GOLF 20/20-Led Event Raises More Than $30,000 For Go Red For Women
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL (August 11, 2006) – More than 20,000 women nationwide were treated to free golf lessons and golf-related networking and social activities at hundreds of golf facilities across the country June 3-10, 2006 as part of part of American ExpressT Women’s Golf Week – a precedent-setting collaboration of the top U.S. golf organizations led by GOLF 20/20 aimed at increasing the participation of women in the game of golf. The event, part of the golf industry-wide Play Golf America initiative managed by the PGA of America, nearly doubled participation from its inaugural year in 2005, with a 160% increase in the number of registered host facilities.
"We are thrilled with the success of the 2006 American ExpressT Women’s Golf Week, both in terms of the number of facilities that chose to participate and also the engagement of so many women in the game," said Ruffin Beckwith, Executive Director of GOLF 20/20. "This was a consolidated effort of our allied organizations and an outstanding group of corporate sponsors, and we look forward to even greater success next year." In 2007, Women’s Golf Week will be held June 2-9.
Fundraising conducted at American ExpressT Women’s Golf Week host facilities raised more than $30,000 for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement {www.goredforwomen.org}, a nationwide campaign dedicated to making women aware of their risk for heart disease, the number one killer of women (and men), and encouraging women to take positive action to prevent heart disease and stroke.
American ExpressT Women’s Golf Week was created following the 2004 GOLF 20/20 Annual Conference in response to growing demand for golf programming that specifically addresses the needs, expectations and time constraints of women interested in learning or becoming more involved in the game of golf. According to research conducted by the National Golf Foundation (NGF), women comprise the fastest-growing segment of the golf market, accounting for more than 2.5 million "core" golfers (those playing at least eight rounds of golf annually) and millions of additional occasional or beginning women golfers. In fact, one in five "core" golfers are women, and the number is growing. Women also spend billions of dollars annually on golf rounds, apparel and equipment ($4.3 billion in 2002, according to NGF), making them a powerful consumer group within the golf industry.
American ExpressT Women’s Golf Week is spearheaded by GOLF 20/20, a consortium of the top U.S. golf organizations that combines insightful research with strategic acumen to further the industry’s knowledge, create new programs, and identify areas ideal for the sport’s expansion. GOLF 20/20’s mission is to align the golf industry behind a plan that addresses the future of golf in a strategic manner, with an emphasis on accelerating growth and participation, and creating new avenues of access into the game.
GOLF 20/20 supporters include the PGA of America, LPGA, PGA TOUR, Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA), United States Golf Association (USGA), National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) and The First Tee. Every year, GOLF 20/20 hosts an invitation-only conference for industry leaders to share its insights and collaborate on a strategy for the future. The event is held at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida, the resort destination and golf community built around the World Golf Hall of Fame. This year’s GOLF 20/20 Annual Conference will be held on Monday and Tuesday, October 30 and 31. The event will coincide with the 2006 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and will include a special check presentation by American Express to the American Heart Association resulting from nationwide fundraising during American ExpressT Women’s Golf Week. Former LPGA Touring Pro Suzy Whaley, who served as National Spokesperson for the event in 2006, is also expected to be on hand for the presentation.
For more information on GOLF 20/20, please visit www.golf20/20.org.
Contact:
Tammy Smith
Executive Coordinator
GOLF 20/20
100 PGA TOUR Blvd.
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
(904)280-4829
(904)280-4828 – Fax
tammysmith@pgatourhq.com
