Transgender golfers Veronica Ivy and Rachel Elser have secured five women's golf championships in Alberta, Canada, this year following a 2025 ruling by Alberta Golf that expanded eligibility for transgender athletes. This development has drawn criticism from groups advocating for women's sports.
Ivy, who previously competed in elite cycling, has won the B.C. Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master titles on the same day, as well as an unidentified club title in August. She was also part of the winning team in the 2026 Canadian Women's Mid-Amateur Championship. Elser's victories include the Fort McMurray Club Championship and the 2026 Miskanaw Ladies Open title.
Responding to her critics, Ivy posted on social media, "To the bigots: stay mad, and get a better hobby. You're deeply unwell and you're obsessed with harassing a stranger. You're not going to make me stop existing and succeeding. I feel really sorry for you. You have my pity."
Women & Girls Alberta, a group focused on protecting the rights of women and girls, has stated that existing legislation should safeguard female golfers. However, Alberta Golf's current policy, updated in February 2025, allows male-to-female transgender individuals to compete as women if they provide documentation from a medical practitioner confirming at least one year of ongoing gender reassignment, with hormone therapy considered sufficient.
Ivy, however, has suggested that the level of competition in women's golf in Alberta may not be as high as some reports indicate. She told OutSports that she transitioned from competing in elite world-level track cycling to provincial age group titles, and has not yet placed in the top 10 at the Canadian national mid-amateur championship. She characterized her critics as "transphobes" and "pathetic."
Elser's golf background prior to her recent club championship win is less extensively documented, according to reports.