Young Girls Growing On The Green With Junior Tyson Tour
London Tour Promotes Female Involvement In Golf,
by Erin Varga

The Junior Tyson Tour has been a staple in London, Ontario since it began in 1968. Created by London Free Press reporter Bev Tyrell, the name Tyson is derived from Tyrell's last name, and the word sons from his hope that his twin boys would one day play on the tour. Originally a boy's only tour, however, the Junior Tyson Tour has opened up to female involvement and is committed to promoting the role of women in golf.

The tour carries an illustrious past, with numerous former players going on to receive scholarships and play professionally. Mike Weir played on the tour in his early days, as did Matt Hill, a NCAA player of the year. And although Hill did not shine on the Tyson Tour, the experience helped him later on.

This is where the tour shines. As tour organizer Andy Shaw says, "The tour is a place people can learn to play, get tournament experience and enhance their competitive spirit." In fact, it's not just a place for elite players. And this applies equally to boys and girls. The experience is set up to enable young players to hone their skills.

The ability to get tour experience is especially welcome for young women. Females have not always been on the tour. Their division was added in the mid-1980s, and numbers have fluctuated ever since. Some years they have no young girls involved, others 10 to 12. However, in recent years, numbers have been between 30 and 50.

The problem, according to Shaw, is if girls do not start playing before the age of 12, they won't start at all. To go along with that, he stresses, "Girls want to play with other girls," and there is a huge need for more girl's lessons and female teachers. Shaw admits they are "continuing to consistently grow their female involvement." But, it is a lot of work.

Despite these challenges, the Junior Tyson Tour is attempting to address the issue. The tour does its best to provide a venue for young women to play with others at their level and get the practice they need to move into higher levels. For the girls who stay with it, this can mean scholarships and even going pro.

This year will be no different for the tour. It continued to be popular, with over 500 kids registered in 2009 and Shaw is expects the same in 2010. Visit the tour website, www.juniortysontour.com.

Erin Varga is a recent graduate of the Corporate Communication & Public Relations grad program at Fanshawe College of Applied Arts & Technology.

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