Rosiland Bivings

Fore Women Golfers

by Don Dowell

In an effort to encourage women everywhere to take up golf and to play the game often, Rosiland Bivings started producing her own TV program called Fore Women Golfers in September, 1995.

The former cost analyst had become intrigued with golf in 1972, but quit after entering the work force. In 1987, the golf bug bit again.

Fore Women Golfers, which is produced by an all volunteer crew at KMTV-TV in Mountain View, CA, airs in 32 other cities throughout Arizona, Nevada, and California. Presently, the show reaches over 750,000.

"There is not another show like this dedicated to women’s golf on any television in America.," Bivings said. "We interview professionals in the industry, provide golf tips, course reviews and news."

The first year’s programming included interviews with San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, Pat Lange, retired LPGA touring pro and maker of the only golf clubs made exclusively for women, and Ann Killian, sports writer for the San Jose Mercury News.

Finding guests or courses to review is no longer a problem, says Bivings. "They call me now." The second year included interviews with Julie Inkster and Golf Course Architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr.

"For a long time, I couldn't figure out why women golfers have been so obviously ignored, and I still can't, particularly when women make up the fastest growing group in golf," said Bivings.

"I've never just wanted to settle for things the way they are when they could be better, and I think things can really get better for women everywhere. We just need to change the rules a bit."

"I'm convinced we can reverse the women's exodus from golf during the beginning years. We're doing it," says Bivings.

Fore Women Golfers is targeted towards beginner and intermediate women golfers but Bivings says, "I can’t believe the number of men who tell me they watch. Many of them say they use the tips. Others tell me they get their wife or girlfriend to watch to encourage them to play golf."

In addition to her television show, Rosiland has published two books with her business partner the Phantom Golfer who also writes golf course reviews for the program. Women Golfers Are Real Golfers and Real Men Golf With Women were released at the beginning of the year. The latter is a satirical look at bridging the golfing gap between men and women. Real Golfers is written to encourage beginning women golfers to overcome the obstacles and stay with the game for a lifetime of enjoyment.

In May of 1997, Rosiland Bivings became the first public access television producer to win a Bay Area Cable Excellence Award (B.A.C.E.) for a program series dedicated to golf for women. Fore Women Golfers won best "Talk Show Series" at an awards banquet held May 31.

Bivings is pleased with the progress the show has made in a short period of time, and looks to continue to add cable stations in the future.

Watch for Fore Women Golfers on your local cable access stations.

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