FRENCH LICK, IN. – French Lick Resort, located in southern Indiana, continues its history in supporting women’s professional golf as the leading resort destination will play host to the 2012 LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Championship.
The Championship, run by the Ladies Professional Golf Association, will be conducted August 20-22 on the historic and hilly Donald Ross Course.
“We are very excited to continue our tradition at French Lick Resort in supporting women’s golf and having the LPGA National Championship,” said Dave Harner, French Lick Resort’s director of golf. “With over 50 years of history in women’s golf, it was a natural fit for us and a great opportunity for the best LPGA teaching professionals to experience this great resort destination.”
The history of women’s golf at French Lick dates back to 1957 where Louise Suggs captured the French Lick Women’s Open on the historic Donald Ross course. A few years later the LPGA Championship was also brought to the historic site. In 1959 Betsy Rawls won the LPGA major followed by the legendary Mickey Wright winning the title in 1960 also held on the Ross course. In 2013, the history will continue with the new LPGA Legends Hall of Fame event.
The LPGA National Championship began in 1983 to provide additional playing opportunities for LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals. The event has since grown to become recognized as the premier tournament for women golf professionals in the world. A field of 144 of the nation’s finest club professionals from across the globe will compete in this annual 54-hole Championship for their share of the $100,000 purse.
Defending champion Lori Atsedes of Litchfield Park, Ariz., and of the Golf Channel’s reality show The Big Break will headline the field competing for a coveted spot in the 2013 LPGA Championship, a major on the LPGA Tour.
In addition, professionals will have the opportunity to play alongside family and friends during the one-day Titleist and Foot Joy Pro-Am competition preceding the Championship on August 19.
“We are very excited to bring this event to Indiana and to French Lick Resort,” said Nancy Henderson, Executive Director of the Teaching and Club Professional Membership. “The Donald Ross Course will provide unique challenges for the professionals, especially on the greens, and the resort is the perfect setting for our National Championship.”
French Lick Resort will become the first facility to host both the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional National Championship (2012) and the PGA Professional Championship (2010).
French Lick Resort is a $500 million historic restoration and casino development project that includes the West Baden Springs Hotel, French Lick Springs Hotel and the new French Lick Casino. This premier resort and casino destination in Southern Indiana features 686 guest rooms and suites; a 51,000-square-foot, single-level casino; 45 holes of golf, including the fully restored 1917-designed Donald Ross Course at French Lick and the new, 18-hole Pete Dye Course at French Lick; two full-service spas with a combined 36 treatment rooms totaling 42,000 square feet; meeting and event space totaling 115,000 square feet and an array of dining and entertainment options. Visit www.frenchlick.com.
The LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) membership, founded in 1959, boasts the largest membership of women golf professionals in the world. LPGA T&CP members are certified as golf instructors, coaches and business managers through a comprehensive curriculum designed to meet the changing needs of the golfing public.
For More information about French Lick Resort visit www.frenchlick.com.
For more information about the LPGA, visit www.lpga.com.
Contact:
French Lick Resort
Dyan Welsh Duncan
(812) 936-5926
dduncan@frenchlick.com
Fusion Media Strategies
Kevin Frisch
(989) 614-0241
kevin@fusionmediastrategies.com
