(ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.) – The #inviteHER campaign – an initiative created to increase participation in golf among women powered by WE ARE GOLF and the LPGA Women’s Network – has announced the commitment of national golf organizations and course owner/operators to join in and support the #inviteHER campaign.
With the proactive support from some of the industry’s most influential brands, management companies and governing bodies, #inviteHER aims to spread its reach to as broad an audience as possible, utilizing its new partners to touch more new golfers than ever.
Among the partners collaborating to implement fun, accessible #inviteHER events are Arcis Golf, Billy Casper Golf, ClubCorp, Destination Kohler, Landscapes Management Company, Marriott Golf, PGA of America, LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals, Touchstone Golf and Walt Disney World Golf.
“Active support from green-grass facilities and the companies who manage them is vital to growing golf among women and awareness of #inviteHER,” says Jane Geddes, Executive Director of the LPGA Amateur Golf Association. “The central element of retention is positive experiences and we are thrilled to work with so many committed individuals and their organizations to create empowering, friendly and low-stress experiences for women golfers of all ages and skill levels.”
While #inviteHER events hosted by new partners have already commenced, the campaign anticipates elevated support and awareness in 2019 thanks in part to the newly launched programming and marketing toolkits available to industry professionals at inviteHER.com. Many partners have implemented and announced events, clinics and educational sessions with the goal of not only building the initiative’s national audience but growing the game of golf as a whole.
Reinforcing the message of #inviteHER, PGA of America President Suzy Whaley and LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals National President Marvol Barnard took the stage at the 2019 PGA Show to discuss the importance of welcoming new women to the game and encouraged PGA and LPGA golf professionals to play an active role in the initiative by hosting #inviteHER events of their own. Their panel discussion generated nearly 5,000 views by industry professionals and recreational golfers (click here to view).
Nebraska-based Landscapes Management Company is backing #inviteHER across its portfolio of more than 50 courses. Properties managed by Landscapes will be encouraged to implement strategies to increase female engagement developed by the #inviteHER team and WE ARE GOLF’s Women’s Task Force.
“We are very excited to work with our managers and PGA professionals to support this initiative across the portfolio,” says Mike Williams, PGA, Vice President of Operations at Landscapes Management Company. “As an industry, we must be more proactive in our outreach to new golfers and #inviteHER is a perfect platform to do just that.”
Many of the owners/operators have plans to transform existing women’s programs into official #inviteHER sponsored events.
Marriott Golf Academies has created a specific #inviteHER curriculum for high-level executive women, which is a multi-day experience that teaches all aspects of the game, including etiquette, terminology, club fitting and instruction.
Powered by the LPGA Women’s Network and WE ARE GOLF’s Women’s Task Force, golfers – men and women alike – are encouraged to bring friends, colleagues and family to join them on the course through online resources and social media assets. The #inviteHER movement seeks to create an enjoyable, welcoming experience for those interested in trying the game or picking it back up – whether through a group lesson, complimentary clinic, driving range session or on-course experience. Golf professionals and facilities can access complimentary programming toolkits, best practices, and marketing templates for hosting #inviteHER events of their own at inviteHER.com.
For more information on #inviteHER, click HERE.
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