If you're a female between the ages of 7-17 living in, or around, the Lehigh Valley area and want to learn more about the game of golf, consider yourself lucky.

The LPGA-USGA Girls Golf of the Lehigh Valley and Southern Lehigh Valley could be a program that's exactly what you're looking for.

Back in 2004, the YWCA of Bethlehem started the Girls Golf of the Lehigh Valley program at Southmoore Golf Course in Bath. Since then, almost 700 girls have come through.

In 2006, with 86 golfers registered, it was decided to expand to a second site, and Wedgewood Golf Course in Coopersburg was added as the Southern Lehigh Valley program. The program as a whole has had retention rates of 50-percent or better each season since expanding to Wedgewood. And in 2011, 63-percent and 62-percent of the girls were returning registrants from 2010 at both Southmoore and Wedgewood, respectively.

"The motivation to start this program was based on the number of girls playing on the local boys high school teams," said Christina Caruno, Golf Programs Coordinator at the YWCA of Bethlehem. "We felt like there were girls out there who might have been intimidated to play with the boys, so we wanted to give them a place to play where they would be comfortable.

"We basically wanted to see more girls playing the sport. Golf is a great sport for everyone to play and young females needed to know that not only is golf not just for boys, but girls can compete against and even beat the boys."

The setup of the program was made out to be easy and convenient for aspiring golfers. Each lesson is an hour long on a Saturday morning from late April through August. The girls are separated in groups based on playing ability and age: Beginner - little or no previous experience; Intermediate - some instruction in full swing, short game, putting and rules and etiquette; Advanced - played at least nine holes on a regulation golf course. This allows for the information to be directed to the girls so it's understood better.

An average year consists of about 11 lessons and five events. Girls do not need to own their own clubs. Clubs may be rented to take home for a fee, or the cost of the program allows clubs to be rented per lesson.

Lessons start with putting, then move to short game and eventually full swing and driving range.

Among the events are a bus trip to see an LPGA event. Last year the girls went to the ShopRite Classic in Galloway, NJ. Other events include a minigolf and ice cream party, a par-3 tournament, a themed end-of-year party and a traditional Six Hole Classic competition.

"All of these events and time spent at lessons allow our girls to build friendships we have seen to continue outside the program," said Caruno. "Our girls have exchanged cell phone numbers and set up times to play golf outside the clinics. We are lucky to work with such a great group of girls and we are reminded of this when we see the girls share golf balls at the range or help each other select golf clubs on the course.

"It is our hope that each of the girls grow to love the game and continue to be great golfers."

Many of the girls consider the par-3 tournament the highlight of the year, Caruno said. It's been dubbed "Competition Day - North versus South," and takes place at Mulligan Family Golf Center's chip and putt course. It's a tournament that faces off girls from Southmoore against girls from Wedgewood.

The Six Hole Classic usually takes place at the short course at Saucon Valley Country Club.

Over the past nine years, the program has seen many girls continue playing on high school teams, and in other tournaments. This past fall, the program saw four of its girls at districts with two moving on to regionals. Alyssa Coronati of Parkland was in the program as recently as last year. Emily Unrue of Easton, Kelsey Patterson of Emmaus and Kiran Singh of Becahi were in the program in the past. Unrue and Patterson advanced as far as regionals this past fall. In addition to school teams, many girls play in local junior tournaments, including US Kids Golf Tournaments, and Golf Association of the Lehigh Valley Junior Tour.

Registration day is Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., at the Bethlehem Township Community Center. For more information, contact the YWCA of Bethlehem at 610-867-4669 ext. 109, or email girlsgolf@ywcabethlehem.org.

Sat. 4/4 Registration 10 a.m.–12 p.m. at Bethlehem Twp. Community Center

Sat. 4/27: Putting 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sat. 5/4: Chipping & Pitching 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sat. 5/11: Full Swing & Driving Range 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sat. 5/18: Sand & Specialty Shots 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sat. 6/1 Event: Bus trip to Shop Rite LPGA Classic 8 a.m.-6 p.m. at Bay Course at Seaview, Galloway, NJ

Sat. 6/8: Rules & Etiquette 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sat. 6/22: Skills Testing 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sat. 6/29: Short Game Review 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sun. 6/30 Event: Putt-U Mini Golf & Ice Cream Party

Sat. 7/13: Full Swing & Driving Range Review 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sat. 7/20: Rules & Etiquette Review 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sat. 7/27 Event: Competition Day 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at Mulligan's Family Golf Center

Sat. 8/3: Full Swing & Driving Range Review 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sat. 8/17: Skills Testing 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Mon. 8/19 Event: Six Hole Classic 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Saucon Valley Country Club

Thurs. 8/22 Event: End of Year Party 5:30–8 p.m. TBD

Sat. 8/24: