PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., August 6, 2015 – The National Women’s Golf Alliance (NWGA) has recognized Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club in Mountaintop, Pennsylvania as the first facility in the Northeast to earn the organization’s Rolling Out the Green Carpet™ certification.
The certification process evaluates golf facilities on standards and best practices that make the facility welcoming and attractive to women. A trained NWGA evaluator and three additional female golfers play an 18-hole round to evaluate the facility on five key areas of focus: Golf Course Playability, Customer Service, Golf Course Amenities, Facility Amenities and Golf Programs. Facilities that achieve a score of 80 percent or higher in at least three of these areas receive certification. Half stars are awarded for scores of 70 percent or higher.
Blue Ridge Trail’s 27-hole championship course has earned 3+ Stars excelling in Course Playability, Customer Service and Facility Amenities and earned half stars in the other criteria categories. Valid for three years, the Rolling Out the Green Carpet designation includes publicity and marketing, as well as an insignia to use with promotional materials and advertising.
“Including course ratings for women from multiple sets of markers and having yardages and tee locations that allow women an opportunity to have more fun earned Blue Ridge Trail a rare star for Course Playability,” said Jan Bel Jan, a founding partner of NWGA and owner of Jan Bel Jan Golf Course Design. “Course Playability is a critical element in our evaluation process and we are encouraging more courses to consider how they can set up their facilities to enhance the playing experience for women and all golfers.”
Beginning with the natural setting of the rolling hills of Northeastern, Pennsylvania, Blue Ridge Trail is thoughtfully carved out of the woods and valleys. The result is a course with a private feel and breathtaking scenery. Its unique layout, with no parallel fairways, lends character to its serene setting. With four sets of tees on three unique nines, it is a facility everyone from novice to experienced golfer can play, enjoy and appreciate.
“We greatly value our women customers,” says Tony Barletta, General Manager of Blue Ridge Trail. “We are proud to earn the NWGA certification which shows our dedication to Rolling Out the Green Carpet.”
The National Women’s Golf Alliance unites three highly respected women’s golf organizations — the EWGA, Golf for Cause, LLC and Jan Bel Jan Golf Course Design — with the mission to increase the number of women playing golf and engagement levels of existing women golfers. Using their combined years of expertise, data and observation regarding what women golfers want, need and expect for an enhanced playing experience, the NWGA has developed a base of standards and best practices to help golf facilities attract more women golfers and generate more revenue.
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