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1-1-2015 Ladies Professional Association Paul M. McInerny Marquette University, [email protected]

Published version. "Ladies Professional Golf Association" from Sports Leadership: A Reference Guide. Eds. Mark Dodds and James T. Reese, Jr. Santa Barbara: Mission Bell Media, 2015: 97-98. Publisher link. © 2015 Mission Bell Media. Used with permission. L

Ladies Professional Golf its beginning, the LPGA took a nondiscriminatory stance, opening membership to players of all races Association while scrutinizing courses for segregation policies. became the first African American Golf was one of the first sports to welcome women player on the tour in 1963. Gibson, before taking up athletes; in the , the inaugural women's golf, was a star tennis player winning Wimbledon amateur championship was held in 1895. While golf twice and the U.S. Open. flourished among women as an amateur endeavor, Starting with 13 members, the LPGA reached 350 the acceptance into professional competition even­ touring pros by its 50th anniversary in 2000, and in tually was realized. Legally formed in 1950, the La­ 2014, the LPGA comprised more than 460 players dies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is one of representing 27 countries. The LPGA Tour has more the oldest organizations of professional women ath­ than 30 tournaments highlighted by five majors: U.S. letes. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Women's Open (started in 1950), LPGA , and consists of two branches that touch just Championship (1955), Kraft-Nabisco Championship about every aspect of golf-the playing tour and the (1983), RICOH Women's British Open (2001 ), and teaching and club professionals division. (2013). Marquee players The LPGA came to fruition in May 1949, replac­ through the decades such as Berg, Zaharias, Mickey ing a failed earlier effort to associate. Players agreed Wright, , Jan Stephenscn, Nancy to form the LPGA at the Eastern Open in Essex Lopez, Annika Sorenstam, , Se Ri Pak, Falls, New Jersey, and immediately hired Fred Cora­ Michelle Wie, and many others helped the LP­ ran, also employed by , as GA's popularity growth. Besides the tour events, the tournament manager. The official Articles of In­ LPGA initiated the in 1990, in which corporation as a nonprofit entity were reviewed at a the top U.S. players take on 's best every two tournament in Wichita, Kansas, and then formally years as the women's equivalent of the . signed on October 9, 1950, in New York by players LPGA tournament prize money has grown from , , Sally Sessions, Betty $50,000 in its first year to $56 million in 2014. The Jameson, and . Also credited as charter first televised women's golf event was the 1963 U.S. members were , Marlene Bauer Hagge, Women's Open. In 1982, the first four rounds of Bettye Mims Danoff, , , a tournament-celebrity Dinah Shore's tourna­ Shirley Spark, , and Babe Zaharias, a ment-were broadcast live for the first time. By multiple-sport standout and Olympic Gold-medal­ 2014, more than 350 hours of women's golf tourna­ ist. Berg served as the first LPGA president. From ments were televised.

Ladies Professional Golf Association \ 97 Attesting to its growth, in 2007 the LPGA ac­ outreach programs serve the economically disad­ quired the , which is the official de­ vantaged. The LPGA Foundation was formed in velopmental tour. More than 300 players compete 1991 to develop and maintain junior programs, es­ annually from March through September with the tablish scholarship programs for junior golfers, pro­ top-10 money earners gaining membership in the vide financial assistance to those in the golf indus­ LPGA for the following year. This tour is in addition try, and conduct research and develop educational to LPGA's annual qualifying school. activities related to . The LPGA. While many associate the LPGA with its play­ Foundation is a separately incorporated nonprofit ing tour, the teaching and club professionals divi­ organization but works closely with the LPGA. sion (T&CP) has more than 1,500 members-the The LPGA Tournament Owners Association also largest organization of women golf professionals in is a separate nonprofit that consists of the individ­ the world-as well as its own staff. LPGA charter ual tour events. members Marilynn Smith and Shirley Spark started the teaching division in 1959 to promote the game Paul M. Mcinerny as well as increase women's participation. LPGA T&CP certification is earned through a comprehen­ See Also: Gender and Sports Leadership; Professional sive curriculum designed for golf instructors, busi­ Golf Association; Professional Sports; Race/Ethnicity and ness managers, and coaches. The division is known Sports Leadership; Women's Leadership in Sport. for its research-based golf education. Among the many T&CP initiatives are programs to teach golf Further Readings: to those with physical limitations, introducing golf Hudson, David L. Women In Golf: The Players, the to urban boys and girls ages 7 to 17, junior develop­ History, and the Future of the Sport. Westport, CT: ment programs with more than 2,500 girl partici­ Praeger, 2008. pants, junior clinics, and clinics for women in busi­ Kahn, Liz. The LPGA: The Unauthorized Version, The ness. The T&CP division has its own championship History of the Ladies Professional Golf Association. golf tournament. Menlo Park, CA: Group Fore Productions, 1996. Since its beginning, the LPGA has advocated for Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). http:// its members' welfare. Early on, the association of­ www..com (Accessed October 2014). fered an insurance program, and in 1981 started a Sanson, Nanette S. Champions of Women's Golf: retirement benefit-the first ever deferred compen­ Celebrating Fifty Years of the LPGA. Naples, FL: sation plan for nonteam professional sports. For its Quai!Mark Books, 2000. first 25 years, tour players administered all facets of the LPGA. In the 1970s, tour member sued the LPGA over accusations of rule infringe­ ment. The result of the settlement was the signifi­ Leadership in Recreational cant reorganization of the governance structure. In 1975, Ray Volpe was hired as the LPGA's first com­ Sports Organizations missioner along with formation of a board of direc­ tors, relieving tour players of administrative respon­ Not unlike other sport administrators, recreatio . na 1 sibilities. The new structure led to dramatic financial sports leaders are charged With many responsib . 11 expansion. Today, the LPGA board of directors con­ ities, including creating a vision for the organi - sists of the commissioner, six independent directors, tion, establishing goals and developing an agendaZa­ seven tour players (Player Executive Committee), meet those goals, building a team, supporting to and the president of the LPGA Teaching and Club motivatmg. . personne I, an d so 1vmg . problems. Recand Professionals. The board oversees a sizeable staff. ational sports leaders like city recreation manag re- . . ers Through both LPGA divisions, charitable sup­ park rangers, and campus recreatiOn directors al ' port has been a significant component for decades. encounter a WI"d e range o f.Issues specific to re so The playing tours benefit local charities and many at10n-· an d Ieisure- · b ase d serviCes.· Recreational spere_ Ofts 98 I Leadership in Recreational Sports Organizations