Greene’s Golfer Girls

By April Taylor, Record Editor
Published: July 31, 2008

Last summer, the Ladies Golf Association (LGA) of Greene Hills Club launched a program called Golfer Girls. The goal: to introduce young females to the sport of golf in a fun and supportive way.
Apparently, it’s working. Already, the number of participants in the program has grown from nine to 12 over the last year.
Lauren Eklund, a 14-year-old who is already an accomplished golfer, says she would recommend the program to other girls. Eklund participated in Golfer Girls last year.
“It’s not many (females) our age who play golf, so it’s good being with other girls while playing,” says Lauren.
LGA president and Golfer Girls organizer Pat Temples said that “girls need to have instruction with other girls in a non-competitive environment...we hope that learning the game with other girls will lead them to friendships and therefore playing partners.”
Golfer Girls is open to females, ages 7-13. Participants receive ten hours of instruction from LPGA Teaching Professional Gretchen Scheuermann of the Highlands Golf Park in Ruckersville.  Volunteers from the LGA assist with each session of Golfer Girls.
The girls begin with the putting stroke, then chipping and pitching and eventually move to a full swing in the last sessions, says Scheuermann. They use junior-size putters, irons and woods. Not only do the girls get a chance to improve their golf swing, but also they learn about etiquette and about caring for the playing surface.
Scheuermann says the program aims to build confidence among girls in their ability to play the sport.
“Golf is unique because anybody really has a great ability to develop a golf swing… girls and women included. It’s not a strength thing; it’s a timing and rhythm thing, and anybody can play,” says Scheuermann.
She adds:  “Aside from the skills and the technique… I try to really get them excited about the sport and to encourage them and let them know they have the ability to really achieve in golf.  One of the goals is to have them around other girls and friends and peers so they can recognize it’s something they can do for fun and for a long time. “
Temples said it is important to get girls started early in golf “so that they can be competitive when they are teens and young adults.
“If we are ever going to even the playing field for girls in golf, we have to get more girls playing, and start them young,” says Temples.
This year’s Golfer Girls participants are as follows: Katie Alley, Samantha Bell, Kendall Breeden, Samantha Brunelle, Hannah Carpenter, Logan Coates, Destiny Gerrick, Yancey Harrison, Ashley Harrison, Rachel Honaker, Suzanne Laliberte and Lindsay Whittington.
Many of them give the program high marks. 
Rachel Honaker, 10, of Madison County, says she’s picked up a lot of tips and is looking forward to continuing the program next year.
“I’m doing better in chipping,” she adds.
Yancey Harrison, 10, says she likes the fact that it’s a “girls-only” activity. 
“It’s less people, so you get more time to learn with the instructor, “ she says.
“The program teaches you a lot and it’s fun,” agrees Kendall Breeden, 13. “You learn better technique for your swing.”
Katie Alley, 10, says she can see herself making progress.
And Samantha Bell, in her second year with the program, says she also has enjoyed learning how to play the game in an all-girl environment.
“It’s easier to learn,” says Samantha. “You don’t have any cute boys distracting you.”