Mars High School tried forming a girls golf team two years ago.

"We didn't have enough people to play back then," athletic director Scott Heinauer said.

That's not the case now.

Mars has 10 girls signed up for golf already as the Planets will become the 23rd WPIAL school to field a girls golf team next fall.

William Pettigrew, superintendent of the Mars Area School District, will coach the squad.

"We don't have any supplemental positions available, so I decided to take the team," Pettigrew said. "I think it's important that everybody should have the opportunity to participate.

"There is enough interest in girls golf in our school that now is the time to form a team," he added.

Seneca Valley is the only other Butler County high school with a girls golf team.

Twin freshmen Lauren and Marisa Glew were the only two girls to play on the Mars boys golf team last fall. Lauren Glew played in the WPIAL girls golf tournament a year ago. Laura Tweedy also played golf for Mars for a number of years.

"Lauren shoots in the high 30s (for nine holes) off the red tees," her sister said. "I shoot in the low 40s."

This isn't the first time Pettigrew has started an athletic team for the Planets. He was the school's first girls soccer coach 12 years ago and he brought back the boys golf program nine years ago.

Pettigrew remains involved in coaching tennis at Mars.

Heinauer said it's not as easy as it seems to begin a girls golf program.

"Everything has to fall into place," he said. "You need a coach, you need a place to play and you need enough interest from the students."

The Planets have all of that. Pettigrew said only six are needed to form a team, and he anticipates more than the 10 current girls "once they realize the program is available."

"I'm surprised we already have this many girls signing up," Marisa Glew said. "We're excited about the opportunity this team is going to give us to play golf."

Like the boys team, Mars' girls will play at Rittswood Golf Club.

"I can't say enough about how cooperative and kind they've been to us," Pettigrew said of Rittswood.

The girls will supply their own golf clubs and shoes. The school will supply their uniform shirts.

"Golf is a relatively inexpensive sport, budget-wise," Pettigrew said. "But it's a little more specialized than other sports.

"The players have to have the equipment, you need a place to play, you need a specialized coach to work with them. … I think that's why a lot of schools don't offer a girls golf team," he added.

Count Mars among the schools that do.

"My first value is academics," Pettigrew said. "But athletics are an outstanding activity and serve a vital place in schools.

"I'm well acquainted with the academic end of things, but coaching gives me a chance to get to know a lot of the students and I like kids.

"Athletics provide me a means of connection with the kids and I'm appreciative of that," Pettigrew added.