Established in 1991, The LPGA Foundation has four main goals: to develop and maintain junior golf programs for girls across the country; to develop and maintain scholarship programs for junior golfers; to maintain a financial assistance fund for those in the golf industry; and to conduct research and develop educational activities related to golf instruction. Since its inception, The LPGA Foundation has created and supported a number of programs to achieve those objectives, one of which is LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, a developmental golf program just for girls.

LPGA-USGA Girls Golf provides an opportunity for girls, ages 7 to 17, to learn to play golf in local communities, build lasting friendships through participation in golf programs, and experience competition in a fun, supportive environment, preparing them for a lifetime of enjoyment with the game. Girls will receive professional golf instruction by joining the network of girl golfers throughout the country and whether a girl wants to play socially with her friends and family, utilize golf in her career, or go the competitive route, the Girls Golf program lays a solid foundation for every girl to learn the game.  In 2009, Girls Golf will celebrate its 20th anniversary, a testimony to its impact and value as the premier junior golf program for girls in the country and the means to empower girls with the self-confidence needed to succeed in life.

The only national initiative of its kind, LPGA-USGA Girls Golf is organized as a partnership between The LPGA Foundation and the United States Golf Association.

Studies show that as girls enter adolescence, many of them suffer a loss of self-esteem. Young women begin to notice that they are often judged by their physical appearance rather than strength of character or personal accomplishments. The problem is compounded by contemporary American society, in which there is no longer a traditional female model for girls to follow.

The Smart Girls program is designed to help girls, ages 10-15, develop healthy attitudes and lifestyles as they transition to adulthood. To accomplish this, the program addresses health and social issues that are specific to young women. The program consists of several weekly sessions, offered during regular Club hours, each of which has multiple activities conducted by an adult facilitator.

Smart Girls prepares girls to make positive decisions at a critical stage in their development. The program promotes skills necessary for the establishment of a healthy lifestyle for girls. This includes an understanding of their bodies and the physical, emotional, and social changes they experience; healthy exercise habits; positive nutritional habits; communication skills through the involvement of adult female role models; and an understanding of the health care delivery system in our community.

Because the success of this program also depends on reinforcement in the home, parents or guardians are required to attend an informational session prior to enrolling their child in the program.

In an effort to combat the alarming physical and psychological health hazards affecting America's young girls, the Women's Sports Foundation launched GoGirlGo! on the occasion of the organization's 30th anniversary.

Not all girls get to play. Unless a girl's school or parents can afford to pay for her physical activity, chances are she will grow up inactive. Over the past 30 years, the youth physical activity system in the United States has crumbled, putting girls from underserved populations at an especially high risk.

The Result?

Too many girls are not physically or emotionally healthy, happy or confident about their ability to succeed in life.

The three-year GoGirlGo! Initiative aims to get one million inactive girls to participate in regular physical activity and keep another one million currently active girls ages 8-18 from dropping out of physical activity. The national education and awareness campaign will arm adults and girls with tools to enable girls to live an active lifestyle and educate others about physical activity.

Active girls have a better chance of successfully navigating the heavy emotional and social pressures of girlhood. Active girls are more likely to have a positive body image, confidence and self-esteem than inactive girls. Simply moving and playing can reduce a girl's risk for obesity; cancer; alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use; osteoporosis; unintended pregnancy and more.

Help us improve the lives of girls ages 8 - 18 through physical activity! Improving girls' health and wellness depends on YOU!