Terang Golf Club announces eight-week women's golf program to help boost playing numbers

The 'Get into golf' initiative will start in mid-October under the guidance of PGA of Australia certified coach Sean Charleston.

Terang Golf Club treasurer Ross Thomson said it was hoped the opportunity would encourage more women to join as members.

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"We are a small club. We've only got 150 total members and about 33 women," he said.

"That has been diminishing so we're very, very keen to promote golf."

Ladies co-captain Janet Saunders, who has strong family connections to the sport, said the program came with added incentives.

It is $160 for the lessons.

"All up it will be a six-month introductory membership," she said.

"The first two months they'll be having the lessons and then they're free to play for another four months, just to get themselves into the game.

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"It is a nerve-racking game to start with, it's always good to start with a beginner.

"I know when I started I had some girls start with me and you're all about the same standard."

Saunders said golf was an ideal social outing.

"I always think of golf as a way to meet new friends. It a great part of it," she said.

"And you're only playing against yourself (and your handicap) and no one else."

The program will run on from 10am to 11am Thursdays from October 14 to December 2.

Saunders said there was scope for other program opportunities in the future.

"If this was successful and people are more interested in having a lesson on a Saturday, provided we can get a professional to come, we'd be happy to do that," she said.

There are more playing options at Terang than in the past.

"Once a upon a time the Thursday comp would be just women and the Saturday comp would be just men but now in Terang men and women are free to play on Thursdays or a Saturday which is great," Saunders said.

"We do have some men that come and play on Thursdays and it's terrific that does happen now."

The Terang club is important to Saunders and she'd love to see more players grace the greens.

"My family have been golfers forever. My father (Frank Shady) would have been president a long time ago and my mother was handicapper for many years and we also play in December the Bessie Shady Bowl which is named after my mother," she said.

"Golf was in our blood. Most of my family have played golf; we had it in the breeding."

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