So, what do I think about Michelle Wie’s decision to turn "pro" from the standpoint of women’s golf? I think it is great. To use the new buzz word, it is one more "tipping point" in a series of tipping points that are responsible for the increase in women golfers and particularly younger women golfers.

Following the logic of Malcolm Gladwell, author of the best-seller The Tipping Point, the decision of Michelle Wie (and what will follow from it) will generate the contagious behavior the golf industry is looking for – more golfers who play more golf. It should also generate more women golfers.

The number of women golfers is growing -- in fact, faster than male golfers. Women now represent over 25% of all U.S. golfers. If we add the number of women who try the game at ranges and short courses, the increase in the number of women golfers is probably even greater.

What is more relevant, however, is that women golfers are taking up the game at earlier ages. Based on National Golf Foundation figures in its recently published Golf Consumer Profile, in 2004, 23% of women golfers were between the ages of 18 and 29. Compare that with 2001, when only 15% of women golfers were in that age group.

The younger female celebrities like Michelle, Morgan Pressel and Paula Creamer are sustaining the interest that Anika and Suzy Whaley sparked a few years ago. More women – young and old – consider the game of golf a game for them.

With dangly earrings, short skirts and youth on their side, today’s female golf stars give women’s golf a young and fun image. If a girl could play soccer in short shorts and a tank top, why would she choose a sport with old-lady skirts and shirts? For women in their teens, twenties and thirties, the game of golf has enough rules. They don’t want or welcome fashion rules.

Years ago in the seventies, a few LPGA pros (Jan Stephenson and Laura Baugh in particular) thought that women’s golf could be juiced up with sex appeal. The broad market of women golfers – a much older crowd than today – could not wear or accept those fashions.

Today’s young golfers are different. They don’t promote sex-appeal, they offer style-appeal. And women of all ages like that.

Will dangly earrings continue to be the rage? I’m not sure. One of the characteristics of the teen and twenties group is their willingness to take up a fad – and then drop it. But, interest in women’s golf will stick, even if the earrings don’t. (If they start wearing circle pins, I have a few of those!)

However, growth among younger golfers is a challenge for the industry. Young women play less golf once they hit college, work and babies. (The 2004 NGF statistics also report that the number of occasional women golfers (7 or less rounds annually) is significantly up.)

Let’s stop wringing our hands and recognize the challenge, Let's stop the drop-out rate by figuring out how to blend golf with the busy schedules of young women in school, at work or at home.

In spite of the challenge, I don’t think there is anything on the horizon that will dampen the interest in women’s golf. In fact, it’s just the opposite. The golf industry wants -- and needs -- more golfers. Golf professionals are learning how to attract women golfers and more golf professionals themselves are younger and less tradition-bound. The new LPGA Commissioner comes to the position with a marketing background and can be counted upon for forward-looking decisions. The PGA's Play Golf America and The First Tee continue to lead whole new generations of women and men and girls and boys to golf. And, the baby boomers are coming.

So, congratulations, Michelle, and from one woman golfer to another, "Thank You."

For more information about how women golfers and golf professionals can help their facility become more women-friendly, see www.berkleyconsulting.com or write Nancy a question using her Free Help Line at info@nancyberkley.com. Nancy Berkley is a golf industry consultant and writer and an advocate for women's golf.