Should more women take up golf for purely business reasons?

It's no secret that golf has long been used as a business tool. But should that by itself be enough to draw more women into the game?

In a recent survey conducted by the Southern California Golf Association and highlighted by the San Diego Union-Tribune, playing golf because it helped advance their professional life was listed as one of the top 10 reasons why the SCGA's 150,000 members play golf. 

That's not exactly shocking, but what is slightly more surprising is how some organizations are interpreting the data. 

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The Executive Women's Golf Association is just one of the groups that has grown in popularity in recent years. Another is the San Diego's High-heel Golfer, whose founder, Jennifer Harris, said at a local conference that for businesswomen playing golf should become "as high on their list of priorities as networking." 

"If business is who you know and how you know them, golf is an amazing way to be able to build those relationships and get to know people on a deeper level," Harris said. 

Michelle Bergquist, CEO of Connected Women of Influence who also spoke to the Union-Tribune, echoed that thought:

"Women are left out of relationships that lead to client engagement opportunities and career opportunities because they're left off the golf courses," Bergquist said. "In some ways they were never socialized to think that golf is a way to build relationships."

Is playing golf as important as networking? Let us hear you thoughts.