Young girls missing from mix of golfers on area courses

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While the number of women golfers age 40 and over continues to increase, local golf professionals and players are trying to find ways to get young girls interested in the sport. |ret||ret||tab|

Rose Foster, president of the Springfield Area Women's Golf Association, sees a lot of women over the age of 40 and boys between the ages of 8 and 17 playing golf. But she believes more of an effort needs to be made to get the young girls out on the course.|ret||ret||tab|

"Some young girls are athletically inclined but don't have the opportunity to play," she said. "We need these young girls to keep the sport going. In the junior leagues, I see only four or five girls who play golf."|ret||ret||tab|

Foster believes there are several reasons why more girls don't play golf.|ret||ret||tab|

"Some come from single families and as a result can't afford the green fees, golf clubs or the practice balls. It could also be that they don't know anyone who's played so they don't know anything about the game.|ret||ret||tab|

"It's a problem all over Springfield and surrounding areas, including Rogersville, Ozark, Willard and Republic."|ret||ret||tab|

Cindy Shook, director of Parks and Recreation for Branson, believes she was fortunate to get an early start at golf. She started playing in Twin Oaks Country Club's junior program at age 8.|ret||ret||tab|

"Golf is an expensive sport," she said. "It's a shame that there aren't more young female golfers because there are college scholarships available to girls who play golf in high school.|ret||ret||tab|

"I'm seeing more women at the country clubs and on the public courses than ever before. I don't think that will change. I attribute that to Tiger Woods, as well. He's been a phenomenon."|ret||ret||tab|

Lisa Tinkler has first-hand experience about the importance of being exposed to golf at an early age. Tinkeler started playing at age 8 and now has a resume that includes the 1999 and 2000 Springfield City Championship titles, a fourth-place finish in the 1999 Missouri State Amateur and a sixth-place finish in 2000. She also earned all-American honors for Evangel University and was ranked No. 14 in the nation in the NAIA.|ret||ret||tab|

"If girls are exposed to the sport at a young age, it's easier for them to play as an adult," she said. |ret||ret||tab|

"Since I started playing at a young age and am good at the sport, men respect my golf game. I don't feel uncomfortable on a course because of my training. A lot of women don't know how to act on a course."|ret||ret||tab|

Tinkler recently graduated from Evangel and hopes to be hired as a college golf coach. |ret||ret||tab|

Part of her coaching plan is to run golf camps for all school-aged children thus giving them exposure to the game and the possibility of a future scholarship.|ret||ret||tab|

"Last year in the nation 250 college scholarships to play golf at the college level were thrown out because there was no one to take them," she said. |ret||ret||tab|

Tinkler said that while more women are playing now, it's still difficult to get them involved.|ret||ret||tab|

"It's hard for them to justify playing because it takes time away from relationships and responsibilities," she said.|ret||ret||tab|

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