As reported in the May 2026 issue of Inside Golf, women and girls are driving the next wave of golf’s growth, inspired by Australian golfers, Hannah Green, Minjee Lee, and Grace Kim. School girls are sitting up and taking notice, participating in junior golf clinics and programs run specifically for girls, such as the Australian Golf Foundation’s Junior Girls Scholarship program.
At Maroochy River, Junior Captains Tyla Fourie and Isaac Russell are spearheading a campaign to encourage more juniors to join the club and take up golf. Says Tyla: “Our committee has introduced improved squad programs on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, led by some brilliant coaches. These programs have been successful, with many new and younger golfers regularly attending the club, playing golf, and enjoying the game with other members.”
Tyla’s own journey to playing golf is inspiring. The Grade 10 Immanuel Lutheran pupil emigrated to Australia from South Africa with her parents and younger brothers when she was 10 years old and played almost every sport.
“In 2022, I finished my last swimming race at the State Championships, where I lost my passion for competitive swimming. I was unsure of what to do next, as I am a very sporty person,” says Tyla.
“I wanted to try something new, so I decided to attend a junior golf squad lesson at Maroochy River when I was 13. I quickly fell in love with the game, which led to weekly lessons.”
Tyla was then invited to join the “Yellow Shirts” girls’ group, run by Maroochy River coach, Di Pavich. “That group helped develop my passion for golf more than ever. From there, I started receiving coaching from John Wright, Teaching Professional at the club. I saw him once a week for a year, and currently we have a training plan in place, with coaching sessions every three to six weeks. John provides me with training plans and drills that I need to complete within specific time periods.”
Tyla’s first handicap was 24 which dropped by 2.0 in her first year. Over the last year, her handicap plunged from 22 to 8, a significant improvement. She credits this to regular practice, playing socially three to four times a week after school and competing twice a week in competitions, including on Saturdays and in South Burnett Golf junior competitions on Sundays.
She says the support of women at the club has also played an important part in her golfing journey. “The women at Maroochy River have been extremely welcoming, and I have been very fortunate to meet some lovely ladies through both social golf and club competitions.”
Tyla is pleased that the number of female golfers at the club is increasing. “The Junior Committee has been holding junior events throughout the year, which attract more young players to the club. In addition, junior squad clinics are held during the week on a term-by-term basis (10 weeks). If you join a squad, you receive a golf bag with your name on it, as well as some other goodies.”
Tyla’s message to girls considering taking up golf is simple. “Go for it! It is so much fun. The unexpected element of not knowing exactly what shot you are going to hit, combined with how different each round can be depending on the conditions and the people you play with, makes the game exciting every time.”
Tyla points out that golf does not just teach you how to hit a ball. “It also teaches you valuable life skills, helps you build meaningful connections with people aged from 7 to 70+ years, and develops maturity, respect, and etiquette.”
She says the friendships you make is another bonus. “The golfing community on the Sunshine Coast is amazing. I have made friends through golf that I know will last a very long time.”