MyGolf is already one of Australian junior sport’s hottest properties – and it’s about to go next level, particularly for girls.

With the International Day of the Girl approaching on 11 October, Golf Australia wants all MyGolf centres across Australia to join in the celebration with a girls-only program this term.

Any MyGolf centre that uploads its girls-only “come and try” program via the MyGolf website will receive $100 with their centre rebate that week. This fund is eligible for each centre once per term.

“We’ve asked girls in current MyGolf programs their thoughts, and 70 per cent of them would prefer to play and learn with other girls,” said Golf Australia’s junior products manager Emma Phillips.

“Girls like to play golf at venues where there are other girls … and we have seen some really good examples of what can be achieved with MyGolf Girls at Joondalup Resort Golf Academy and Gove Country Golf Club.”

 The MyGolf team offers specific support, advice and resources to MyGolf centres wanting to run girls-only programs such as girl-centric:

• Posters

• Digital assets

• Videos

• Targeted social media campaign

 A social media campaign targeting parents of 5-12-year old’s within 20km of a MyGolf Girls program will run from 7 September – 18 October.

 It’s another reason MyGolf continues to boom.

 The Australian golf participation report of 2019 revealed the number of MyGolf participants had risen to in excess of 24,000 nationally.

 That’s up from 3400 as recently as 2015 – and including a standout 115 per cent surge in Queensland alone from 2018, with more than 10,000 participants in the Sunshine State.

 But one of the most pleasing aspects for Golf Australia’s senior manager of programs and inclusion Christian Hamilton was the outstanding surge in interest in MyGolf Girls.

 “The survey showed that from 2018-2019, there was a 50% increase in the number of girls playing … and for the future of golf in this country, that’s absolutely brilliant,” Hamilton said.

 “We’ve listened to what prospective participants have told us in surveys and other research and we learnt that girls were first attracted to a social environment and for a chance to meet and participate in the sport with other girls alone.

 “It’s a great way for girls to meet new friends and interact together and we’ve seen that reflected in the uptake of the program wherever we’ve run it around Australia.

 “For clubs and facilities that are crying out for more members and visitors, particularly young ones, it’s the perfect way to not only attract a new female audience, but also the families of the young girls who clearly have taken to the sport.

 “It’s a win-win situation, really. We’re getting a new generation of young women involved in the sport, which in turn should really bolster clubs and facilities both short and long-term.”