Getting Girls into Golf: Programs and Pathways in Australia
Golf is still a male-dominated sport at grassroots level, but genuine girls-specific pathways exist across Australia - here's how to find one near you.
Golf clubhouses and junior clinics can still feel like a boys' club in a lot of places, and that puts some girls off before they've had a real chance to try the sport. The good news is that Golf Australia and the state and territory associations have been actively working to change that, and many clubs now run girls-specific junior programs alongside their general junior offerings.
Why Girls-Specific Programs Exist
Research across youth sport generally shows girls are more likely to stick with a new sport when they can start alongside other girls, in a low-pressure environment, before joining mixed groups. Golf clubs that have introduced girls-only come-and-try days or clinics often see stronger retention than throwing new players straight into an existing mixed junior squad.
What to Look For at Your Local Club
Ask your local club directly whether they run girls-only clinics, a girls' development squad, or simply have a critical mass of girls already in their junior program - the honest answer might be "not yet," and that's useful information too. MyGolf, the national junior program, is delivered by individual clubs and coaches, so its girls-friendliness varies from venue to venue rather than being guaranteed nationally.
Our guide to MyGolf explains how the national program works and what to expect from a first session, regardless of gender.
State and National Pathways
Golf Australia and each state association run their own junior representative pathways, and girls compete in their own categories at most levels of junior and elite golf, right through to state and national junior championships. If your daughter shows real interest and aptitude, it's worth asking her club or coach directly about the state association's girls' pathway, rather than assuming one doesn't exist.
Finding a Female Coach, If That Matters to Your Daughter
Some girls feel more comfortable learning from a female coach, particularly in the early, more vulnerable stages of learning a new sport. Not every club has one on staff, but it's a completely reasonable question to ask when you're club-shopping, and larger clubs or dedicated golf academies are more likely to have a female PGA professional or coach available.
Is golf actually a good sport for girls to take up?
Yes - golf is one of the few sports with genuinely equal long-term opportunity for women, including scholarship pathways, professional tours and lifelong social and competitive play. The main barrier tends to be culture and visibility at the grassroots level, not the sport itself, which is exactly what girls-specific programs are designed to address.