Junior Golf and Mentorship: Growing the Game

From the outside, golf might seem like a solo sport. But speak to any club golfer, and you’ll quickly realise that the strength of the game lies in its community – and in the people who support, inspire and lift one another along the way.

Nowhere is that more evident than in the relationship between women mentors and junior golfers coming into the game.

Whether it’s the Lady Captain who takes time each week to play a few holes with the juniors, the member who goes the extra mile to build confidence as well as skills, or the mum who volunteers to help run junior competitions – women are helping to grow the game, one young golfer at a time.

As part of our (Female) Club Golfer series, today's article is all about shining a light on the women mentors inspiring the next generation of female golfers – creating inclusive spaces, building confidence, and showing young girls they truly belong in the game.

Passing The Torch

Junior coaching programmes have long been the backbone of club development. But it’s not just about swings and scores. It’s about creating safe, inclusive spaces where young girls feel seen, heard and encouraged.

Mentorship – both formal and informal – plays a huge part in that. When girls see women enjoying the game, leading sections, coaching, and simply showing up week after week, it sends a powerful message: You belong here too.

And that representation matters.

We spoke to several clubs across the UK who are actively championing mentorship. The ladies’ section at one club, for example, has recently launched a ‘Big Sister’ scheme, pairing younger girls with experienced members. “It’s about more than golf,” says one member. “It’s about friendship, confidence, and helping them see a future for themselves in the game.”

The Power of Role Models

Role models aren’t just the pros on tour. Sometimes, the most inspiring mentors are the ones who take the time to listen, encourage, and lead by example.

From offering lifts to tournaments to cheering from the sidelines, countless women quietly – and often without recognition – keep the junior sections running. Their impact may not show up on the leaderboard, but it’s written all over the next generation of golfers they help shape.

And for many junior girls, that encouragement is the reason they keep showing up. The reason they believe they can do it. The reason they start dreaming about what’s possible.

My own journey into the game is testament to that. I took up golf when I was about 11 and joined my first golf club when I was about 13. I was the only junior girl and the youngest female at the club by quite a few years.

To say I was intimidated would be an understatement, and I can really remember thinking, “I’ll never stick at this”.

But the support I received from the women at the club was incredible.There were maybe four or five women in particular who took me under their wings, showed me the ropes and how to hold my own on the course and within the club environment. They taught me the rules, how to play different shots, and what clubs to hit. Come rain or shine, they turned up most weekends to make sure I got a game because I couldn’t play during the week.

They are the reason why I did stick at it (and a huge part of why I eventually started working in golf too).

If you know a woman at your club who goes above and beyond to support the next generation of golfers, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at [email protected].

Read next: Women in Leadership: Breaking Through the Clubhouse Ceiling >