President’s Message: Success of girls’ takes more than money—what can you do to help? By Mary Pomroy

The success of a girls’ high school golf team INSIDE hinges on support from the players’ families and coach. Learning good sportsmanship and what it 2 Alliance members go all out for junior and takes to be part of a team is also critical. The more high school girls' golf successful school programs have made this part of 4 The 411 on the Aliance's 20 member their culture. Unfortunately, not every player has the good associations fortune to have a strong support system. This is 8 Who is the Women's Golf Alliance and where you come in. Suzy O’Hara, the Arizona WGA what is it up to? Junior Grants & Assistance Committee chair, says, “The joy and satisfaction I have received through working with the girls has far surpassed my expectations. It is a wonderful way to give back to the game and promote success in our young people.” High school girls’ golf teams could use your support. Become an advocate for a school in your area—adopt a team, become their friend/golf buddy/mentor, go to their matches and cheer, donate slightly used equipment, hand out water, make these girls part of the women’s golf community so they will want that throughout their life. It costs you some time, but pays you back with the knowledge that you have made a difference in a girl’s life and maybe helped to make golf a part of her life forever. You don’t have to do this alone. Get your whole golf group involved! Make a difference in someone’s life through golf. And read on for some of the ways women’s golf associations are giving back. Courtesy of PWGA

WGA–1 FALL 2015 I GottaGoGolf I 53 Alliance members go all out for girls’ golf ARIZONA Build-a-TEAM touches lives taught by area PGA and LPGA golf through golf professionals. The grant money also purchases team golf bags, uniforms, Do you ever wish you had pull carts, quality golf balls, etc. started playing golf sooner or had The program also connects the lessons when you first started? coaches to local sources for golf clubs Many of us do. The Build-a-TEAM and club fitting services. Many of the program administered by the girls on the golf teams at Arizona high Arizona WGA helps make that schools are athletes recruited from possible for high school age girls other sports who had never touched a around the state. golf club before. This program is the Two schools in the program have a responsibility of the AWGA’s Junior team member with special needs. The Grants & Assistance Committee, lessons and coaching that the program chaired by Board member Suzy has funded have enabled these girls O’Hara and supported by staff to have access to the game and gain member Julie Fenn, the Player insight into equipment modifications Programs Manager. It supports that allow them to participate fully and eight high school girls’ golf teams find success. One plans to use her new across the state. skills in upcoming Special Olympics. The support requires each Funding comes from individual team to spend a large percentage donations, proceeds from 50/50 raffles, of its grant money on lessons grants and AWGA membership fees.

CHANDLER HIGH GIRLS COOL OFF

WGA–2 FALL 2015 I GottaGoGolf I 54 NEW YORK/ NEW JERSEY Getting ‘Girls to the Tee’

The WMGA Foundation Ridgewood Golf Club already hosted 120 junior girls has offered its range for 2016 Girls Aug.3 for Girls to the Tee at to the Tee New Jersey. Ridgewood Westchester Country Club in will be hosting the U.S. Girls’ Junior Harrison, N.Y. Thanks to Gary Championship next year. Weir and Monique Thoresz, Thank you to all who believe in PGA Professionals, and Diane our mission of supporting junior Mock, WMGA Junior Chair, for girls’ golf and awarding college organizing this great day. At scholarships to young women who least 15 local golf professionals have an interest in golf. Without conducted a free clinic that support to the Foundation, we could mixed quality instruction with not accomplish our goals. high energy.

HOME ON THE RANGE

WGA–3 FALL 2015 I GottaGoGolf I 55 The Arizona WGA (AWGA) is the voice of women’s golf in Arizona. We offer programs for members and the golf community that encourage and provide opportunities for women to learn, play, compete and administer the game for themselves and their clubs. Programs include information and outreach, player programs, USGA programs, and volunteer development.

The Colorado Women’s Golf The Kansas Women’s Golf The Missouri Women's Association (CWGA) is a nonprofit Association promotes the game Golf Association promotes amateur golf organization among women and girls by women's golf by holding established in 1916. We promote maintaining strong relationships annual competitions for women's golf in the state and with member clubs and female juniors, amateurs, MEET preserve the integrity of the game. individual members; conducting mid -amateurs and seniors. We represent 17,000 individuals and annual championships and other Scholarships are awarded each 250 clubs and we serve as a regional events; and offering a range year to graduating high school operating partner of the United of programs that develop and golfers through the MWGA. States Golf Association. enhance the golfing experience THE for all. MEMBERS Founded in 1952, the The Maryland State Golf The Montana State Women’s OF THE WOMEN’S GOLF ALLIANCE Delaware Women’s Golf Association-Women’s Division Golf Association is devoted to Association shares a mission was formed in 1995 to promote promoting educational, social to promote interest in golf amateur golf for women of all and recreational advantages for women and junior girls ages and abilities. The MSGA- for women and girls in golf. in the State of Delaware and WD is dedicated to providing a They do this by encouraging surrounding areas. The DWGA full range of services for more sportsmanship, amateurism, reaches golfers of all abilities than 9,000 members including skill and respect embodied by through tournaments, travel, competitions, handicapping, the honorable traditions in the social events and education. course rating and rules seminars. game of golf.

The Women's Golf Alliance encompasses 20 state and regional associations across the U.S., from California on the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic Coast and South Carolina, home of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort shown here. The Desert WGA was The Michigan Women’s Golf The Nebraska Women’s formed in 2000 as a regional Association was established Amateur Golf Association is association for Southern in 1986 to help promote the an organization of golf clubs California desert clubs and game and provide competitive and individuals governed by their approximately 700 play and education for female amateur women golfers and members. It issues course amateur players of all ages formed in 1973 for the purpose and slope ratings as well and skill levels. An on-going of promoting and conserving as handicap indexes to MWGA goal is to give back the best interests and true its members. DWGA also to the community through spirit of the game of golf for all sponsors golf tournaments, our successful LPGA-USGA women in Nebraska. team play competition and supported junior program. MORE PHOTO BY KIAWAH—COUGAR POINT other events for members. 

WGA–4 FALL 2015 I GottaGoGolf I 56 Founded in 1916, the Women’s Texas Golf Association encourages and promotes women's golf in Texas. We also raise funds for college scholarships and educate others about USGA rules.

The New Hampshire Women’s Golf The WGA of Northern California promotes The TRANS Amateur Championship began Association (NHWGA), founded in 1923, and serves the interest of women's amateur in 1927 and in 1992, the TRANS Senior Four- is a nonprofit organization governed by a golf in Northern California. We provide services Ball Championship for women was added. volunteer 15-member board. We offer our 750 for more than 100 member clubs' women's Among past TRANS Amateur champions and/or members more than 40 golf events: weekly organizations from Tulare County north to the competitors are , Paige MacKenzie, tournaments, mixed events, specialties, juniors Oregon border, with a membership of more , , , Judy and championships. We conduct rules clinics than 11,000. Bell, Carol Semple Thompson, Babe Didrikson and annually award college scholarships. Zaharias and .

Pacific WGA was founded in 1947 to promote Founded in 1899, the Women’s Metropolitan The Women’s South Carolina Golf the best interest of amateur golf for women. Golf Association is the second oldest Association was founded in 1949. The PWGA supports women golfers playing at women’s golf association in the U.S. and has a WSCGA membership consists of women’s public and semi-private courses in Northern membership of 201 clubs and more than 2,300 golf associations throughout the state: 140 California. In addition to funding several individuals In Connecticut, New Jersey and member associations with more than 12,000 benevolent projects, we provide educational, New York. The WMGA annually conducts spring women golfers receiving USGA handicaps. competitive and social opportunities for our team matches and more than 30 competitions, The WSCGA is licensed by the USGA to provide members. including a USGA Championship qualifier. handicapping and course rating services.

Founded in 1934, San Diego County WGA is a The Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association The Women's Southern California Golf nonprofit organization, chartered to promote, began in 1915 at the Oklahoma City Golf and Association, established in 1922, is the largest supervise and conduct competitive golf for Country Club with the goal of crowning a regional women’s golf association in the SDCWGA members in accordance with the Women’s Oklahoma State Amateur. Its mission U.S. Its goal is to promote and foster interest Rules of Golf of the USGA as modified by Local is to support, promote and grow the game of in women's amateur golf through friendly Rules determined by the Board of Directors. golf for women and junior girls in Oklahoma. organized competition.

WGA–5 FALL 2015 I GottaGoGolf I 57 MICHIGAN Uniting to create the future of The planning committee led by women’s golf chairperson Joan Cleland included Sara Wold, Janina Jacobs, Tonia Laird, The Michigan WGA teamed Shirley McClain, Terri Pearce, Francine up with the Executive Women’s Pegues, Laura Winch, Debbie Stout, Golf Association Metro Detroit and Shelly Weiss, Susan Bairley, Jeanne the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Myers and Cindy Obermeyer. Association to organize the Women’s Zamboni, co-founder and Director Golf Summit in April. of Events for Nancy Lopez Golf The day, sponsored by the Golf Adventures, gave details on her “Play Association of Michigan (GAM) and Happy Golf” program and her mission Team Rehabilitation Physical Therapy, to educate golfers on how to balance drew about 150 women golfers and playing golf at their personal best supporters. while also enjoying every moment of Activities included breakout the game. sessions on golf rules, putting, The goal of the Summit was to chipping and full swing tips and provide a forum for women golfers drills, physical therapy and exercise at all levels of the game, whether information and demonstrations, competitive or recreational— mentoring, and etiquette. Former gathering to encourage women to LPGA National Teacher of the Year take up the game, to learn more about Teresa Zamboni and a panel of leaders the game, and to feel confident and in Michigan women’s golf gave comfortable playing golf at whatever presentations. their level. —Joan Cleland MORE ON PAGE 7 STRETCHING WITH SHELLY WEISS ( PHOTO BY GREG JOHNSON)

WGA–6 FALL 2015 I GottaGoGolf I 58 A TROPHY TO THE WINNERS: ROCKLIN HIGH NORTHERN in this area for girls to play competitive golf and these women’s associations CALIFORNIA provide that, which is really nice, so we Back to school and back to golf appreciate it.” season PWGA Executive Director Caroline O’Brien said PWGA and its sister In Northern California, two golf organization WGANC felt that the associations come together every year prospects for junior team competition to support high school golf for girls. were too sparse. “Giving the high The Pacific Women’s Golf school teams an opportunity to play Association (PWGA) and Women’s with other teams outside of their Golf Association of Northern regular league provides them another California (WGANC) host two 18-hole occasion to come together as a team tournaments for high school girls. The and collaborate for the win,” O’Brien Valley Tournament in the Sacramento said. Region is in partnership with Rocklin This year the WGANC and PWGA High School, the Central Coast in the will collaboratively host 180 girls from Bay Area with the San Mateo High 30 area high schools for the annual School. For some of the high school tournaments, named for Helen girls competing in the Helen Lengfeld Lengfeld, founder of the PWGA and a memorial tournaments last year, it was former President of the WGANC. their first real opportunity to play in an O’Brien said she thinks Lengfeld, 18-hole match. who began taking golf lessons at “I think it’s a testament to the the tender age of 8 and went on to need and demand for this type of become the youngest member of the opportunity, clearly since last year we now Peninsula Golf and Country Club had 20 teams submit and only enough of San Mateo in 1912, would have been room for 15,” said former Rocklin HS proud of the competition held in her Coach Susan Espana. “There is a need honor.

WGA–7 FALL 2015 I GottaGoGolf I 59 I n c a s e y o u w e r e wondering... What is the Women’s Golf Alliance? Formed in 2009, the Women’s Golf FULL-SWING INSTRUCTION AT CLINIC Alliance represents 20 state and regional SOUTH women’s golf associations comprised of 120,000 women golfers. Its goals are: to CAROLINA increase the voice and visibility of women Raising funds to lead girls the WSCGA Junior Foundation golfers; to enhance the benefits and to golf contributed over $28,000 to the services provided by member associations; growth of junior girl’s golf in and to offer marketing, management The WSCGA’s Junior Foundation South Carolina. and governance resources and tools for held two clinics for area high school “High school golf is where it member associations, staff and boards. girls’ golf teams in August. begins for many of these girls, and Who can join the Alliance? Cobb’s Glen Country Club in it can be really tough to do well The Alliance has various levels of Anderson hosted 6 schools and 29 and get into the game without membership. Please contact your local girls Aug. 11, and then Par Tee Driving instruction,” Robinson said. “We women’s golf association if you are Range in West Columbia hosted 4 are so fortunate to have such a interested in joining the Alliance. schools and 20 girls Aug. 12. The three- great community of golf leaders How can I get more information about hour clinics were coached by PGA in South Carolina and the support the Alliance? Professionals who were volunteering. from the Carolinas PGA to be able Go to www.womensgolfalliance.org The WSCGA Junior Foundation to put on clinics for these girls.“ Why am I receiving this magazine? strives to expose as many girls to the The Foundation provided Because you are a member of a state game of golf in South Carolina as each girl with a T-shirt, lunch and or regional women’s golf association possible. “We want to help provide beverage, and each high school that belongs to the Alliance, you are quality instruction to these girls in team received a Classic Swing entitled to receive a free subscription to hopes they will enjoy and continue Trainer. GottaGoGolf Magazine. playing the game,” said Cathy “We wish we could do more, Robinson, WSCGA Junior Foundation as a 501c3 charitable organization Trustee. we’re still looking for a corporate The Foundation has stepped sponsor to help us reach our goal up its fundraising over the last few of providing each high school years to offer this type of assistance team in South Carolina with a to area high school teams. In 2014, swing trainer,” said Robinson.

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