Founders: Michele Paddleford, Marlene Beisel, Ashlie DeVincenzi
Based: Orange County
Play: The Ranch at Laguna Beach (our favorite!), Oso Creek GC, U.S. Navy GC, Meadowlark GC, Tustin Ranch GC, San Juan Hills GC and Costa Mesa CC
Website: GalsontheGreen.golf
Social: @galsonthegreengolf (Instagram & LinkedIn)
FORE: How did your club start?
PADDLEFORD: Gals on the Green started in Oct. 2022 after Marlene, my business partner and good friend of over 15 years, had just started playing golf. She was having some very uncomfortable experiences going to the driving range on her own and wanted a safe space where she could feel at ease as her swing developed. She mentioned to me how great it would be to have a group of women who could golf together in a fun and relaxing environment without having to worry about unsolicited advice. As the conversation got started, our ideas began to manifest, and we quickly came up with the concept of this club.
What made you want to start a club with the SCGA?
About six months after the club launched, we were contacted by the SCGA. By that time, we were approaching 100 members, so we felt it was the perfect time to not only become an official club but give our members the added benefits that SCGA has to offer to further support them along their golf journey.
What makes your club unique/special/different?
Gals on the Green is changing lives for women all over Southern California! Our community is truly a big part of what makes us so special. These women come from all walks of life and ages. Whether you are 25 years old or 70, in college, married, divorced, retired, recent empty nester or otherwise, there are members to connect with. What’s even more amazing is that we have a lot of ladies who are brand new to the sport. I’d say approximately 70 percent of our members have never picked up a club before.
What can your members expect being a part of your club?
Community is the heart and soul of our organization. Members of Gals on the Green become part of this connected circle of women who are here to uplift and support one another as we travel along our golf journey. Girls who golf together, stay together.
On a scale of super casual to Sunday at the Masters, how competitive does your club get?
We are pretty casual. There is always laughter and fun on the course, which helps you from getting too much into your head.
What types of events does your club offer?
On average we offer 8-10 events per month including range meetups (where members can practice their golf skills in a relaxed and encouraging environment); structured clinics led by certified golf professionals (to help our members develop & improve on their golf skills); golf outings including nine and 18 holes of play (this is a chance to educate our newer golfers about course etiquette, regulations and other formalities); social events (golf may be what’s bringing us together, but the social element helps form those lasting relationships!); and quarterly golf trips (these are so much fun and a great added benefit for our members, as they get to explore courses in different areas).
What are some short-term initiatives and/or long-term initiatives you’d like to accomplish?
We’ve already hit one of our short-term goals for the current year, which was to surpass 100 members, which is incredibly exciting! We are hoping to double this number by Spring 2024 and continue to find unique ways to inspire our members.
