Maroochy River a Trailblazer in Women’s Golf

They’ve also become trailblazers with the full support of the club’s male-dominated Board.

It started in May 2024, when the Board agreed to back Golf Australia’s Women and Girl’s Engagement Plan and the club became the first Sunshine Coast signatory to the R & A’s Women in Golf Charter. 

As part of its commitment to the charter the club developed an Action Plan that outlined initiatives to encourage female participation in golf at all levels and provide a pathway to committee and board representation by women. The Board also reviewed membership categories to enable more women members without limiting other memberships.

A Women in Golf (WIG) Sub-Committee was established, chaired by the 2024/2025 Women’s Captain, Julie Turner, and held regular monthly meetings, developing initiatives to increase engagement with new members, plan a range of fun social and golf-related activities and strengthen communications.

Another milestone came in March 2025, when Merryn York, who was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours, became Vice President of the Board. Amongst Merryn’s duties is ensuring the club’s Action Plan for the R & A Women in Golf Charter is meeting its targets.

Merryn took over leadership of the WIG Sub-Committee in January 2026 and says the initiatives to encourage more female participation in golf is starting to pay off.

Women currently make up approximately 22% of the club’s total membership, an increase from 18% in 2024.

Merryn York

Maroochy River Golf Club also has three women PGA golf coaches – Di Pavich, who was the first person on the Sunshine Coast to start golf clinics especially for women and girls 17 years ago, Katelyn Must and Jessica Cook.

All three women are committed to increasing the female participation rate in golf, offering classes for women and girls of all ages and abilities. Di, who attends the monthly Women in Golf Committee meetings, says they have exciting plans for a range of activities for both new and existing members, including information sessions, rules nights, clinics, Chip & Sip clinics and putting competitions.

Did You Know?

• Golf Australia’s strategy to draw more women and girls to golf started in February 2018. It was called Vision 2025.
• A record 4 million adult Australians played golf in some form in 2024-25, according to the latest Golf Australia Participation Report. Traditional golf club membership grew strongly, rising to 477,220 members nationwide, marking the fifth consecutive year of membership.
• While membership of traditional clubs and social clubs is increasing, women and girls are under-represented at just 17.7% of total membership.
• Women’s and girls’ participation continued its steady climb, with on-course participation by women reaching 30%, supported by initiatives like the R&A Women in Golf Charter and Get into Golf, an entry level program for adult beginners, which recorded a 11.6% increase in total female registrations. The Australian Golf Foundation’s Junior Girls Scholarship program also expanded strongly, with participants up from 1,191 girls (2024) to 1,432 girls (2025).

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