VALLEY FORGE, Pa. (January 11, 2018) – The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, a driving force behind tourism in the region, has stepped to the plate as the first to sign a sponsorship agreement for the LPGA Symetra Tour’s Valley Forge Invitational. The organization will participate at the Founding Sponsor level.
The new event will be hosted at Raven’s Claw Golf Club in Pottstown and is one of 22 tournaments on the Symetra Tour schedule and the only tournament in Pennsylvania. It will be held on May 24, 25 and 26 of 2018. Pro-Am competition will take place on Wednesday, May 23; with practice rounds for competing players on Monday and Tuesday, May 21 and 22. Final Symetra Tour schedule for 2018 will be announced soon.
The VFTCB is a private non-profit membership sales and marketing organization which actively focuses attention on the Greater Valley Forge area and Montgomery County as a convention site and leisure visitor destination by promoting patronage of its member hotels, restaurants, attractions and services. In 2018, the organization will be working on its third year of building the Destination Montco Golf brand in its portfolio as celebration of the 50-plus golf courses throughout Montgomery County.
“The LPGA Symetra Tour at Raven’s Claw Golf Club in Pottstown is huge for Montgomery County and the region,” said Edward Harris, Chief Marketing Officer for the VFTCB. “It puts the focus not only on women’s professional golf, but also puts the spotlight on Raven’s Claw and the other great public courses and private clubs we have here in Montco. That’s 300,000 yards of some of the best options to play in the Northeast.”
Also, in May, the VFTCB will introduce its 2nd annual Montco Golf Guide to more than 10,000 golfers in a 150-mile radius that will include a feature on the LPGA Symetra tour coming to Raven’s Claw, as well as course profiles, interviews with club pros, and legendary stories of the greats who’ve played in other tournaments in the region.
These initiatives by VFTCB are in recognition of the tradition of golf in the region and the state. Pennsylvania is one of the top 10 states by number of golfers, and the Philadelphia region is in the nation’s top five, according to the 2017 National Golf Foundation’s Golf Participation in the U.S. Study.
“This event will bring a positive economic impact to Montco,” Harris explained further. “Hopefully, it also will add another chapter to the great golf history of the area. Visitors and residents can discover more about our golf community at MontcoGolf.com, and while they’re there, explore the rest of our website to learn more about our 540 members, including the many local restaurants and attractions.”
Tourism is a major driver of Montco’s economy. In 2016, tourism spending in Montgomery County reached $1.5 billion. Sports tourism represents 56 percent of the VFTCB’s group business and $20 million in positive economic impact for Montgomery County.
The Valley Forge Invitational already partnered with the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation. Funds raised during the tournament will be channeled to designated charities by the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, which serves the people of Pottstown and residents in seven public school districts within a 10-mile radius around the Borough. This initiative provides opportunities for people in the community to enthusiastically embrace a healthier lifestyle. For that reason, the Foundation was deemed as a perfect match for this dynamic, new women’s professional golf event.
Three of the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation’s grantees will serve as beneficiaries of the Valley Forge Invitational – The TriCounty Community Network (TCN), which provides meaningful and sustainable partnerships to support community needs in the Greater Pottstown Area, and the YWCA Tri-County Area, an organization dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women. The Pottstown School District, via the Foundation for Pottstown Education, also will benefit from the event, partnering with the Montgomery County Community College to give young men and women the opportunity to earn college credits as high school students through its dual enrollment program.
The Symetra Tour stands as the gateway for players to the LPGA Tour. Every year since 2008 the top 10 players on the official Symetra Tour money list are awarded LPGA Tour membership. For the third straight year a minimum of $3 million in prize money is available to players on the Symetra Tour.
For more information about the Valley Forge Invitational and the LPGA’s Symetra Tour, or to join the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board as a sponsor,, contact TL Golf Services at 610-279-9220.
Contact:
Covering the business of golf!
