How Girls of Brum Helped Birmingham Girls Discover Golf for the First Time
I thought I'd be rubbish but it's actually dead fun and different to what I thought.
The rain hammered down on Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, but it did nothing to dampen the mood at Girls of Brum, a city-wide event giving girls the chance to try new sports, build confidence and step outside their comfort zone.
Led by Sport Birmingham, the day brought together girls from schools and communities across the city for a packed programme of activities. At the golf station, many arrived unsure of themselves, wondering whether they'd even be able to hit the ball, worried about getting it wrong in front of their friends.
Those nerves didn't last long. Within a few minutes, the girls were celebrating their first successful shots, cheering each other on and throwing themselves into every challenge, cones cleared, putts holed, wins celebrated together.
Maryam was among them. "I thought I'd be rubbish but it's actually dead fun and different to what I thought," she said.
Izzy had never picked up a club before. "It was hard at first because I've never done golfing before but after a few goes now I like it because I can do the putt and hit the ball where I want and beat my friends."
One volunteer, watching the group take shape, summed up why days like this matter. "It's quite empowering for young girls to try something like golfing as it's not something they normally come across in school. I can see when they get going how much they actually enjoy it and how important it is for them to try out different sports like golf. It's a great set up."
That was the pattern throughout the day: a little hesitation at the start, then a quick turn into real enjoyment, the girls encouraging each other rather than competing against each other. By the end of each session, when asked whether they felt more confident and whether they'd want to try golf again, the answer was overwhelmingly yes.
It's a small window into what golf can offer girls who've never had the chance to try it, not just a new sport, but a new sense of what they're capable of, delivered in an environment built entirely around encouragement rather than pressure.
A big thank you to Girls of Brum and Sport Birmingham for the opportunity to be part of such a positive and inspiring day.