LPGA Professionals and certified instructors can help players of all ages and skill levels improve their golf game. However, there is a clear gap when evaluating the makeup of their students — young women. Golf participation tends to decline among women during and after college.   

How do we fix the gap of women participating in the game? LPGA Amateur Golf Association member, Janet McKinley strived to do just that. During her time at the University of Tennessee, she introduced young women to the basics of golf to help advance their professional careers.  

McKinley played with her father at a young age and found great benefits in the game after spending 28 years working at the Bell South Corporation. “I saw the value of golf throughout my career and thought it great to give that exposure to young women trying to make golf a part of their careers,” said McKinley.  “Not only does golf get you out of the office, but it also serves as a tool to introduce you to clients, customers, upper management and peers.” 

In 2014, McKinley founded the Grads to Golf program at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Her initial vision was to offer every college student studying business the opportunity to learn the game for career growth. Since its inception, she has had more than 100 women complete the program. “Grads to Golf enables women to participate in the important business conversations that take place on the course,” said Nancy Henderson, Chief Teaching Officer & President of the LPGA Foundation. 

To further the program, McKinley established an endowment at the university to fund the program and secure the professionals, coaches, and speakers needed to enhance the students’ experience. “It’s our missing link,” said Liz Cooper, Senior Director of the LPGA Amateur Golf Association. “We have LPGA*USGA Girls Golf for ages 6-17, Girls Golf Leadership Academies for high school girls and other empowerment days for women executives. But we don’t have any programs specifically designed for women in college.” 

“The Grads to Golf program provides a wonderful opportunity for college students to learn and get comfortable with playing the game. The curriculum includes six weeks of swing lessons from a local LPGA Professional who teaches everything from how to hold a club to swing mechanics. LPGA Professionals familiarize students with the language of the game and review proper conduct on the course. McKinley incorporated playing lessons into the beginning of the program to prevent sending a new player out on the course without understanding the rules of golf. “It’s not about how you hit the ball, but what happens when the ball is out of bounds, in the water, or miss hit,” stated McKinley. 

In addition, “Lunch and Learn” sessions are hosted by local LPGA Amateur Golf Association members throughout the semester to discuss the non-physical aspects of the game: equipment basics, how to read a scorecard, and what is a “dog leg”. Guest speakers are also invited to talk about the benefits of using the game to network and advance professionally. The program concludes with a scramble tournament and celebration with local amateurs’ chapter members.  

The LPGA has seen firsthand an increase in golf participation from female students who stay engaged in the game after college. “After completing the program, young women feel more comfortable taking part in the business discussions that happen on the golf course and, when the time comes, are more likely to accept the invitation to a company scramble or charity event,” said Cooper.  

The Grads to Golf program also brings many benefits to LPGA Professionals and LPGA Amateur Golf Association Members. Louise Ball, LPGA Professionals National Vice President believes, “You’re going to gain students for life while expanding your own business.  LPGA Amateurs chapters can also build a pipeline for membership by helping to grow the game and support a whole new generation of players.”  

“My initial vision when starting Grads to Golf was to scale the program and offer it across every state,” recalls McKinley. “But I could not do it alone. The LPGA is the perfect partner to help expand the program and work with their network of LPGA Professionals and LPGA Amateur Golf Association members.” In addition to its first program in Knoxville, Grads to Golf has also launched at Arizona State University, Wake Forest University, and in the fall of 2023 at North Carolina State.  

The LPGA Foundation plans to continue growing this valued program with the help of our communities across the country. To learn more on how you can get involved and launch this program at your local university or club, please reach out to membership@lpgaamateurs.com.