This story first appeared in the Fall 2025 edition of Northern Ohio Golfer Magazine, the official print publication of the Northern Ohio Golf Association. NOGA members who provide an address in their GHIN account receive a copy mailed to their home twice per year. Not yet a NOGA member? Join for 2026 now!
OGGF Efforts Create a Stunning Level of Direct Progress to Get Girls Playing Golf
-by Patricia Nugent
According to the USGA, girls under the age of 18 are the fastest-growing demographic in golf, making up 38% of all junior golfers, compared to just 14% in 1986.
Here in Ohio, thanks to a grassroots nonprofit, the Ohio Girls’ Golf Foundation (OGGF), countless girls have embraced the sport over the past three decades.
Through statewide clinics for girls as young as age 8, its annual High School Showcase tournament, college scholarships, and financial aid programs, the OGGF has empowered players from beginners to advanced by opening doors to opportunities. For many, this translates into playing golf in college, building career-enhancing connections, and enjoying the game for a lifetime.
Leveling the Playing Field
In 1994, when Cleveland Sports Hall of Famer Mary Ann Bierman and her All-American golfer daughter, Anne Caja, founded the OGGF, it was difficult to find a girls’ high school golf team in Northern Ohio.
Today, there are hundreds of girls’ golf teams all across the state.
In fact, OGGF headliner and LPGA Tour Professional Barb Mucha was one of many girls in the late 1970s who played on boys’ golf teams, often outperforming her competitors.
“Wherever OGGF participants go in their relationship with golf, I hope they appreciate that this is a game for a lifetime,” says Barb. “You can play it at any age and enjoy it at any skill level.”
“We wanted young girls to feel that they had a place where they belonged in this sport. Thirty years ago, golf was not readily accessible to most young girls. Thanks to the passion and enthusiasm of the OGGF, it’s not like that today.” —LPGA Tour Professional Barb Mucha
A True Team Effort
Thanks to the efforts of those who believed in the “little charity that could,” such as Past Presidents Judd Stephenson, PGA, and Teen Burke, the OGGF continues to thrive. It plays a key role in the extraordinary growth of girls’ golf by providing educational, recreational, and career opportunities.
Today, that leadership responsibility falls to OGGF Executive Director Lynne Plaisance, who also serves as Director of Operations for the Northern Ohio PGA.
Over the past three decades, the Foundation has awarded more than $160,000 in college scholarships to hundreds of girls and hosted numerous clinics and tournaments.
The OGGF hosts a High School Showcase featuring LPGA Tour Professional Barb Mucha every summer. It also sponsors instructional golf clinics each winter and spring for girls ages 8 to 18, designed to inform, educate, and expand knowledge of all aspects of golf. Additionally, through the OGGF’s Ongoing Lesson Program, girls can continue improving their game with private lessons from PGA Professionals, partially funded by the Foundation.
Teen Burke, who served as OGGF President for many years, says the increase in girls entering the sport is encouraging.
“It’s also exciting to see how the girls’ abilities have improved remarkably,” she says. “We changed the playing field by adding instructional clinics and inspiring coaches to engage with their teams. It’s rewarding to see how successful this has been.”
Teen points out that the OGGF Showcase for high school girls has earned a reputation for appealing to both ultra-competitive players and those with higher handicaps.
Paying It Forward
One of the competitive golfers who won back-to-back Showcase events and an OGGF scholarship is Paighton Masterson. Like many alumni, she is paying it forward by serving on the organization’s Board of Trustees and Scholarship Committee.
“The Showcase remains one of the most memorable events I’ve had the opportunity to participate in,” says Paighton. “I followed OGGF content online while playing golf in college and even now, working full time. It’s incredibly inspiring to see how the nonprofit continues to pave the way for the future of women’s golf in Ohio. I am thrilled to contribute to its immeasurable commitment to growing such a life-changing sport.”
Executive Director Lynne adds that the organization is poised for future growth. Recent initiatives include its Middle School Mentorship Program, a Tee Wee Program for girls ages 3 to 5, and expanded clinics in southern Ohio.
“We are here to answer the call for girls who want to begin or continue their journey with golf,” says Lynne. “Though we are a relatively small charity—often called the little engine that could—our efforts have created a wide-reaching ripple effect.”
“Today the girls who started with us in 1994 are grown women. We’re proud to have introduced them to a game that fosters lasting connections. And we look forward to doing the same for the next generation of girls making its way to the tee.” —OGGF Executive Director Lynne Plaisance
How You Can Get Involved
The Ohio Girls Golf Foundation wants to help build the game for all girls for years to come. To learn more about the OGGF, either as a potential player or as a sponsor or partner, please visit oggf.org.
