Liselotte Neumann and Al Geiberger among the symposium panelists
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., April 20, 2017 – The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) will sponsor a “Growing The Game Of Golf” Symposium, to be moderated by former LPGA Commissioner Charlie Mechem, at the historic Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California next month.
To be held on Saturday, May 6th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the symposium will include 13-times LPGA Tour champion Liselotte Neumann, golf course architect Clive Clark and former PGA Championship winner Al Geiberger, who is popularly known as "Mr. 59", as its panelists.
The symposium, which will examine and diagnose the core issues impacting the growth of golf before suggesting possible solutions, is part of a weekend of events for the May 5-7 American Outreach Invitational charity golf tournament, which helps disabled veterans receive electric wheelchairs.
Tournament sponsors include Ketel One, Starbucks, The Ritz Carlton, Smucker's, Eisenhower Medical Center, Renova Solar, The Club Fix, KMIR, The Desert Sun, Agua Caliente Resort, Marker Broadcasting and the LPGA.
“Although the game of golf is enjoying expansion and growth in other parts of the world such as Asia, there are disturbing signs that golf and the golf business are in a rather precipitous decline in the United States," said Mechem. “We must do everything we can to proactively grow the game of golf and restore this game to its rightful place as the greatest sport in the world.”
Neumann, who won the U.S. Women's Open in 1988, was thrilled to be involved with the symposium: "I am so happy to be part of this panel and am looking forward to working together on growing the game of golf, and especially getting women to take up the game. It's vital to the future of the sport I know and love."
LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan said: "We are delighted to support this symposium and these wonderful panelists, and moderator Charlie Mechem. The LPGA is committed to growing the game in every conceivable manner, with a particular emphasis on reaching out to girls and women to inspire them to play and love golf."
Scott Julien, General Manager for Thunderbird, said: "It is our hope and intention that this symposium will lead to real, substantive changes in growing the game of golf. Thunderbird is committed to finding real solutions to grow the game, and I believe this symposium will be a catalyst for real action.”
The symposium is open to the public and is free to attend. There is a $50 suggested donation per person at the door, the proceeds of which will go to the American Outreach Invitational.
To attend the symposium, an RSVP is required. Please call Mary Martin: 760-469-9151.
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