Sweden — 28 October 2026. The proportion of women beginning two professional golf-coaching education programmes run by PGA of Sweden has more than doubled in one year. The association reports that 20 of the 87 people starting training in 2026 are women, approximately 23%. In 2025, the figures were eight of 81, or roughly 10%. Crucially, these are new course entrants, not a census of qualified golf coaches working in Sweden.
PGA of Sweden released the numbers on 28 October, and Swedish specialist publications including Golfbranschen and Svensk Golf reported them the same day. They cover the Tränarassistentutbildningen (TAU) assistant-coach programme and the Högre tränarutbildningen (HTU) higher coaching qualification. Both feed the professional development pathway used by golf clubs and coaching operations around Sweden.
How substantial is the change?
The number of women starting these programmes rose from eight to 20, an increase of 12 people or 150% in the number of female starters. Total entrants increased much more modestly, from 81 to 87, so the change cannot be explained simply by recruiting a much larger class overall.
The four-year sequence puts the result in perspective: 2023 — 13 women out of 91 starters (14%); 2024 — 11 of 81 (14%); 2025 — eight of 81 (10%); and 2026 — 20 of 87 (23%). The displayed percentages are rounded, consistent with the PGA's reporting; 20 divided by 87 is about 22.99%. On this measure, 2026 is the strongest year of the four.
The 78/30 programme is about the profession, not just enrolment
PGA of Sweden launched its long-term 78/30 initiative earlier in 2026. The 78 refers to 1978, when Louice Krabbe Wingårdh became Sweden's first woman qualified as a PGA coach. The 30 represents the association's longer-range ambition for women to make up at least 30% of the PGA professional workforce.
That target must not be confused with the newly announced 23% share of course starters. When 78/30 was introduced, the association said that women represented around 11% of its existing coaching profession. Enrolment is a leading indicator, not evidence that the established workforce has already reached 23%.
The strategy includes mentoring, professional networks, the recruitment of more women into leadership roles in junior golf, visibility for experienced female professionals, and support for career progression. Johan Hampf, PGA of Sweden's chief executive, sees the latest figures as an encouraging sign for a sustained programme rather than a short campaign. Education lead Henrik Swärdh stresses the role of female coaches and mentors in showing younger girls a credible route into the sport and profession.
What still needs to happen?
These figures record who started TAU or HTU. They do not tell us how many will graduate, gain coaching jobs, or stay in the profession. PGA of Sweden itself points to retention and career development as the next stages. It would be premature to treat the increase in starters as a completed transformation of the national coaching workforce.
For Swedish clubs, a wider pipeline of prospective coaches could eventually mean more choice of mentors and stronger links between junior participation and professional careers. The measurable news today is narrower but significant: nearly one in four new PGA of Sweden coaching students in 2026 was a woman, up from about one in ten a year earlier.
Sources: PGA of Sweden, official announcement (28 October 2026); Golfbranschen and Svensk Golf, independent industry coverage (28 October 2026).
