SEATTLE, Wash. (Oct. 19, 2007) — Members of the Seattle Chapter of the Executive Women’s Golf Association spent more than $54,000 in green fees for weekly league play during the 2007 season and raised nearly $24,000 for three local charities, according to reports at the group’s year-end banquet. Those numbers represent only a fraction of the chapter’s economic impact, said Ash Hans, outgoing president of the Seattle Chapter.
Janet Young, director of EWGA’s Pacific Northwest Section, said the Seattle chapter had year-over-year increases in all events. With 328 members, Seattle ranks as the 8th largest chapter in EWGA’s network of 123 chapters.
Standing in for Hans, the chapter president who was on a business trip, Young credited much of Seattle’s success to a dedicated team of dozens of volunteers and the support of sponsors and prize donors who helped plan, organize and promote an array of activities for both experienced and new golfers.
During 2007, the Seattle chapter activities included weekly leagues at nine courses, a Rally for the Cure tournament to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation for breast cancer awareness and research, weekend "fun" play and tournaments at more than two dozen courses, as well as clinics and social events.
Seattle members continued a tradition of "giving back" that dates to its founding in 1993. This year, through various events and activities, the women’s fund-raising efforts netted $23,665 to support local programs of the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf (for girls ages 7-17), the Puget Sound affiliate of the Komen for the Cure foundation, and Washington Women in Need. Additionally, funds were donated to the LPGA Foundation and a clothing drive was conducted for Dress for Success Seattle.
Along with celebrating chapter and individual achievements, participants at the year-end banquet, held October 18 in Bellevue and attended by 90 members, saluted outgoing officers, committee chairs and volunteers. In addition to Hans, a resident of Sammamish, the 2007 officers were vice president Bonnie Lindner, secretary Tab Powers, and treasurer Shelley French, all of Redmond.
Founded in 1991, the EWGA provides opportunities for women to learn, play, and enjoy the game of golf for business and for life. The not-for-profit corporation has 120 chapters in the United States (organized into 12 geographic sections), two Canadian chapters and a newly formed chapter in Paris. Together, they provide 20,000 members a wide range of golf, social and networking activities, as well as the opportunity to compete in the EWGA Championship, considered the world’s largest women’s amateur golf competition.
The EWGA, headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., also holds an annual conference. Nine members from the Seattle chapter are attending this year’s gathering, scheduled from Oct. 31 – Nov. 3 at Amelia Island Plantation in Florida.
A study conducted in 2006 by the PGA of America found EWGA members spent on average $3,993 on golf fees, lessons, equipment and food and beverages in a 12-month period. For the Seattle Chapter, that translates to an annual economic impact of more than $1.3 million. Nearly two-thirds of EWGA’s members also reported annual spending of $2,212 on golf-related travel.
Looking ahead to 2008, EWGA Seattle will inaugurate the season with two events, the Seattle Golf Show from March 14-16 where it will have an informational booth, and its annual spring banquet, which will be held on March 27.
Contact:
Cheri Brennan, Communications Chair, EWGA-Seattle Chapter
Alliance Communications, Bellevue, Wash.
ph: 425.957.0654
email: cheri4pr@sprynet.com
www.alliance-marcom.com
Member, Golf Marketing Team; www.golfmarketingteam.com
