Aymara Indigenous women golf in Bolivia

(2 Aug 2022)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS:
La Paz - 1  August 2022
1. Cholita with cart carrying golf clubs at La Paz Golf Club
2. Pan of Cholitas in golf course
3. Cholita practicing her swing and stretching
4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Teresa Zárate, Golfer:
"I learned (to play golf). I always liked it, but I didn't know (how to play), and year by year, I've been hitting better."
5. Cholitas with their golf clubs
6. Cholita hitting golf ball
7.  SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Teresa Zárate, Golfer:
"I'm very happy with my teammates that I've seen participating in wrestling. I've seen others climbing, I've seen some with polleras, so I'm also happy with this. On forward women wearing the polleras."
8. Cholita hitting golf ball
9. Cholitas walking across golf course
10. Various of Cholitas playing golf
11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Martha Mamani, Golfer:
"The teacher supported us, and also told us, 'why don't you ladies learn to play golf? You have to give it a shot,' he told us. So we are playing, also thanks to professor Ángel (Jiménez)."
12. Various of Cholitas playing golf
13. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Víctor Hugo Aguirre, General manager of La Paz Golf Club:
"Well, it's interesting due to the interest they have shown from the beginning in being able to learn and immerse themselves in the sport, and obviously that they enjoy this is what makes it special. You don't necessarily have to be a member, in this case, to learn to play (golf), but if you are a worker (at the golf course), one of the benefits of working here is that you can learn and practice the sport."
14. Various of Cholitas playing golf
15. Cholitas and others gathered for a tournament
STORYLINE:
Two Aymara Indigenous women swing their golf clubs at the exclusive La Paz Golf Club.
Instead of golf sport attire, the women wore the classic, multilayered Andean skirt, called the pollera, and bowler hats.
The women, known locally as 'Cholitas', are part of a tournament for workers of the Club.
Golf, which doesn't have roots in Bolivia, is generally considered a sport for wealthy people.
But for the past 37 years, Martha Mamani and Teresa Zárate, who work in the golf course maintenance department, have been drawn to the sport.
On a recent day, the women hauled golf clubs across parts of the lawn of the golf course in the middle of the mountains south of the capital La Paz, at about 3,300 meters of altitude.
Two other novice players -Patricia Huaycu and Nelicia Alejo - accompany and learn from 55 year-old Mamani and 51 year-old Zárate.
Mamani says she enjoys playing golf but one must have a lot of patience and calmness.
Zárate says she's happy to see women in polleras take on a variety of sports.
Paraguayan profesor Ángel Jiménez encouraged them to learn the sport, says Mamani.
In Bolivia there are only five golf clubs. The majority of the golfers are men.
The prize of the tournament is not yet determined.  Mamani said that in the past, they competed for items such as last generation cell phones, all financed by the club members.
Another 20 workers participate in the game in order to fraternize, said general manager of La Paz Golf Club, Víctor Hugo Aguirre.
"It's interesting due to the interest they have shown from the beginning in being able to learn and immerse themselves in the sport, and obviously that they enjoy this is what makes it special," he said.
AP video shot by Carlos Guerrero
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