Junior Golf is Great for Young Women

In the world of Golf Today, women, just as men, start at a very young age in their training. The Junior Golf Association offers girls as well as boys everywhere, the chance to compete in golf tournaments throughout their summer vacation. I was given the chance to be able to inspire and encourage young girls in their journey to become better athletes as well as competitors. As an intern for the Junior Golf Association I saw first hand what young girls aspire to do and be while growing up through the organization. Young girls come to play junior golf not just for fun, but for the chance to compete and grow in their own game of golf. In the past few years it as become apparent to me as an average golfer that it is vital for girls to start at a young age. The Junior Golf Association is the perfect outlet for those that are looking to increase their knowledge in the rules of the game and the proper etiquette that is only acquired through practice and guidance.

Many girls that come through to play in the tournaments return every year to continue playing with hopes of one day playing at the high school level, and even one day a colligate level. While I only interned for one summer, I witnessed young women all over the state of South Carolina graduating to the next level of their education and also carry on in their golf careers. Golf, as in any other sport, is a very mental game. It requires athletic and mental maturity in all aspects of the game. Junior Golf's role in enhancing these aspects of the game is very vital in giving them the opportunity to grow and mature as golfers. Although some may not aspire to be professional golfers one day, there are those select few that are recognized as truly phenomenal golfers.

Erin May, a native of Anderson, South Carolina, is a perfect example. She grew up in the quintessential "golfing family" and started her journey at a very young age. In junior golf, tournaments are offered to children as young as eight years old, and that's where she began the main part of her training. She now is currently enrolled at Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina and is an active athlete on the Lady Trojan's Golf Team. "Without the fundamentals taught through my experiences in South Carolina's Junior Golf Program, I may not be where I am today. They taught me that only through practice can you truly gain knowledge of the game." Erin May is a true inspiration to young golfers around her, and still is involved in some aspects of the program.

The Junior Golf Program is not only a way for young women to get involved in the game of golf, it also is a family. It is something that many kids and parents look forward to when summer rolls around. It seems as if in my experience once you get involved, you never truly leave. Children that have grown to be young adults often come back to see how the program has grown, and sometimes to watch younger siblings play in the game that they still view as an important aspect in their life. I myself became involved when my own father took over the position of the director of Anderson County's Junior Golf Program. It was he who offered me the chance to get even more involved with the program and actually be able to encourage the participants throughout the summer tournaments. It made me look back and wish that I had started at a younger age learning the renowned game of golf. However through most of the summer it turned out that they were teaching me more than I was actually teaching them.

The South Carolina Junior Golf Association is a program and a family that inspires and encourages young children to become involved in the ever-growing game of golf. The percentage of women joining the ranks in this sport is always on the rise, and this program through my eyes does nothing but support that notion. The women of the world are rallying from all over to influence and empower young ladies everywhere to step up to the tee, and show what they are made of.

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