Why Women’s Golf Is On The Rise On The Gold Coast

LION Higu hadn’t hit a single golf ball before she linked up with coach Josh Smith and now plays off scratch as one of the most promising talents in Australia.

The 13-year-old is one of a host of gems that have been unearthed in a city that Smith said was producing more elite female talent than most others around the country.

“Out of all the girls coming through the Gold Coast is producing them,” The Emerald Lakes Golf Coaching Centre mentor Smith said.

“I don’t know what it is about the gold Coast, maybe it’s our weather for golf. We are unearthing a few.

“Lion came to me without ever playing golf before. She now plays off scratch. She is a really solid golfer, one of the top young girls coming through.”

Emerald Lakes Golf Coaching Centre’s connection with junior female players runs deep.

Smith has run the program for the past five years while operator and Australian Golf Schools coach Tom Linskey has taught women for more than a decade on the Gold Coast.

Higu is positioned to follow in the foot steps of Dee Dee Russell, one of the first graduates of the program who is now on the cusp of turning pro.

Russell went through the QAS system and spent some time at a US college before returning to Australia.

Russell this year played in multiple international events, including the British Amateur, and has just returned home to the Coast after winning last week’s The Dunes Medal at The Dunes Golf Links championship course in Victoria.

“She is a very talented player ,” Smith said.

“I was teaching Dee Dee at the centre and still look after her short game and stuff now.

“She was with me for about five years and graduated to QAS system.”

Russell is leading the way for female golfers on the Gold Coast along with the likes of Becky Kay.

Sarah Hammatt, 10, is in the early stages of her career and Smith predicted her handicap of 14 to drop soon.

“Sarah is another serious talent coming through,” Smith said. “She a bit younger still and still maturing but she is coming on. Not a lot of big tournaments or anything yet as a 10-year-old but she will look to do all that.”

Source: Gold Coast Bulletin 30 November 2017

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