Women’s Golf Day is a one-day event celebrating girls and women playing golf and learning the skills that last a lifetime.

The 5 June date is acknowledged worldwide with the goal of encouraging girls and women to take up a game they can play for life.

While females currently make up 6% of the total PGA of Australia Membership, the total number of female PGA Professionals has quadrupled in the past 10 years, which is reflective in the average of a female PGA Professional being 36 years old versus 44 years old for male PGA Professionals.

The percentage of female PGA Professionals will continue to grow with 2018 seeing a record number of female PGA Trainees coming through the ranks.

Kate Dunn, PGA and ALPG Professional is one of many who took up the game at a young age and has made a career out of it both playing professionally and teaching out of Carbrook Golf Club in Queensland.

“I got into golf through my dad. He used to love golf and I started my golf through caddying for him at the age of seven,” said Dunn.

“I used to charge $5 for 18 holes and some chips when we finished, I learned a lot about the game by watching him play and trying to copy. I then started hitting some balls when he practiced at the range before taking junior lessons at my golf club in Townsville.”

Dunn’s enthusiasm for the game has paid dividends and taken her all over the world and as one of a growing number of female PGA Professionals, she’s encouraged girls to take up golf.

“Being a female PGA Professional is fantastic, I can easily relate to my female students and I have been told I add a different perspective for my male students.

“Opportunities have opened up for me over the past 20 years both internationally and domestically. I have played golf in over 100 countries and worked all over the world. Golf is such an international game and it’s easy to connect with people who have tried, or are keen to try an play the game.”

She’s found success with bringing girls through the game by making sure her students are in a relaxed environment where first and foremost, the objective is to have fun.

“I inspire women and girls to try the game by making my coaching sessions fun and non-competitive. I create a social arena where it doesn’t matter what standard you play at or how knowledgeable you are about the game,” added Dunn.

“Everyone can learn at their own pace while having a good time. I feel that many of my female students learn better when they feel they are not being judged and compared, I follow the motto that ‘Golf Can Be Fun For Everyone’ this means that rules are often modified for beginning golfers.”

Adrianna Brent, a professional on the ALPG Tour since 2013 and now a third-year PGA Trainee Professional, also encourages ladies to take up the sport that can be so much more than just a game.

“I love being a PGA Professional especially beating the boys in Monday Matches. It’s great knowing that as females we can go out and do the same thing as the men and play against them and I love being able to help people with their golf,” said Brent.

“I encourage women and girls to get into golf as it’s a great social sport and anyone can play it at any age and ability. It’s a sport you can play forever and play it anywhere in the world, it’s a great way to make new friends, and from my experience, as a professional, I love to share my experiences with them and encourage anyone to do it.”

Women’s Golf Day is set to grow year after year especially with global initiatives such as the R&A’s new Women in Golf Charter which aims to inspire an industry-wide commitment to developing a more inclusive culture within golf around the world and to enable more women and girls to flourish and maximise their potential at all levels of the sport.

Golf Australia also launched “Vision 2025: the future of women and girls in golf” which fully sets out a roadmap to generate greater female participation, involvement and inclusion in golf at all levels around the country.