration behind creating
Queen City Links Ladies?
QCLL admittedly began out of a bit of selfishness on my part: I wanted more women to play golf with ::: shrug :::
I enjoyed playing but I was not ready to commit to an annual membership to a women’s golf association. Joining a country club seemed like a big investment. Those both felt like big commitments for something I was enjoying but still very much a beginner.
So what did I do? I dragged all of my women colleagues, neighbors and friends out to the driving range or golf course. I would arrange these informal golf outings and range meetups. I am fortunate to have an amazingly supportive network of friends, colleagues & neighbors, many of whom humored me and attended these events (thank you guys, you know who you are!).
One day in 2022, one of my dear friends and colleagues said to me, “You know, these events have really helped me feel more comfortable on the golf course. You could start a business.”
Just a few weeks later, I founded Queen City Links Ladies.
The concept is simple: once a month, QCLL hosts either a driving range meetup, a clinic, or a 9-hole scramble. Beginners are welcome - if you don’t have clubs, some will be provided for you to use.
Now, while I continue to host monthly in person events, I am working to build online resources! I know women want all the info before taking the next step especially in intimidating or socially risky situations - and I’m here to tell you everything you need to know in a fun way, step by step when you need the info! More to come, so stay tuned!
