Far Hills, N.J. (Jan. 10) – Martha Lang of Birmingham, Ala., has been appointed to serve a one-year term in 2011 as chairman of the United States Golf Association’s Women’s Committee.
Lang takes over as chairman after serving as vice-chairman of the committee for the past two years. She succeeds Barbara Douglas of Scottsdale, Ariz., who served two consecutive one-year terms. Dot Paluck of Bernardsville, N.J., has been appointed to a one-year term as vice-chairman.
Eight other members were reappointed to an additional one-year term on the Women’s Committee: Barbara Barrow of San Diego, Calif.; Stacey Collins of Cockeysville, Md.; Cece Durbin of Winnetka, Ill.; Lew Ellen Erickson of Tulsa, Okla.; Sarah Haas of Carterville, Ill.; Martha Kirouac of Norcross, Ga.; Cindy Reimers of Missoula, Mont.; and Laura Saf of Lincoln, Neb.
Four new members were also appointed to the Women’s Committee: Judi Lorenzen of Marana, Ariz.; Pam Murray of Richardson, Texas; Courtney Myhrum of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Mandy Rasmussen of Gearhart, Ore.
Four members of the Women’s Committee, including Douglas, Linda Lester of Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.; Ede Rice of Edina, Minn.; and Gail Rogers of Santa Cruz, Calif., will retire.
The Women’s Committee, which is appointed annually by the USGA Executive Committee, advises the Executive Committee in matters relating to women’s golf. Its principal responsibility is to oversee the administration of the women’s championships conducted by the USGA.
Lang has been on the Women’s Committee since 1999. She served as chairman of the Girls’ Junior Committee from 2002 to 2004 and was chairman of the Women’s International Team Selection Committee from 2003 to 2009. She now serves on the USGA International Team Selection and Future Sites Committees. She is currently a director of the Women’s Southern Golf Association and was on the USGA Women’s Regional Affairs Committee and U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship Committee before being appointed to the Women’s Committee.
Lang won the 1988 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, played on the 1992 USA Curtis Cup Team and captained the 1996 USA Curtis Cup Team. In addition, she played in seven U.S. Women’s Opens, making the cut twice. In 2009, she was inducted into the Birmingham Golf Association’s Hall of Fame. She is a 1975 graduate of the University of Alabama.
Paluck has been a member of the Women’s Committee since 2002. She served as chairman of the USGA Women’s State Team Championship from 2005 to 2009 and served on the Regional Associations Committee from 1998 to 1999 and the Women’s Regional Affairs Committee from 2000 to 2001. Paluck served as president of the Garden State Women’s Golf Association in 2002 and 2003 and served as president of the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association from 1997 to 1998. She still rates 25 to 30 courses annually for the WMGA.
Paluck, who formerly served as council president for the Borough of Bernardsville Town Council, is also a commissioner for the Somerset County Park Commission, where she serves as chairman of golf for the county, which oversees five courses. Paluck, a former high school teacher, earned her B.A. from Michigan State University in 1962 and her M.A. from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
About the USGA
The USGA annually conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open and 10 national amateur championships. It also conducts two state team championships and helps conduct the Walker Cup Match, Curtis Cup Match and World Amateur Team Championships. Each year, more than 30,000 players representing more than 80 countries submit entries to play in USGA championships.
The USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries. The USGA writes and administers the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment testing, provides expert course maintenance consultations, and, since 1920, has been a global leader in the development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history, and funds an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program.
For more information, visit www.usga.org.
Contact:
Beth Murrison
bmurrison@usga.org
Web Address: www.usga.org
USGA Phone: (908) 234-2300
