PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL – January 31, 2012 – Four of the nation’s most highly respected women’s golf organizations have joined forces to launch the National Women’s Golf Alliance (NWGA), with the mission to increase the number of women playing golf, and improve engagement levels of existing women golfers.
The EWGA, Golf for Cause LLC, Jan Bel Jan Golf Course Design, and Ladies Links Fore Golf, LLC (LL4G) will pool their years of expertise, data and observations, regarding what women golfers want, expect and need for an enhanced playing experience that will keep women excited about and engaged in golf for years to come. Utilizing this information, the NWGA will establish a base of standards and best practices that could help make golf facilities more welcoming and attractive to women and enhance golf’s overall appeal to women.
The NWGA will not only safeguard but advance the interests of women’s golf by addressing five areas of focus at golf facilities: Course playability, customer service, course amenities, facility amenities and golf programs. The table below provides a snapshot of the high-level criteria that have been developed by the NWGA:
National Women’s Golf Alliance™ Areas of Focus: Criteria for NWGA “Rolling Out the Green Carpet™” Designation
Golf Course Playability: Multiple sets of tees for women that are maintained at the same standards as all other tees, including a minimum of one set under 5000 yards rated for women for par 72 courses
Customer Service: Women welcomed as valued customers as shown by fair access to tee times, staff is welcoming to guests, and women in key staff positions
Golf Course Amenities: On course amenities (drinking water, ball washers) are safely and conveniently located at all possible teeing areas along with clean restrooms available at appropriate intervals on the course and in the facility
Facility Amenities: Measurable selection of women’s merchandise in the Golf Shop and healthful food and beverage choices
Golf Programs: Women-specific learning and playing experiences available and fairly priced 9-hole and/or other play options
The NWGA™ will reach out to golf facilities seeking to increase their number of women golfers, offering them consulting, staff training, course design and redesign, and other services to assist them in increasing the engagement of women golfers. Participating facilities that meet certain standards will receive a Rolling out the Green Carpet™ designation, and will be promoted by NWGA as NWGA-certified golf facilities. -continued-
“The National Women’s Golf Alliance represents a grass roots effort by women to bring an even better golf experience to women,” said Pam Swensen, CEO of the EWGA. “It is thrilling to be a part of this historical coming together of women’s groups to speak with one voice in helping to guide golf facilities to better meet the needs of their female customers, while enhancing their bottom line revenues.”
“For years there have been meetings, conferences and seminars where industry leaders discussed the value of women golfers,” commented Jan Bel Jan, owner of Jan Bel Jan Golf Course Design. “As amazing as it was to learn of the innovative approaches to engage more women more fully in the game of golf, it was disappointing that they weren’t implemented more broadly or consistently.”
“It gives Ladies Links Fore Golf great pleasure to be a partner with NWGA. Growing the game of golf for women and ensuring a friendly environment at golf courses will only keep women in the game and encourage more women to start playing golf,” said Lynn Stellman, CEO Ladies Links Fore Golf.
“Golf for Cause sees the dynamic synergy of the National Women’s Golf Alliance expanding our sphere of influence and we’re excited about the positive impact that will bring more women into golf and more revenue to golf course operations,” said Debbie Waitkus, President of Golf for Cause®, LLC.
For golf facilities interested in learning more about Rolling Out the Green Carpet™ program, email debbie_waitkus@nationalwomensgolfalliance.com.
About EWGA
Throughout its 20 year history, the EWGA which is a golf organization for current and aspiring business and professional women, has, through its network of grassroots groups, developed over 100,000 committed golfers, conducted thousands of leagues, outings, events and clinics, raised thousands of dollars for various charities and annually contributed $75 million to the U.S. golf economy. Its mission of connecting women to learn, play, and enjoy golf for business and fun continues to expand to new communities inside the U.S. as well as in Canada and most recently Italy. The EWGA is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. For more information about the association and its membership, visit www.ewga.com. To contact EWGA CEO Pam Swensen about NWGA, email her at pam_swensen@nationalwomensgolfalliance.com.
About Golf for Cause, LLC
Golf for Cause®, as an organization, develops and delivers products and services that move others to use golf as a strategy to achieve their objectives. Debbie Waitkus, President and Founder of Golf for Cause, and current President of Women in the Golf Industry (www.wigi.info) is a business golf consultant, speaker and writer, and she works to demystify the game and help her clients “turn golf into gold®.” Her knowledge about how to generate business through golf is the essence of her programs and events and due to her expertise, she has appeared in numerous media outlets and golf industry functions. To learn more, visit www.golfforcause.com or email Debbie about NWGA at debbie_waitkus@nationalwomensgolfalliance.com.
About Jan Bel Jan, ASGCA
Jan Bel Jan comes from a Pittsburgh, PA golf family from whom she learned the game and business of golf. She founded Jan Bel Jan Golf Course Design in 2009 after holding a senior position in golf course design, construction and project management with Tom Fazio for more than 20 years. In 1990, she was the second female elected to the American Society of Golf Course Architects and represents the ASGCA as a board member of the National Alliance for Accessible Golf. As a registered landscape architect, certified arborist and former assistant superintendent, Jan has a unique outlook on the playability, strategy, ecology and economics of golf courses. In December 2000 and February 2005, she was named “One of the 10 Most Powerful Women in the Game of Golf” by Sports Illustrated Plus. To learn more, visit http://janbeljan.com or email Jan about NWGA at jan_beljan@nationalwomensgolfalliance.com
About Ladies’ Links Fore Golf
Founded in 2006, LL4G’s mission is to empower women golfers through support, instruction, knowledge and community that will enhance the overall golf experience for women. In 2008, LL4G launched its website, LL4G.com, with the goal of creating the nation’s largest and most comprehensive online golfing community for women amateurs. In 2009 the organization launched Ladies Links Fore Golf Magazine and the Ladies Links Fore Golf Radio Show, creating a coast-to-coast golfing community where women can link up to compete, learn, grow and share new experiences. LL4G fans enjoy tournaments, travel, fun days, golf schools and more. Email Lynn Stellman about NWGA at lynn_stellman@nationalwomensgolfalliance.com.
Contact:
Angie Niehoff
561-868-0297 or 305-582-7450
angie_niehoff@nationalwomensgolfalliance.com
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