LPGA.com

Untitled Document

THE LPGA	The Ladies Professional Golf Association is one of the longest-running women's professional sports associations in the world. Founded in 1950, the organization has grown from its roots as a playing tour into a non-profit organization involved in every facet of golf. The LPGA Tour and the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals (T&CP) comprise the backbone of what has become the premier women's professional sports organization in the world today. The LPGA maintains a strong focus on charity through: its tournaments; its grassroots junior and women's programs; its affiliation with Susan G. Komen For The Cure; and the formation of The LPGA Foundation. The LPGA is under the guidance of Acting Commissioner Marty Evans and is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla.

ACTING COMMISSIONER MARTY EVANS	LPGA Board of Directors Chairman Dawn Hudson announced on Monday, July 13th that Rear Admiral Marsha J. Evans, U.S. Navy (retired) and a member of the LPGA Board of Directors, will serve as the player association's Acting Commissioner effective immediately. The move follows the resignation of Commissioner Carolyn Bivens, also announced today. The association has embarked on a search for a full-time Commissioner. "We'll soon have in place a Commissioner to lead us into 2010 and beyond, but until then, it's important that we immediately appoint an Acting Commissioner whom we know and trust," Hudson said. "As a Board of players and independent directors, we wanted an Acting Commissioner with experience leading large organization, one who appreciates and listens to our player members and tournament owners, understands sponsors and their challenges and needs, and has a track record that commands respect. We're pleased that Marty Evans will be our Acting Commissioner, as she fits all the criteria necessary during these challenging economic times for sports leagues." More>> Click here to read Evans' full bio.>> Michael Whan named as LPGA's next Commissioner. He'll assume the position January 4, 2009. More >>

HISTORY OF THE ASSOCIATION	The LPGA has had a long and distinguished history. Click here to view a detailed timeline of the LPGA thru the decades. >>

LPGA TOUR MEMBERSHIP	Today's LPGA Tour features the most talented global group of professional athletes who, in 2009, will compete in 28 official money events in 10 countries with total official prize money of nearly $50 million. Of the more than 460 LPGA Tour members, approximately 230 are active competitors throughout the season. Of the approximately 230, 122 are international members representing 27 different countries. Click here for the latest Tour schedule. >>

THE T&CP MEMBERSHIP	Founded in 1959, the LPGA T&CP boasts the largest membership of women golf professionals in the world. With more than 1,200 members, the LPGA T&CP are dedicated to the advancement of golf through teaching, coaching and managing golf facilities. Its national member programs include teaching, coaching, business management and leadership skills training programs and conferences. LPGA T&CP members also teach and support the LPGA's various grassroots programs that are working to increase the involvement of women and youth in golf, as well as contribute to the growth of the sport overall including LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, the Ronald McDonald House Charities LPGA Tour Junior Clinics and the LPGA Golf Clinics for Women from MetLife. Learn more about the LPGA T&CP Membership. >>

THE LPGA FOUNDATION	The LPGA Foundation was established in 1991. Junior golf programs, scholarships and other financial assistance are among the major programs supported through The LPGA Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The LPGA Founation has four main goals: to develop and maintain junior golf programs across the country; to develop and maintain scholarship programs for junior golfers; to maintain a financial assistance fund for those in the golf industry; and to conduct research and develop educational activities related to golf instruction. The LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, one of the Foundation's programs, has established The LPGA Foundation as a leader in the golf industry in youth initiatives. More >>

DURAMED FUTURES TOUR	Founded in 1981, the Duramed FUTURES Tour is the official developmental tour of the LPGA. Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Barr's proprietary products subsidiary, became title sponsor of the FUTURES Tour in 2006, and in 2007, the LPGA acquired the Duramed FUTURES Tour. Duramed Pharmaceuticals, an innovator in women's healthcare pharmaceutical products, focuses its product development and marketing activities on products for women. The Duramed FUTURES Tour schedule runs from March through October and has more than 300 players competing from around the world. The top-10 players from the Duramed FUTURES Tour money list receive LPGA membership for the following year. For more information on the Duramed FUTURES Tour, visit their official Web site. >>

CHARITABLE GIVING PROGRAM	Raising money for charity is one of the main objectives of the LPGA and its tournaments. Since the LPGA started tracking charitable contributions in 1981, the cumulative charitable donations from the LPGA and its tournaments has totaled nearly $200 million. More >>

EMPLOYMENT	Looking for employment opportunities with the LPGA? Click here >>

LPGA GOLF CLINICS FOR WOMEN FROM METLIFE	LPGA Golf Clinics for Women from MetLife is a program designed specifically to introduce more business women to the game. The clinics offer a one-day curriculum that includes golf instruction on the practice range and putting green; playing a round of golf; and a business luncheon with guest speakers. Find out when there will be a clinic in your area. >>

INTERNSHIPS	Looking for internship opportunities with the LPGA? Click here >>

JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAMS	The LPGA has been a leader in developing junior golf programs that introduce kids from all walks of life into this great game. LPGA-USGA Girls Golf is a developmental junior golf program that encourages girls ages 7-17 to learn to play golf, build friendships and sample competition in a non-threatening environment. Learn more >> The Ronald McDonald House Charities LPGA Tour Junior Golf Clinics are offered at approximately 15 tournament sites throughout the year. These clinics provide junior golfers with the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of the game through junior clinics in a fun and exciting atmosphere. Each clinic follows a "hands-on" two-hour format and has an average of 200 children in attendance. The First Tee Program is a cooperative effort involving the major organizations of golf under the auspices of the World Golf Foundation. Its purpose is to create facilities and programs that make golf more affordable and accessible, with a strong emphasis on introducing children of all races and economic backgrounds to golf. For more information on The First Tee program, visit their official Web site. >>

LPGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS	The responsibility for oversight and guidance of the management of the LPGA lies with the LPGA Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is composed of six independent directors, the LPGA Player Directors (Player Executive Committee), the national president of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP), and the commissioner of the LPGA. The Player Directors may select annually up to three additional LPGA players, one of whom has previously been a Player Director, to serve for one year as non-voting player directors of the Player Executive Committee. Non-voting members of the Player Executive Committee are not members of the Board of Directors, but may be invited to attend select meetings. The 2009 LPGA Player Directors are: Michelle Ellis, president; Sherri Steinhauer, vice president; Helen Alfredsson; Pat Hurst; Juli Inkster; Christina Kim; and Stacy Prammanasudh. The Non-Voting Player Directors of the Player Executive Committee are Katie Futcher, Il Mi Chung, Jean Bartholomew. The LPGA independent board members are: Leslie Greis, founder, CEO and managing member of Perennial Capital Advisors, LLC; Dawn Hudson, former president and chief executive officer, Pepsi-Cola North America, Pepsico, Inc.; Bill Morton, former chief executive and current chairman of Jack Morton Worldwide; Bill Susetka, former CMO of the LPGA as well as former president, Clairol U.S. Retail and Clairol International; and Nancy Wiese, former vice president of worldwide brand marketing/advertising, Xerox Corporation. Hudson is chairman of the Board of Directors of the LPGA.

LPGA INTERNATIONAL	LPGA International is a premier residential community in Daytona Beach, Fla., that serves as the home of the LPGA. LPGA International features two 18-hole golf courses (the Champions and the Legends), the LPGA Golf Academy and the LPGA's Headquarters office building. The Champions, a Rees Jones-designed course that opened in July 1994, marked the first time in history that a golf course was designed specifically for professional women golfers. The Legends, designed by Arthur Hills, opened in October 1998. LPGA International features a state-of-the-art teaching academy, which includes three championship practice holes, five putting greens and chipping greens, practice bunkers and a 360-yard double-ended driving range. For information on lessons and tee times, visit their official Web site. >>

LPGA TOUR QUALIFYING	Each year, the LPGA Tour holds two sectional qualifiers and one Final Qualifying Tournament. One sectional is held in Florida and one sectional is held in California. The top qualifiers from each of the sectional competitions qualify to compete in the 90-hole Final Qualifying Tournament at LPGA International in December. The number of spots available at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, vary from year to year and are announced prior to each competition. For more information on how to qualify for the LPGA Tour, or to receive an application for this year's qualifying competitions, contact the LPGA Operations department at 386.274.6200. Find more information on LPGA Qualifying. >>

LPGA MISSION	Our Mission is to be a leader in the world of sports and to promote economic empowerment for our members. We will also serve as role models on and off the course. More >>

LPGA TOURNAMENT OWNERS ASSOCIATION	The Tournament Owners Association (TOA) was formally established in 1990. The association is an incorporated non-profit trade association, 501(c)6, comprised of owned and operated LPGA Tour events. The TOA is governed by an elected Board of Directors, which meets every two months and communicates regularly with the LPGA Player Directors, LPGA commissioner and the LPGA staff. The TOA President is former LPGA Player Executive Committee President and veteran LPGA Tour member, Gail Graham. The director of business development is Sharon Hopkins. For more information, visit the TOA web site. >>

SCHOLARSHIPS	The LPGA Foundation currently administers several scholarship programs for young women, as well as one for both young men and women. The Foundation's structure allows for the establishment of endowed scholarships in honor or memory of individuals who made a significant difference in the world of golf. Three of the existing scholarships are the Dinah Shore Scholarship, the Marilynn Smith Scholarship and the Phyllis G. Meekins Scholarship. Click here to get more information and applications. >>

SOCIAL NETWORKING

SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE	In April 1992, the LPGA named the Susan G. Komen For The Cure as its official national charity. Members of the LPGA family have embraced the Komen For The Cure and its mission. For example, several LPGA Tour events and the LPGA Golf Clinics for Women have named the Komen For The Cure as their charity. Additionally, several LPGA sponsors and tournaments, as well as Titleist And FootJoy Worldwide and the Val Skinner Foundation have incorporated the Komen For The Cure and the fight against breast cancer into their LPGA and sports marketing programs, helping to both educate consumers about the importance of early detection and to raise funds for research and community programs. For more information on breast cancer, visit komen.org >>

WORLD GOLF VILLAGE	Located in St. Augustine, Fla., the World Golf Village is one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken in golf. At the center of the World Golf Village is the 75,000 square-foot World Golf Hall of Fame. The World Golf Hall of Fame includes interactive exhibits, one of the world's largest collections of memorabilia and an IMAX Theater. In addition, the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame - which has its own set of criteria for entrance - is now housed as part of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The World Golf Village also includes The Slammer & The Squire golf course, built by Bobby Weed with design consultants Sam Snead and Gene Sarazan, and the King & the Bear golf course, the first-ever collaborative effort by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. For more information on the World Golf Village, visit their official Web site. >>