Golf bodies to require female at birth or early transition for competition

The country’s biggest female golfing organizations have revised their gender eligibility rules to exclude trans women that did not transition before experiencing male puberty.

Updated rules will apply to golfers competing in all Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tournaments and eight United States Golf Association (USGA) championships.

The change follow a year-long consultation process. Revised rules will effectively end the careers of competitors like Hailey Davidson, a 32-year-old Scottish golfer who narrowly missed qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open this year and fell short in LPGA Q-school.

Davidson, who began hormone treatments in her early 20s and underwent gender-affirming surgery in 2021, will no longer meet the criteria under the revised policies.

What Were the LPGA and USGA’s Previous Rules?

Previously, players were expected to have transitioned via gender reassignment surgery and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

The sport joins swimming and athletics in tightening restrictions on trans people.

The LPGA say their updated “Gender Policy for Competition Eligibility” and the USGA’s “Competitive Fairness Gender Policy” balances inclusivity with competitive equity.

Details state players assigned male at birth must demonstrate that they did not progress beyond the early stages of male puberty, specifically before age 12 or its equivalent and meet testosterone-level restrictions.

However, critics argue this will eventually phase trans women out of the sport entirely.

In recent years, several Western countries have reevaluated and, in some instances, restricted access to gender-affirming care for transgender minors through limiting access to puberty blockers, gender clinics and counseling.

Growing Restrictions in U.S. Golf and Overseas

Davidson’s participation in competitions has, in recent years, become a point of contention for some of her peers. One letter signed by 275 other professionals demanded she be removed from the Q-School last October.

Smaller competitions have also tightened their requirements in 2024.

She was eliminated from a Florida mini-tour called NXXT Golf in March when the circuit announced that players had to be assigned female at birth––a tournament she would have otherwise won, and has won twice before.

“Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who recently announced her resignation effective January.

The LPGA’s policy also applies to the Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and tour qualifiers.

Scotland’s R&A––responsible for governing golf outside of the U.S. and Mexico–– are expected to adopt the same policies in time for their AIG Women’s Open next year.

Transgender Athletes “Not at Odds With Women’s Equality”

Intersectional feminist organizations like the National Women’s Law Center have previously expressed support for the inclusion of transgender athletes, stating that “nondiscrimination protections for transgender people––including women and girls who are transgender––are not at odds with women’s equality or well-being, but advance them.”

Mike Whan, former LPGA commissioner and current USGA CEO, said the policy reflects standards similar to those in swimming and track and field.

“It starts with competitive fairness as the North Star,” he said.

“We needed to be able to walk into any women’s event and say with confidence that nobody here has a competitive advantage based on their gender. And this policy delivers that.”

The USGA’s policy takes effect during the 2025 season, starting with the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball in May.

Whan acknowledged that future advancements in trans healthcare may will likely require further adjustments.

“Will that change in the years to come as medicine changes? Probably,” Whan added. “But I think today this stacks up.”

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press