Golf: Lydia Ko's success inspiring others

Lydia Ko with the Canadian Open trophy. Photo / AP

New Zealand golf has never seen anything like Lydia Ko and her former coach says it likely never will again - but plenty of young, talented female players are making their mark in the game.

At 17, Ko became the youngest ever world No. 1 golfer, a feat as remarkable for its athleticism as it was for getting Kiwis interested in golf.

The sport has a history of male dominance, and on some greens the old acronym (possibly not true but apt enough) "gentleman only, ladies forbidden" still applies.

So has a visible female role model affected the sport in New Zealand?

George Harper of New Zealand Golf says yes, the Ko effect is real.

"There has been a noticeable growth in the game over the past two years during Lydia Ko's success," he said.

"As I look through some stats, most groups have dropped off in numbers, but the Junior Women and Secondary Women have had good growth."

Harper said since 2013 the junior women have seen an increase of nine per cent and the secondary women 17 per cent, so with these two brackets there was "no doubt that Lydia has had an effect on the women's game."

"NZ Golf are looking to run a national promotion later in the year based fully on women's golf and trying to attract more women to the game," he said.

They aimed to create "an environment that isn't intimidating for beginners, including classes and activities for all the new ladies that are keen to give it a go."

Ko's former coach, Guy Wilson, said her success was encouraging for young players - girls and boys alike.

"There are many young kids, girls and boys, that are playing the game due to Lydia's success. Given Lydia is a young Kiwi, and very easy to relate to for the kids, she has many followers.

"A lot of kids have taken up the game to be like her."

Wilson said Ko's success at such a young age was inspirational for other young players.

"The students have a person to look up to and follow the footsteps of, and they can do this a lot easier given Lydia is so young.

"Back in the day the kids said they wanted to become the next Tiger Woods. Now they almost always say [they want to be] the next Lydia Ko."

Wilson said while we would "never see another Lydia," he was coaching plenty of talented young players were destined for professional careers.

Bohyun Park is only 12 years old, but she has already played in a New Zealand Women's Golf Open, held in Christchurch last February.

Park, who like Ko has been taken under Wilson's wing, shares a similar style of play to the golfing great.

In February she told One News that while Ko had given her clothes and clubs, it was her mental strength Park wanted to copy most.

The ability to keep a cool head under immense pressure is essential in golf, and Ko's unique ability to keep her focus at such a young age is what makes it so unlikely another will rival her achievements.