Girls from across England gathered at The Belfry last week as the Golf Foundation teamed up with the LPGA Foundation to deliver the first Leadership Academy outside of the USA, where women’s world no.4 Charley Hull helped inspire the 41 girls aged between 12 and 17.
Delivered through the Golf Foundation’s partnership with the LPGA Foundation, the two-day academy used golf as a platform to help young women build confidence, discover leadership opportunities, develop their voice and create meaningful connections with like-minded peers.
Hull. who is an ambassador for the Golf Foundation, appeared on a special panel at the event to share her experiences in the game, and to help teach the girls about how to cope with pressures in life and how to make the most of the opportunities in golf and beyond.
“It was a pleasure to see so many young female golfers in one room and to share my own insights on staying resilient and managing social media,” Hull said. “The Girls Leadership Academy is a great initiative for developing girls confidence – and it’s great to see the Golf Foundation and LPGA Foundation working together.”
One of the most powerful aspects of the Academy wasn’t found in a workbook or on a golf course. It was simply the experience of being surrounded by so many women and girls who shared similar goals and ambitions. Throughout the event, several participants commented that they had never been in a room with that many women before.
For some, it was the first time they had experienced an environment where female voices were the majority, where women were leading every session, and where successful female role models were accessible and eager to share their experiences. The impact of that representation was evident throughout the week as confidence grew, friendships formed, and participants became increasingly comfortable sharing their perspectives.
Bringing together girls from a variety of backgrounds and golfing experiences, the academy combined golf activities, leadership workshops, team challenges and personal development sessions, creating an inspiring environment where participants were encouraged to dream bigger and believe in their potential both on and off the golf course.
Female representatives from the LPGA Foundation and the Golf Foundation were joined by an all-female coaching team and an all-female videography team.
Throughout the event, the girls explored topics including confidence, communication, resilience, goal setting and leadership. Interactive sessions encouraged participants to reflect on their ambitions, identify their strengths and develop practical tools that they can take forward into everyday life.
One of the highlights of the academy saw participants create vision boards focused on their future aspirations, encouraging them to think about the goals they want to achieve and the steps they can take to get there. The activity sparked conversations about personal ambitions, career pathways and the opportunities available to young women both within golf and beyond.
Golf remained at the heart of the programme, with coaching sessions, team-based activities and challenges helping reinforce many of the leadership themes explored throughout the academy. The energy and enthusiasm shown by the participants was evident throughout the two days, with girls supporting one another, celebrating successes and forming friendships that will continue long after the event has finished.
For many participants, the experience was transformational. “I will walk away with advice I’ve been seeking for years to use in everyday life, but most importantly golf,” said one participant, Abby. “I’ve never been more inspired by such an amazing group of coaches and mentors.”
“This has been one of the best experiences of my life,” added Eleanor. “From learning how to deal with mental stress and gain confidence, to setting goals and meeting Charley Hull, it has been everything I wanted this experience to be and more.”
The event marks an important milestone in the Golf Foundation’s commitment to creating more opportunities for girls in golf and follows the announcement of its partnership with the LPGA Foundation to expand access to female-focused development opportunities across Great Britain and Ireland.
As the first LPGA Leadership Academy held outside the United States came to a close, participants left The Belfry with new friendships, greater confidence and a renewed belief in what they can achieve.
“This academy was incredible,” said Stephanie Peareth, Director of Foundation Operations at the LPGA Foundation. “From start to finish, the energy was electric and seeing how much the girls got from the sessions shows the importance of these academies. In 2025 we celebrated 10 years of hosting our LPGA Leadership Academies all around the US and I am so excited for the next 10 years knowing that now we have the potential to make a global impact and help young girls find their voice, confidence and MAKE THEIR MOVE!”