Transgender golfer slams decision after being banned from women’s tour
Hailey Davidson decried the move from the NXXT Tour which now requires its players to be a “biological female at birth to compete”
Hailey Davidson hit out after being banned with immediate effect from playing on the NXXT Golf Tour – saying the decision was a “slap in the face to all female athletes”.
The first transgender golfer to win on the circuit, at Mission Inn Resort and Club in the NXXT Women’s Classic in January, the Scottish player declared she would “keep fighting to the very end”.
Her victory had sparked a huge debate, with some questioning whether a person born male should be allowed to compete against women.
In its wake, the tour surveyed all its members, asking questions on gender policy. Davidson met the tour’s guidelines, which said players must have declared they are female, undergone gender reassignment surgery and hormonal therapy, and maintained testosterone levels appropriate for the assigned sex.
But in a new statement on Friday, the tour said “effective immediately, competitors must be a biological female at birth to compete”. They added the decision “underscores the organisation’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of women’s professional golf and ensuring fair competition”.
Hailey Davidson ban: “It is essential for our Tour to uphold these categories for biological females”
Stuart McKinnon, NXXT Golf chief executive, added: “As we navigate through the evolving landscape of sports, it is crucial to uphold the competitive integrity that is the cornerstone of women’s sports.
“Our revised policy is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to celebrating and protecting the achievements and opportunities of female athletes. Protected categories are a fundamental aspect of sports at all levels, and it is essential for our Tour to uphold these categories for biological females, ensuring a level playing field.”
He added: “NXXT Golf is honored to lead in promoting and advancing women’s golf, providing a platform that not only highlights the exceptional talent of women golfers worldwide but also ensures the competition remains equitable for all of our players.”
Reacting to the news, Davidson took to instagram to say: “You can scream at me, threaten me, throw insults at me, and even ban me BUT I will ALWAYS get back up and keep fighting to the very end. Hate and bigotry will never win”.
She continued: “This is such a slap in the face to ALL female athletes being told that any male can transition and beat them regardless of the life of hard work those women put in.
“You think you’re attacking me, but you’re actually attacking and putting down ALL other female athletes.”
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Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
