After posting a picture of her newborn on Instagram, Kerr was quick to respond to congratulatory messages with an explanation of why she did not appear to be pregnant this past year. Kerr tweeted: "Thanks everyone! FYI he is our baby. 100%.

I am not physically able to carry our children due to a medical condition. I wish I could." Kerr and her husband welcomed their son via surrogate. Choosing to not have children, to delay the decision, or to leave the game of golf altogether, is par for the course for many women; both golfers and professionals alike.

Despite examples by prominent mothers such as U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, Facebook C.O.O. Sheryl Sandberg, and 12-time Olympic Swimming Medalist Dara Torres, many women with demanding careers find that “having it all” is more myth than reality.

Golf has special properties that make it simultaneously well-suited and disadvantageous for moms. A strong advantage for continuing the sport throughout motherhood is that golf is the only sport that can be played while pregnant. Catriona Matthew won the HSBC LPGA Brazil Cup when she was 5 months pregnant with her second child.

She then proceeded to win the Ricoh British Women’s Open 7 months later when her newborn daughter was just 11 weeks old. With this win Matthew became the first Scottish player, male or female, to win a major championship. Catriona was also nearly 40 years old at the time.

Another advantage golf has over other sports is the option for Moms to bring their children with them to the course. Unlike a pick-up game of basketball, a few laps around the pool, or a boardroom meeting, a round of golf can be played on a meaningful level between children and adults.

Being a golfermom has some disadvantages as well. For the casual amateur player golf is a luxury sport that consumes a tremendous amount of time and money. Just playing one 18-hole round takes 4 – 5 hours not including travel time, practice, or having a meal and drinks afterwards.

Golf can also be very expensive costing between $40 to $100 for greens fees not including the equipment, golf balls, or clothing and shoes. Money may or may not be an issue for the new golfermom but there is no denying that being time-strapped is part of the motherhood experience. Golf has disadvantages for professional women golfers as well. Of the 25 mothers on the LPGA Tour in 2013 many also play on the Symetra Tour, the official developmental tour of the LPGA.

The developmental tour does not have sponsored daycare for its players and with lower prize money there is also less of a chance for players to afford an option that enables their children to travel with them while playing on the Symetra Tour.

Professional women golfers who play on the LPGA Tour can often successfully balance their careers with motherhood thanks to the J.M. Smucker Company who has been sponsoring the travelling daycare for the LPGA Tour since 1991. Prior to 1991, when moms such as Donna White played professionally, there were not daycare options associated with the LPGA Tour and women were forced to either hire nannies to travel with them, bring along family and friends, or leave their children at home to compete on tour. Many simply chose to leave their professional golfing careers entirely.

Some women have shown marked success in golf that coincides with the birth of their children. Hall of Famer Juli Inkster has won 21 events over the course of her career, 7 of which are majors. Juli won 4 of her 7 majors after becoming a mom.

She even spoke of how her “mommy peace” helped her through her rounds. 2014 Curtis Cup Captain Ellen Port has had tremendous success throughout her amateur career. Port is winner of the 1995, 1996, 2000, 2011 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships as well as the 2012 and 2013 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championships. Port won her 2nd USGA title when she was pregnant with her first child.

Her children were just 3 and 1 years old when she won her 3rd USGA title in 2000. Port is fourth place on the USGA all-time victory list for women. Another well-known golfermom and Hall of Famer, Nancy Lopez, continued to play professionally after starting her family with 21 of her 48 LPGA titles coming after she became a mother.

Many women may choose to step away from golf to raise their families or may delay having children for the sake of their careers in golf. It is important, however, that women today have choices in golf or in any other career. Being both a golfer and a mother is often the road less taken.