A mother of seven who runs her own golf company branded a male vlogger sexist after he listed 'women' as a potential reason behind slow play on the course in an online poll.

Self-proclaimed golf 'guru' Mark Crossfield asked his 47,000-plus Twitter followers to name the 'biggest issues that cause slow play', listing 'rude golfers', a 'busy course', and 'seniors' as the other options.

It prompted Stephanie Zinser, from Weybridge in Surrey, who runs equipment company Lynx Golf, to slam the vlogger for his 'sexist' comments, but the 54-year-old was stunned to find herself subject to a barrage of abuse online as a result - including accusations it was her 'time of the month'.

Mark, whose poll attracted 4,000 votes, has said he does not subscribe to the view that female golfers cause slow play, and said he was simply trying to gauge people's thoughts on the issue, but Stephanie said he was allowing sexist comments on his page, adding: 'This crap needs to stop.'

Mother-of-seven Stephanie Zinser (pictured with husband Steve Elford), from Weybridge, Surrey, has claimed a video blogger's social media poll is 'sexist' after it suggested women could be an issue that 'causes slow play' on the course

Self-proclaimed golf 'guru' Mark Crossfield (above) came under fire after he posted a poll to to his Twitter account

The poll garnered almost 4,000 votes with the options of a busy course, rude golfers, seniors and women

Of the people who took part in the poll, 13 per cent voted for women as the primary cause of slow play.

'You can't just put up something like that because other people have said it,' said Stephanie, who has said she felt bullied after speaking out on the issue online.

'Just because some people say that slow play is down to women, it doesn't make it right to make it a discussion in a poll like that.

'There isn't a place for this discussion. I don't think it's viable or appropriate.

Vlogger Mark attempted to justify his poll in a vlog later that day in which he claimed he didn't subscribe to the view that women caused slow play and the poll was simply intended to unveil people's thoughts on the issue

'I didn't think it was a joke. We saw it and thought, 'sorry, what?''

In response to the poll, Stephanie tweeted: 'I literally cannot believe this guy has named 'women' as one of the possible reasons behind slow play. Please go do one.'

Stephanie said that she received both personal comments as well as comments about her company from a number of social media users after voicing her opinion.

And she claims that, rather than apologise for any upset caused, Mark instead chose to 'tweet trawl' for comments about the poll that supported him.

Stephanie, who says she is the only female owner of a golf company in the country, said: 'I got accused of having P.M.T by one person, and for feeling like I was being bullied because I have seven children.

'Other women I know who commented on the poll too have been upset, and have been in tears about comments.

Stephanie took to Twitter to to write 'And they say chauvinism is dead' after a person claimed it was her 'time of the month'

Stephanie (pictured with husband Steve) says that she received both personal comments as well as comments about her company from a number of social media users as a result of expressing her opinion

In a vlog entitled 'Golf Slow Play Wars', released on July 3, Mark claims that the poll was part of a sequence of three polls he had posted to unveil thoughts on slow play

People took to Twitter to criticise Stephanie, with some saying she 'obviously can't take a joke' and even going so far as to suggest women should only play one day a week

Other women came to Stephanie's defence on Twitter and suggested the poll could put women off taking up the sport

'We just kept being told that we had 'missed the point', and he just kept saying to wait for the vlog.

'It's as if he's saying "if you don't like what I'm saying then I'm going to attack you".

'I feel very strongly about people treating people in that way, not just women on the golf course,' said Stephanie.

In a vlog entitled 'Golf Slow Play Wars', released this week, Mark claims that the poll was part of a sequence of three he had posted to gauge thoughts on slow play.

The vlogger, who has 47,000 followers on Twitter, states in the video that he himself believes it is an 'unbelievable statement' to say that women are a cause of slow play.

But Stephanie claims that Mark should have stated this at that time of his poll, and said it 'doesn't matter' if the explanation follows the post.

Stephanie, who said she actively works for equality in golf and speaks on numerous panels at events, said: 'It doesn't matter if he justified it afterwards.

Stephanie (pictured with husand Steve) says she actively works for equality in golf and speaks on numerous panels at events

The vlogger (above), who has 47,000 followers on Twitter, states in the video that he himself believes it is an 'unbelievable statement' to say that women are a cause of slow play

Stephanie claims that Mark should have stated this at that time of his poll, and that it 'doesn't matter' if the explanation follows the post

Stephanie claims that sexism in golf is unfortunately an 'archaic' trait that still needs to be tackled

Stephanie's husband Steve Elford, 56, claims that Mark (above) did not challenge responses to the poll that were sexist, calling it an example of 'everyday sexism' in itself

'His poll didn't say anything about the opinions not being his.

'He should have said, "Some people have said to me". But it doesn't make it viable just because someone else said it.

'He just allowed sexist comments on his page.'

Stephanie has said that sexism in golf is unfortunately an 'archaic' trait that still needs to be tackled.

'This kind of crap needs to stop,' she said.

'There are so many wonderful attributes to this game, it's an awesome game.

'It's a game for all ages and men and women can play together. There is no other game on the planet that can do this.

'I play golf in the company of men, and nine times out of ten there are no issues at all, we have a great time.

'I used to work in the City, I used to be a journalist - I've lived and worked around men all my life. I'm not bothered about 'he' or 'she'. We shouldn't need quotas for women in the workplace or anywhere.'

And Stephanie's husband Steve Elford, 56, claims that Mark did not challenge responses to the poll that were sexist, calling it an example of 'everyday sexism' in itself.

Steve says: 'He didn't call the people out who were sexist. He could have jumped in and said that their comments weren't on, but he didn't. Everyday sexism is what it is. It's just to get people to watch his blog.'

Mark Crossfield declined to comment.