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ATTLEBORO - Once a traditionally male dominated sport, golf has become a family-friendly game.

Over the past several years, more golf courses and sports facilities have come to accommodate not just the men - but also women and children.

Lessons, clinics, courses for all playing levels and family memberships increasingly are available.

Private and group lessons are being offered to women and children at a variety of courses.

Almost every golf course and country club holds golf schools, programs or clinics for beginners. Some facilities, such as the Attleboro YMCA and Fore Kicks in Norfolk are holding summer adult-child tournaments in an attempt to get everyone in the family involved.

Fore Kicks will hold its seventh annual summer Parent-Child Golf Tournament at the end of August. Prizes will be up for grabs and goodie bags including, golf balls, hat, Fore Kicks youth T-shirt and a lunch discount coupon will be given out.

The Attleboro YMCA will hold its 12th annual Adult-Child Golf Tournament this summer at MGA Links at Mamantapett Golf Course in Norton.

The event primarily focuses on a day of family fun, and the tournament fee covers playing time, a cookout and swimming at the Y.

MGA Links, formally known as Wading River Golf Club, has hosted the YMCA tournament for the past three years.

"It brings a good turnout, we had over 80 people in last year's tournament," said Peter Walsh, MGA Links's head golf pro.

The number of golfers, overall, has declined, Walsh said, but the sport "has become a family affair."

"Parents are getting more involved and many times they come to their child's clinic, and end up getting a family membership," he said.

Three years ago, only six families participated in MGA Link's special membership, but to date the number has grown to 17.

"I don't know the exact reason why golf has become so popular with families," Walsh said. "But something positive is happening. Golf is almost coming back." The Atlantic Golf Center on Newport Avenue in South Attleboro is also pursuing the whole family.

"We've seen a big increase in family golfing, especially in the summer months," owner Anthony Rongione said. "Our course is reachable and we see a lot of younger people playing, which is encouraging."

Atlantic Golf also provides families with a number of popular activities and events, such as being able to reserve space for birthday parties.

Attleboro resident Liz Alves said she can attest to a growing interest in family golfing.

Although not an avid golfer, Alves said she occasionally plays with her husband and friends and plans to teach her two daughters how to swing a club when they get older.