Golf Management Australia Autumn 2018 | Page 24

GOLF AUSTRALIA NEWS MYGOLF REACHES 10,000 FUTURE STARS “We’re delighted with the growth of the MyGolf program nationwide,” said Gavin Kirkman, CEO of the PGA of Australia. MyGolf, Australia’s national introductory junior golf program, reached a significant milestone in February as it ticked over 10,000 participants in a year for the first time. The number of kids around Australia taking part in MyGolf programs has nearly doubled since this time last year, demonstrating that the joint venture between the PGA of Australia and Golf Australia is providing an enormous boost for golf participation around the country. Queensland and Victoria are leading the way, with more than 5500 juniors taking the first steps to playing golf, while other states have also exceeded their projected participation goals for the financial year, with more than three months remaining to add to the record. 24 I GOLF MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA “I am particularly pleased to see the number of facilities and PGA professionals actively promoting the initiative.” Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt echoed these sentiments. “This is a great milestone for junior golf in Australia, but we recognise the job is not over,” said Pitt. “We have a really good base to work from and I’m confident we can keep growing the MyGolf program so that it has a lasting impact on our game. Obviously having a unified approach with buy-in from all sectors of the industry is absolutely critical.” MyGolfers have taken centre stage in Australia’s biggest tournaments over the recent summer of golf, hitting the first tee shots of the 2017 I AUTUMN EDITION 2018 Emirates Australian Open, the 2018 ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth and the 2018 ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open. They’ve also been able to rub shoulders and learn from some of the best golfers in the world over the summer at clinics with MyGolf ambassadors Jason Day and Minjee Lee, as well as Cameron Smith, Lee Westwood, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston, Aditi Ashok and Jonas Blixt. The MyGolf Caddie Kids initiative continues to create fans for life, too, with MyGolfers meeting their heroes – Adam Scott, Marc Leishman and Sergio Garcia to name just a few – during pro- ams at the country’s marquee tournaments. MyGolf is a 10-week introductory program designed for 5 to 12-year- olds and is the major driver of junior golf participation in Australia. Find a program near you at www.mygolf.org.au.