Family Focus: Vance High welcomes first girls golf team

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A group of girls at Vance High School is launching something new in a male-dominated sport.
 
Their coach told Eyewitness News it's going to take money and support to make it a success.
 
Cierra Johnson, 17, loves golf. Last year at Vance High, as the only girl, she had to play on the boys team.
 
"I believe in girl power and that girls rule the world," Johnson said. "So, if we have a girls team, then we can do anything."
 
Coach Jerry Smith is ready to form the first female golf team in the school's history. It's an opportunity he says to teach the teens a game with lessons on and off the course.
 
"One is the etiquette, problem solving, decision making," he said. "It's just there's a lot of tools that you can take from the golf course that you can move to personal and the business life."
 
So far, five girls have signed up, but with an expensive sport and small budget, the next challenge is fundraising.
 
"We would love anyone who has a set of clubs, putters, golf balls or donate shoes. We will take anything you got," Smith said.
               
This week, the team starts practice and selling T-shirts to raise money. Johnson is hopeful the community will step up and help.
 
"All of us are here because we love what we do. None of us are here just because we want to be in something.  If they support us, we can fulfill our dreams," she said.
 
For more information on the new team and how to help, click here.

WSOC