PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL, October 13, 2011 — Over 220 women golfers from across the United States and Canada will be competing in the final two rounds of the 16th Annual EWGA Championship at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Desert Willow Golf Club in Palm Desert, California on October 21 -22, 2011.
More than 100 friends, family and volunteers also are headed to the area, adding to the economic boost to the community.
Considered the world’s largest amateur women’s golf competition, the EWGA Championship annually attracts over 2400 competitors. From April to July, depending on the area’s golf season, more than 110 EWGA chapters hold local championship competitions. At the chapter level, EWGA members compete in individual stoke play in five flights based on USGA handicaps and a scramble team competition. Low gross and low net winners in each flight and the winning scramble team then compete in one of 15 semi-final competitions held throughout the United States.
Semi-final winners, along with finals winners from the previous year, earn the right to play in the 36-hole championship finals held this year on the Palm Course at the Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Desert Willow’s Firecliff Course on Friday and Saturday, October 21 -22.
The Championship flight (handicaps of 0 – 12.0) promises heated competition with last year’s winner Sarah Loomis from Fishers, Indiana facing off against 30 players from across the country. The Jacksonville, Fla. chapter will be defending their title in the scramble division.
Competitors range from women in their twenties to their sixties, representing a wide array of occupations and spanning the United States – from Seattle to South Florida, San Diego to Boston and three players from Canada. The Palm Springs/Desert Cities EWGA chapter is represented by MiMi Duong, from Cathedral City competing in the Third Flight. Live scoring will be posted on Friday and Saturday, online at http://ewgachampionship.com.
“We are excited to bring this year’s EWGA Championship Finals completion to Palm Desert. This is a premier event for women golfers of all playing abilities,” says Pam Swensen, CEO of the EWGA. “”The growth and continued excellence of the EWGA Championship demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing women with more opportunities through the game of golf.”
A highlight of the EWGA Championship Awards dinner on Saturday night will be special guests Golf Hall of Fame members Amy Alcott and Sandra Palmer as well as LPGA co- founder Shirley Spork.
About EWGA
Since its founding in 1991 as the Executive Women’s Golf Association, the EWGA welcomed more than 100,000 women in the game, connecting them to learn, play, and enjoy golf for business and fun. This tax-exempt association delivers a wide range of golf, social and networking activities for both new and experienced golfers.
A 2010 survey of EWGA members conducted by the PGA of America found that the average EWGA member plays 35 rounds per year. EWGA members spent an average of $4,533 on golf activities, merchandise and golf related travel, with each local EWGA chapter annually generating $550,000 in golf related spending and an average of 4,300 rounds of golf. With over 120 chapters throughout the United States, as well as international chapters in Canada, the EWGA represents nearly $70 million to the golf industry.
A survey of former EWGA members found that 90% of these women continued to play golf. While the former EWGA member survey did not include golf-related travel, this group’s golf spending accounted for an additional $98 million, totaling over $168 million and 1.7 million rounds of golf per year.
The EWGA is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. For more information about the association and its membership, visit www.ewga.com
Contact:
Angie Niehoff
Niehoff Marketing Associates
561-868-0297
niehoff@bellsouth.net
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