Girls who golf

The Canadian Junior Golf Association is conducting a pilot project in British Columbia.

Girls in British Columbia are being offered a great opportunity by the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) this year. Girls from 11 to 14 years of age will have a chance to learn the game, make lasting friendships and hone their competitive skills, all within their age group.

This pilot project is an effort to increase the participation levels of younger female golfers, and CJGA has added a Girls Under-15 division at each CJGA event in the province during the 2014 season. Brad Ewart, B.C. tournament director for the CJGA, said they’ve already held six tournaments so far this season and the response has been inspiring.

“There is a rise of young girls playing competitive golf,” said Ewart. “The most important word in golf for any kid is opportunity. We want young girls to get into the game. They don’t need to be super stars, they could just be learning to play. They learn, they make friends and they love it.”

The CJGA will break the existing girls division of ages 11 to 19 into two separate age divisions: Girls 14 and Under and Girls 15 to 19. The new girls' divisions in British Columbia will mirror the current boys divisions across the country.

“We are having huge success here in B.C. when it comes to young girls playing the game,” said Ewart. “We have between 14 and 30 girls playing almost every tournament. Across the country, even in Ontario, they’re lucky to get six to 10 girls. This pilot came about because we all agree here at the CJGA that it was only fair for the girls to have the same chances as the boys.”

Opening up opportunities

According to John Lawrence, managing director of tour operations for the CJGA, B.C. has such a large number of competitive female golfers that adding a second girls division will not take away from the overall competitive atmosphere for the girls on an event-by-event basis.

“Although the program will only be offered in B.C. as a pilot this year," Lawrence said, "if the program goes as we feel it will, the plan is to roll out the program change across the country in 2015.” 

For young female competitive golfers, the opportunities not just to learn the game, but to succeed, are immense.

“Nearly 20 or so girls in the province are almost guaranteed a scholarship.” said Ewart. “I get calls every year, schools looking for female golfers. I tell the girls, if you get your studies done, play, get decent and be even just in the top 15 or 20 in the province, you’re guaranteed a full scholarship. The girls I’ve seen are really, really keen, and they want to stick with it.”

If a female junior aims to qualify to compete in a national or international CJGA competition, they will be required to compete in the older division in order to compare scores across the country. Likewise, the CJGA National Order of Merit, presented by Core Golf Academy, will reflect that of the older division. However, a Girls 14 and Under order of merit for British Columbia will be incorporated as part of the pilot project.