Five teenage girls from Arnhem Land more than 1,000km east of Darwin, eight more from Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula and now seven from Yowani, just minutes north of our nation’s Parliament House – so what do they have in common?

All these girls hold an Australian Golf Foundation Junior Girls Golf Scholarship!

The national program designed to support teenage girls to flourish in golf is taking hold around the country.

“The Yowani golf community is extremely excited about the new scholarship program,” said Ken Norris, Yowani Golf Club junior manager.

“The post launching our program on our club’s Facebook page went viral with over 400 likes and comments in the first 24 hours!

“The club has been running a junior program for the past 20 years and the introduction of the AGF Junior Girls Golf Scholarship program has been an important new stage in the pathway for younger female golfers at the club.

“We are aiming for all of the girls to acquire a GA handicap by the end of the year and participate in 9 and 18-hole club events throughout the year.”

Golf Australia’s Serrin Bertino was very impressed by Yowani’s induction for the girls.

“The club sets a great example of how we can create local role models for girl golfers,” Bertino beamed.

“At the first coaching session, the club got two teenage girls (Taylah Ellems and Silka Solomon) who are already members of the club and well advanced with their golfing endeavours to present the scholarship recipients with their shirts and caps.

“Ken has also organised to take the group of girls to the final round of the Australian Junior Amateur Championships which are being held in Canberra at Gold Creek Country Club.

Along with Silka who is playing in the event, it will be a great opportunity for the girls to see the best junior golfers in Australia play.

“What a terrific way to link girls up and get the younger girls aspiring to progress their golf like the older girls at the club.”

Norris is proud of the club’s achievements to date and hopes the girls enjoy their scholarship journey.

“It was interesting at the scholarship interviews hearing that four of the girls enjoyed golf because it was relaxing. I hope it stays this way for them!” he said with a smile.

Learn more about the Australian Golf Foundation Junior Girls Golf Scholarship program via the Vision 2025 website.

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.

The scholarship program has come to fruition thanks to the foresight and generosity of Bonnie Boezeman AO, director of the Australian Golf Foundation, along with generous donations by the NSW Golf Foundation and Jack Newton Junior Golf.