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Girls golf program a huge success

On Wednesday 22nd August over 40 people attended a presentation dinner, held at the Ballarat Golf Club to celebrate the success of the inaugural the Ballarat District Golf Incorporated (BDGI) – Girls Development Squad program.

One of the key objectives of BDGI is to grow junior participation, by:

  • Supporting affiliated clubs with the promotion and delivery of club-based activities and programs;
  • Promoting and delivering a range of activities and programs; and
  • Providing a pathway to the WestVic Academy of Sport and Golf Victoria elite programs.

The Girls Development Squad is BDGI’s largest junior development program and the first initiative of its type in the state, with 16 activities delivered between November 2017 and July 2018.

In establishing the program, BDGI recognised that girls who participate in introductory golf programs often do not transition into junior club membership, maintain a junior club membership and/or progress along Golf Victoria’s junior participation pathway. In designing the program, BDGI identified many of the barriers and motivators for girls to participate in golf and endeavoured to address them.

20 girls aged between 9 and 18 accepted an invitation from BDGI to participate in the inaugural program. Squad members were provided with:

  • The opportunity to play regularly together;
  • Access to expert coaching;
  • Playing uniforms;
  • The opportunity to compete in Golf Victoria junior events; and
  • A pathway to the WestVic Academy of Sport and Golf Victoria elite programs.

What did day one of the program look like?

Over the duration of the program, the squad achieved some fantastic results, including:

  • 11 squad members now hold a Golf Australia handicap
  • BDGI 2018 Open Junior Championships
     - U/18 and U15 Girls Scratch Winner: Rose Britt
     - U/18 and U/15 Girls Handicap Winner: Izabella McIntyre
     - 9-Hole Event Winner: Alicia Todd
     - 9-Hole Event Runner Up: Paige Meyer
     - 9-Hole Event 3rd Place: Aaliya Puvanendran

  • BDGI 2018 Junior Classic
     - U/18 and U/15 Handicap Winner: Rose Britt
     - 9-Hole Event Winner: Alicia Todd

  • BDGI 2018 MyGolf Junior League 
    -  Squad members contributed significantly to the overall participation numbers involved in this competition.

  • BDGI 2018 Junior Pennant Competition
     - Squad members represented their home clubs or a combined Girls Development Squad/Maryborough Golf club team in this competition.

  • Golf Victoria 2018 Rookie Series Event – Oakleigh Golf Club
     - U/16 Gross Winner: Rose Britt, earning a spot in the Rookie Series Finals
     - U/16 Gross Runner Up: Abbey Johnson
     - U/12 Gross Runner Up: Millie Cassidy

  • Golf Victoria 2018 Rookie Series Event – Northern Golf Club
     - U/16 Gross Winner: Rose Britt
     - U/16 Gross Runner Up: Taruni Prasad

The highlight of the evening were presentations made to two squad members, recognising their outstanding performances over the last nine months:

  • Rose Britt played exceptional golf in all the tournaments that our squad members competed in and is currently ranked 39 on the Golf Victoria U/18 Order of Merit, which includes a very impressive round of 83 at the Ballarat Golf Club in the 2nd round of the Ballarat Junior Masters.
  • Millie Cassidy played exceptional golf in a number of the tournaments that our squad members competed in and was recently selected in the School Sport Victoria U/12 State Team to play at the School Sport Australia 12 Years and Under Golf Championship, which will be held along the Bellarine Peninsula in November.

Many thanks to Helen Pascoe (BDGI President) for donating the awards, a gift pack for Rose and a golf bag for Millie. Helen is a strong advocate for junior golf and a wonderful role model for our squad members.

Each squad member received a plaque as a memento of their involvement in the program.

The establishment and delivery of the Girls Development Squad program would not have been possible without the wonderful support of the following people:

  • Tony Collier – Regional Development Officer – Golf Victoria;
  • Andrew Cartledge – PGA Teaching Professional – Ballarat Junior Golf Academy;
  • Angela Tatt – PGA Teaching Professional – Ballarat Golf Club;
  • Helen Pascoe – President – BDGI;
  • Ron Adams – Secretary – BDGI;
  • Rachel Murphy – Former Project Coordinator – Sports Central;
  • Chloe Jackson – Project Coordinator – Sports Central;
  • Rob Ward – Former Executive Officer – WestVic Academy of Sport; and
  • Corey Saitta – Executive Officer – WestVic Academy of Sport

We also wish to acknowledge:

  • Ballarat Golf Club and Golf City Ballarat for hosting the series of coaching clinics;
  • Victorian Golf Foundation and VicHealth for their funding support;
  • Travis Britt from Create Infinity Video Productions; and
  • BDGI Committee for their ongoing support of junior golf

Andrew Milligan
Junior Coordinator