How a Small Grant Built a Golf Community (And Kept Me Playing for 8 Years)

One Grant, Eight Years Later

In 2018, I didn’t play golf. It wasn’t on my radar, and it definitely wasn’t something I saw myself making time for. Then a local opportunity came along that changed everything. At the time, a colleague of mine, Stew, was president of the Trafalgar Golf Club in regional Victoria. The club had secured a grant to run a ladies golf clinic with a Golf Pro and to purchase four set of clubs so women in the community could give golf a go without the usual barriers (even take them home to practice).

I was president of Latrobe Young Professionals at the time, so it was a natural fit. A group of us signed up, not really knowing what to expect, just willing to try something new on Sunday mornings. That one decision has stayed with me for eight years.

Last week, I received my official Golf Australia handicap of 53.5. It’s a starting point, but it’s also a milestone. Because behind that number is nearly a decade of early mornings, missed shots, great conversations, and a genuine love for the game of golf.

And it all started with one grant.

The Grant That Got Me Started

The biggest barrier to trying something new is rarely interest. It’s access, confidence, and cost. That’s exactly what this grant solved. The idea itself was simple. Stew and the committee at the Trafalgar Golf Club wanted to get more women involved in golf. Not in a high-pressure, competitive way, but in a way that felt welcoming, social, and achievable. The grant funded a ladies clinic and, importantly, provided the equipment. We didn’t need to own clubs. We didn’t need to know the rules. We just had to show up. That matters more than people realise, because walking into a golf club for the first time can feel intimidating. There are unspoken rules, expectations, and a perception that you need to already know what you’re doing. Removing that friction changes everything. For me, it meant I could give golf a go without overthinking it.

I ended up investing in a full set of ladies clubs later that year, and I still use them today. But I wouldn’t have made that investment without that first experience.

That’s the real impact of a well-designed grant. It doesn’t just fund an activity for a few weeks. It creates a pathway.

And sometimes, that pathway lasts a lot longer than anyone expects.

What Happens After the Funding Ends

The real value of a grant isn’t measured when the program finishes. It’s measured in what happens next. For me, that looked like eight years of showing up, on and off, to courses in different towns, different countries, and different stages of life. I’ve played on some incredible courses over the years, including Silver Tip in the mountains of Alberta, Canada, Perth, WA and Bermagui, NSW. I’ve played locally, regionally, and anywhere I’ve had the chance to squeeze in a round. Some years I’ve been consistent, others not so much. But I’ve always come back to it.

This year, 2026, has been different. I’ve played more golf already than I did in the previous 3 years!

Most Tuesday mornings, you’ll find me on the course at 6:30am in Roma, trying to beat the heat. I play with an 81-year-old, an 83-year-old, and one of their daughters in her late 50s. It’s not rushed. It’s not serious. But it’s one of the favourite parts of my week. That’s the part you can’t measure in a grant application.

The conversations. The laughs. The routine. The sense of belonging. The bad shots. The learning of the rules.

And now, eight years after that first golf clinic, I’ve got an official handicap of 53.5. It might not sound impressive to seasoned golfers, but for me, it represents progress, persistence, and a genuine connection to the game of golf.

Golf Clubs Are Built on Community, Not Just Fairways

From the outside, a golf course looks like open space, green fairways, and a clubhouse, but behind that is a small group of people doing a lot of work to keep it all going. Most regional golf clubs rely heavily on volunteer committees. They’re managing everything from governance and finances to mowing fairways, maintaining greens, and keeping facilities operational. There are buildings, machinery, and large areas of land to look after, and it doesn’t run itself. It really does take a village and that’s where the opportunity sits. Golf clubs are often asset-rich but resource-light. They have the space, the infrastructure, and the potential to bring people together, but they don’t always have the funding or capacity to activate it. That’s exactly where grants can make a meaningful difference.

Why Golf Is One of the Most Powerful Community Sports

Golf is often misunderstood. People see it as slow, boring, individual, or exclusive. But in reality, it’s one of the most inclusive and flexible community sports out there. You can play at almost any age (my Tuesday morning group proves that). You can play at your own pace. And most importantly, you’re really only playing against yourself. That’s what’s kept me coming back. It’s a game of patience, small improvements, learning the rules, and yes, figuring out what you’re allowed to wear. At our course, activewear doesn’t make the cut. But beyond that, it’s the people.

Where else do you regularly spend a few hours walking (or in our case - riding in our electric buggies) and talking with people across generations? My regular group spans decades in age, but on the course, that doesn’t matter. Everyone plays their own game, and everyone has a place. That kind of connection is hard to replicate.

The Untapped Opportunity for Grants in Golf

If one small grant can lead to eight years of participation, connection, and contribution, imagine what more strategic funding could do. Golf clubs are in a unique position. They already have the foundation. What they often need is support to activate it.

That could look like:

• *Beginner programs that reduce barriers to entry

• * Equipment access for new players

• *Events that bring the community together

• *Upgrades that improve the overall experience

The opportunity goes beyond the local community. Regional golf courses are often set in incredible locations. They offer something different to city courses, and there’s a growing appetite for travel that includes experiences like golf. I’ve seen that firsthand. Playing in Canada wasn’t just about the game, it was about the setting, the experience, and the story that comes with it (I’ll leave that story another day!). There’s real potential for regional clubs to attract visitors, host events, and contribute to local tourism if they have the support to do it well.

From Casual Player to Community Contributor and a Full Golf Member

Something else happens over time that’s easy to overlook. People who start as beginners don’t just stay participants. They become part of the community. This month, I’m sponsoring the ladies golf day at Roma Golf Club. It was meant to run in March but got rained out, so we’re trying again in April. That’s a full-circle moment for me. From someone who showed up to a beginner clinic with borrowed clubs, to someone now contributing to the local golf community. I know that I’m not alone in that. Golf Clubs (and other community and sports clubs) are built on people who step in, help out, sponsor events, join committees, and bring others along. But that only happens if people get through the door in the first place. That’s why those initial programs matter so much.

What Community Sporting Committees Should Take From This

If you’re part of a community sporting committee, there’s a simple takeaway here. The best grants don’t just fund activity. They create ongoing participation. This means making it easy for people to try something new, removing cost and equipment barriers, creating a welcoming, low-pressure environment, and thinking beyond the program itself. It’s not about how many people attend a single clinic. It’s about how many are still involved years later. This is where the real return on investment sits.

It Starts With One Opportunity

In 2018, I said yes to a golf clinic on a Sunday morning because it was easy to say yes.

The golf clubs were there. The environment was welcoming. The expectation was simple. Just give it a go and have fun.

Eight years later, I’m still playing. I’ve met great people, played in incredible places, and found a sport that I’ll stick with for the long term. Now, with a handicap to my name, I might even start getting a bit more strategic and see if I can win a competition or two. Although, as Stew reminded me this morning, I’ve still got 50.1 points to catch up to him.

But that’s golf and that’s the point.

It starts with one opportunity. One grant. One decision to show up. You never quite know where it might lead.

If you’re part of a local sporting club or committee, this is your reminder that small, well-targeted funding can create long-term impact. Start by making it easier for people to say yes. Remove the barriers. Create a welcoming first step.

Because you’re not just funding a program. You’re building a community that lasts well beyond it.

To find out how The Grants Club can help your sports or community group click here

P.S After speaking with Stew - we remembered about this Women & Golf article about the 2018 Coaching Program.