“The girls’ golf skills are improving really nicely,” said Jake Fullerton, PGA Professional at The Eastern Golf Club, located in the Yarra Valley – one hour northeast of Melbourne.

“I have been coaching some of the girls intermittently in recent years and seen continual improvement however, the Australian Golf Foundation Junior Girls Golf Scholarship program has provided a great opportunity for these girls to receive weekly coaching for a full year - which is resulting in significant progress.”

Running the Club’s Junior Golf Academy, that offers junior clinics for every age and ability each Saturday, Fullerton is very active and passionate about junior golf.

“It has been great to slot this group of girls in at 2pm each Saturday which is providing a great opportunity for other girls to see the group play and practice – inspiring them to want to join in!” he said.

“We have a set structure for each term with specific goals and objectives and are very fortunate to have our par-3 course - Shark Waters – providing the group with invaluable course play experience.”

“Most of this year’s scholarship recipients are daughters of current members and it has been great to see the girls out playing with their families in between their weekly clinic; and hitting the Driving Range during the school holidays. I think their parents are also enjoying being able to spend additional time at the Club to practice!”

“An important program outcome is to ensure the girls are having fun and forming new friendships. Whilst they are ‘one team’ working together to improve their golf game, once we start playing competitions together - like on the tennis court where we break into smaller teams and compete against each other – we can definitely see their competitive sides coming out.”

For more information and to see a list of funded centres, 2022 visit the Australian Golf Foundation website. .

For more information and to see a list of funded centres, 2022 visit the Australian Golf Foundation website.

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.

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.

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.