MyGolf, Australia’s national junior golf program, is thriving in the Northern Territory township of Nhulunbuy on the Gove Peninsula.

Gove Country Golf Club has been a registered MyGolf centre since 2011, so it was an obvious decision for the club to re-register after the MyGolf program relaunched in July last year.

Gove’s MyGolf co-ordinator Esther Rika, with the assistance of dedicated club members and parent volunteers, delivers the MyGolf program to children in the remote community.

“We wanted to offer a junior program that was fun, structured and encouraged inclusivity,” said Rika.

“The new MyGolf program is a great model that offers quality, structure, flexibility and is very user-friendly for those facilitating it.”

Rika and members of Gove Country Golf Club share the same philosophy to that of  industry bodies – that golf is a game for life.

This has been extended further by encouraging the parents to participate alongside their children during their weekly MyGolf sessions, rain, hail or shine.

“This fun and inclusive approach has contributed to the success of MyGolf in Gove,” said Rika.

Another contribution to the success of the club’s MyGolf program is establishing links with local schools, including Nhulunbuy Christian College and Nhulunbuy Primary School.

By doing so, there has been a steady increase in the number of juniors participating in golf at school as well as the Gove MyGolf program.

Rika and the team at Gove Country Golf Club are well and truly doing everything they can to increase junior participation and grow the game of golf up north, efforts which are commended by the golf industry bodies

MyGolf is a 10-week introductory program to golf designed for 5 to 12 year olds and is the major driver of junior golf participation in Australia.

MyGolf promotes skills development with the aim to increase participation and engagement in golf by children, providing a fun and accessible introduction to the sport of golf.

There are many benefits for clubs and facilities across Australia to become an official MyGolf Centre.

To become involved in MyGolf, either as a provider or participant, please visit the MyGolf website www.mygolf.org.au

via MyGolf: Junior golf thriving in the Northern Territory – PGA.