The MyGolf Sporting Schools program has taken flight around Australia. 

From humble beginnings in 2015, the hands-on program introducing the game for life reached almost 50,000 children in 2019 - and continues to boom. 

Golf Australia education and training co-ordinator Johanna Tilden said MyGolf was now ranked among the top five most popular sports among the 30-plus sports offered by Sporting Schools Australia. 

“This was true for both primary and secondary school programs in Term 4 last year, so we’re really happy we’re seeing the barriers to participation crashing down around the country,” Tilden said. 

“The program has enjoyed extraordinary growth in the past couple of years, with 629 programs running around the country in 2019. 

“That equated to more than 46,700 children learning golf for the first time in 2019 and even despite the obvious challenges of 2020, we're really excited by the program's upward trend again this year.

Tilden said the program’s flexible nature meant it could be tailored to suit the needs of any school. 

“I think schools are relishing the opportunity to get their students involved in a sport they might not have otherwise been exposed to, but also to funding that provides them access to qualified deliverers and equipment,” she said. 

“The golf program can be delivered by an external workforce of qualified PGA professionals, by community instructors or by teachers themselves once they have access to fantastic resources available through the School Ambassador program and online teacher training. 

“It permits schools to run a program anywhere on their grounds, or even the opportunity to visit a local course. 

“And for golf clubs that like to get involved in their local community, it is also a great recruitment tool, providing that direct foot in the door to promote their local MyGolf program to the kids.” 

Term 4 Sporting Schools applications are now open, with Sport Australia expanding its vision for all programs.

Click sportaus.gov.au/schools/golf to enrol or for more information.