ATLANTA — Saturdays on the green are for the girls. The Annika Foundation is playing a big part in making this a reality for young aspiring golfers in Atlanta.
Young girls throughout the metro suited up in warm gear and braced for chilly temperatures for Annika Foundation’s Share My Passion clinic. The group lesson, held at John A. White Golf Course, was focused on the fundamental skills to strengthen their swing and understanding of the game.
Among those helping to train the girls was World Long Drive competitor Alexis Belton. Belton is among the few Black golf pros in the sport that’s historically been dominated by White men.
According to 2021 statistics recorded by the National Golf Federation, Women make up 25% of golfers, while people of color make up 21%. The federation says this percentage has ticked up in the last five years
Belton says young black girls are drawn to the sport of golf because they can be innovative.
"One thing that we are seeing more in golf is that because of people like Alfred Tup Homes, Renee Powell, Hillary Struggs and Tiger Woods., we have had a lot of role models to come through and let us know that we belong in this sport, that we can be great at it and we can be comfortable and safe," said Belton.
The Annika Foundation clinics are catered to girls 6-14 years old. To learn more about the foundation, you can head to Annikafoundation.org.