MERBEIN Golf Club will participate in a nationwide push to attract junior girls to the sport.
After gaining funding from the Australian Golf Foundation, the club will now offer six scholarships for girls aged between nine and 16.
Alongside 160 other clubs across the country, the program will provide a minimum of 24 coaching sessions, give girls the opportunity to gain a one-year junior club membership, and provide a pathway to participate in club competitions and gain a handicap.
Community instructor Melinda Binding will host the sessions, which will take place on Friday nights starting next month.
“Last year we started that process of engaging more females in the sport and that’s part of our long-term goal,” Binding said.
“We put our hand up because we’ve been wanting to do something for a while but hadn’t been able to due to our facilities.
“This program includes 24 sessions but we’ll actually be doing more.
“They get kitted out and don’t need to have any gear; they won’t need to worry about that.”
Binding said talent in the Sunraysia region was already quite strong and would be furthered through the program, which she hoped would be a long-term incentive.
“We’ve had a lot of success with young girls in the district who have gone really well in Melbourne and they’ve done it without this program,” she said.
“It’d be great to have other clubs doing it next year as well.
“It’s one of those versatile sports where you can choose when you want to play.
“You don’t really know how good you might be at it until you give it a go.
“Skills can easily transfer over from another sport.
“You have the luxury of playing competitively or casually and you can change that at any moment.”
Merbein Golf Club president John Bell said the program would offer a social component as well.
“All we ask is that applicants display a desire and willingness to improve their golf skills, obtain a handicap, play in club competitions (or at least social play) and engage in any extra-curricular activity that fosters friendships between scholarship holders,” Bell said.
“This is a terrific opportunity.”
