"I'm addicted to golf!" 13-year-old Yazmin Black of Yowani Country Club in Canberra said.

It is a common phrase many golfers admit to at some stage in their sporting career, including girls in the early stages of their journey within the sport!

“Golf is such an exciting sport, once you get into it – you quickly get addicted,” Black said.

Picking up a club seriously for the first time just over a year ago, Black has already participated in junior clinics, successfully obtained an Australian Golf Foundation Junior Girls Golf Scholarship and has acquired a handicap.

“I used to walk around a bit with my dad who plays, but I wasn’t really into it. I thought it was even a bit boring,” she said.

“But at the start of last year my friend and I decided to try some clinics and then I very quickly realised how fun it is, especially when I started hitting the ball far and up in the air!”

The stars aligned for Black, who after doing some clinics successfully achieved a scholarship.

“The Scholarship program has been really good. Our pro David gave us really good tips and helped us get handicaps,” she said.

“I liked learning and playing with other girls as we all hit a similar distance so we could learn from each other. It was also great to get to know the girls better, everyone is super nice.”

Now, following her scholarship year, Black has started playing Junior Pennant along with regularly playing competition with fellow club-members.

“Pennant was fun as I hadn’t played 18 holes before, and I also liked seeing other courses. I have started playing with other lady members at the club who are really nice and act as good mentors,” she said.

“This school holidays I have played each Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Over the next 2 years I want to get my handicap down to 12.”

With Black’s plan to play competition golf each weekend and lots on school holidays, it is reasonable to say she will achieve this goal!

“For any other girls looking at trying golf, I would say stick with it. Golf can be a bit tricky at the start, but once you get the hang of it, it is awesome, it is fun, and it is a great sport to play!”

The Australian Golf Foundation is the national foundation for golf in Australia.The AGF supports Golf Australia’s vision to grow golf by investing in targeted initiatives to inspire all Australians to enjoy and play the game. Visit australiangolffoundation.org.au for further information.

In 2022, Australian Golf Foundation is thrilled to partner with NEXTGEN Group as the principal partner of the AGF Scholarship Programme in 2022, with significant further support provided by Golf Australia, Golf Victoria, Victorian Golf Foundation, Golf Queensland, Golf South Australia, Golf Tasmania, Golf Western Australia, Western Australian Golf Foundation, Golf Northern Territory, Jack Newton Junior Golf, Golf Management Australia, WPGA Tour of Australasia and PGA of Australia, as well as a number of additional generous private benefactors.

The scholarship program has come to fruition thanks to the foresight and generosity of Bonnie Boezeman AO, Director of the Australian Golf Foundation, who originally established the program at Killara Golf Club, NSW.