It's true. I'm a guy.
I use the female avatar because it's easier to see when it's my shot if I'm away from the computer. I would use a picture of a squid or floating blob of ectoplasm if they were choices. It's not meant to be gamesmanship.
When I started playing here, every other golfer was a blond white guy in a white shirt, and so was I. It wasn't just the stupid feeling you get when you momentarily panic because you can't find the controls to someone else's avatar, it's also the stupid feeling you get when you sit there vapidly waiting for your own avatar to magically swing because you think it's someone else's shot.
Switching to the black woman avatar solved the problem entirely.
I put it on my profile, but no one sees it, so I mention it in games, sort of...
For a while, it was the first thing I said. "Hi, I'm a guy, gl." But let's face it, that was weird and it inevitably lead to explanations like this, only small game-chat bits.
Then I decided to only mention it if it came up, but people reacted poorly to that, like I'd taken advantage of them somehow. Some people think it's smart, some people think it's funny, but a surprising amount of people get very upset by it.
So now I just play it by ear. I don't try to fool anyone, but I don't come through the front door screaming "I'm a guy! I'm a guy!" either.
I should probably just change it. For the last few months it's been mostly ready goes and stroke play, but I've started playing a lot of AS since legend (good advice jim) and there's a lot more interaction in those games, (also more distinguishable avatars).
It serves a purpose, but it's kind of a PITA too.