Initiated in Phoenix, Ariz., by LaBauve, a Class A LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) and PGA of America member, the purpose was to create a national program for young girls to learn the game and strengthen the camaraderie among participants in a fun and supportive environment. Today, Girls Golf has grown to nearly 200 sites across the United States with nearly 6,000 girls participating this year. The only initiative of its kind, Girls Golf is administered through a partnership between The LPGA Foundation and the USGA, both non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.
The Girls Golf sites around the country are coordinated by site directors who are LPGA or PGA professionals, USGA members, Girl Scout leaders, Hook-A-Kid-On-Golf directors, Executive Women's Golf Association (EWGA) members, volunteers, moms, dads or members of other local golf associations. Individual programs cover the costs for course access, fees, snacks, special events, instruction and miscellaneous expenses through fund raising, membership dues and event fees, as well as donations from the community.
As a developmental junior golf program, Girls Golf presents an opportunity for girls to make lasting friendships, gain self-confidence, learn to compete and have fun, all while fostering a lifetime of enjoyment for the game of golf. The program became an initiative of the LPGA in 1994 and, in January 2002, the LPGA and USGA launched a cooperative effort through an expanded partnership to further promote the future of Girls Golf. Many members of Girls Golf have gone on to excel in their collegiate and professional careers. On the LPGA Tour, Vicky Hurst, of Florida, and Angela Oh, of New Jersey, are making their Tour debut as rookies in 2009 and were both Girls Golf participants.
About LPGA-USGA Girls Golf
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2009, LPGA-USGA Girls Golf (Girls Golf) was formed to connect girls, ages 7 to 17, with the game of golf. A developmental junior golf program and the only national initiative of its kind, Girls Golf presents an opportunity for girls to make lasting friendships, gain self-confidence, learn to compete and have fun, while fostering a lifetime of enjoyment for the game.
Girls Golf, with nearly 200 sites around the country and more than 60,000 participants since its inception in 1989, is administered through a partnership between The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Foundation and the United States Golf Association (USGA), both 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.
Topics: Press Release, LPGA USGA Girls Golf
