Golf can be one of the most relaxing and fun activities one can partake in. Many believe that golf is a good way to stay active, get outside and get away from the everyday stresses of life. But it can be even more enjoyable playing with a group of friends.

The Bartley Cavanaugh Women’s Club, established in 2006, believes that an active round of golf is often best when played with friends. Front row, left to right, Dianne Rose, Cleo Mendonca, Judy Davenport, Nancy Luke, Linda Buzzini, Stephanie Trenck and Tanya Savage. Back row, left to right, Jan Silveira, Shelly Brassil, Aileen Adams, Karen Alejo, Mary McDearmid, Carmen Armstrong, Heidi Lowery and Mary DiBartolo. / Photo courtesy

That is what the Bartley Cavanaugh Women’s Golf Club believes as well.

The group of 23 women began their club in 2006. They meet every Monday at Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course at 8:30 a.m. to play 18 holes and talk about their lives off the course. The club, part of the Pacific Women’s Golf Association (PWGA), was started by five members who played together in the Wild Hawk Ladies Group.

“We wanted to play on a different day of the week,” said Karen Alejo, spokesperson for the club and one of the founding members. “We approached Bartley Cavanaugh about starting a club and they were very welcoming.”

The group is looking for local women golfers to join the ranks and increase the club’s membership. Alejo said that anyone who would like to join would have to establish an index of 10 scorecards at 40.3 or less in order to join. Anyone is welcome to come play as a visitor on a given week, but it is not a group for beginners.

In addition to playing Bartley Cavanaugh every week, the group plays in some tournaments in the area as well. Four of the members recently played in the Susan G. Komen tournament at Bing Maloney Golf Course.

The benefits of joining the group are many. Alejo described some of her favorite things about it.

“It’s nice to know that you have a set tee time,” she said. “You decide when you do and do not want to play and you can bring a guest to play. I like it because the ladies are all nice.”

She added that the pairings are done randomly each week so there are no cliques formed between members. Generally there are eight-to-10 members that play each week, Alejo said.

To join the group there is an annual fee of $30 and an additional $26 to become a member of the PWGA. The $56 total grants you entrance to the club and the PWGA for a year. Greens fees are not included and Alejo said that the price to play the course is $37 with a cart each week.

The group adheres to USGA rules as well, meaning there are no mulligans that weekend duffers like to take when they pull one onto the highway.

This year there was a Halloween tournament as well as a Thanksgiving tournament in addition to a holiday party that takes place every year, according to Alejo.

“We’re a very relaxed group,” Alejo said. “We all have lunch together after we’re done playing and talk about our lives.”

Anyone interested in becoming a member of the group or would like to play as a guest to see if it interests them should contact member Mary Jane Palmer at maryjpalmer@frontiernet.net.