| The Kansas City Metro Chapter of the Executive Women's Golf
Association (EWGA) is a microcosm of Kansas City professional woman.
While we are attracted to EWGA because we want to learn the game of
golf, the business networking and women's support opportunities our
chapter offers are also important. Through clinics, leagues, golf and
social events, and local community activities, members have the
opportunity to make business contacts, to further women's concern
efforts, and to introduce young women to golf and business.
The business value of our membership has enabled our chapter
to cultivate an impressive group of sponsors. They, in turn, enable us
to provide the best golf opportunities AND the best business
opportunities imaginable.
Whether you are a beginner looking for a welcome
environment to properly learn the game, or an accomplished golfer
seeking the challenge of our national championship series, EWGA offers
events and activities to meet your needs.
The
Chapter of Excellence Award program was introduced in 2001. This award
was designed to recognize EWGA Chapters for excellence in areas of
Chapter management and service to members. Excellence criteria was
based on earning points in seven categories including governance,
membership, education, events, communications, leadership, sponsorship
and other minimum Chapter requirements.
The Kansas City Metro Chapter was
nationally recognized as a Chapter of Excellence in 2001, 2002 and 2006
and received the Chapter of Merit award in 2003 and 2004. The
association created a new program in 2008 entitled “Women Who Lead”.
The KC Metro Chapter won this award for creative golf events for 2008
and community impact in 2009.
Connecting women to learn, play and enjoy golf for business and for fun.
Enriching the lives of women through the game of golf.
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The EWGA Heart of America Chapter was established in January, l996.
Chapter Founder and President Pam Schilling supported by a core group
of Leadership Board Members and volunteers began the year with an
aggressive membership drive. The Inaugural Tee Off Event invited area
women to join the newly organized chapter of a national organization
formed to create opportunities for women to bond, network and enjoy the
game of golf in a welcome environment. The response at the initial
meeting surprised the organizers, as they found themselves speaking to
an overflowing crowd. It was clear that EWGA 's goals were meeting an
unfulfilled need! By mid-summer, over 100 women were participating in
chapter leagues, clinics and golf events. The Kansas City chapter has
continued to grow steadily since that initial meeting, and has become
one of the largest chapters in the country.
In January 2001, the Leadership Board voted to change
the name to the Kansas City Metro Chapter giving it a stronger name and
geographic recognition. The current membership has grown to over 200
local businesswomen in the Kansas City area representing virtually
every major employer and profession.
The Kansas City Metro Chapter is governed by a local
Board of Directors that consists of four officers and appointed Chairs
of standing committees. Chapters of EWGA are organized into 12
sections, with each section represented by a Section Director. Section
Directors are key volunteer leaders who serve as liaisons between the
Association and the individual Chapters of EWGA.
The Kansas City Metro Chapter is part
of the Heartland Section, comprised of 14 chapters located in Iowa,
Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
The Executive Women's Golf Association (EWGA) was founded in July 1991
at Emerald Dunes Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, by a group of
28 businesswomen, lead by Founder Nancy Oliver. The women were ready to
learn how to play the game...not just how to swing the club. Although
Nancy had been in the golf marketing business for 15 years, like the
others, she had never learned how to play. Determined to learn all
aspects of the game, she developed an eight-week comprehensive
instructional clinic that included skills, rules, etiquette, equipment,
proper golf attire, terminology, and the business protocol associated
with golf. Through the clinic, the women were able to incorporate golf
and business into a positive and effective new tool for success. Since
1991, EWGA, a not-for-profit organization, has grown to 120 chapters
and 18,000+ members in the United States and Canada.
The EWGA Championship is the world’s
largest amateur golf tournament, held annually in the Fall.
Participants are required to have a USGA (or RCGA) approved handicap
index. Two separate competitions are held: for individual stroke play
in five flights based on handicap at time of entry and a 4-woman
scramble team competition based on a team handicap. Participants begin
competition at their local Chapter Championships, with the winners of
each Regional advancing to the Championship Finals.
An all-volunteer Board of Directors,
comprised of experienced Chapter and Section leaders, golf industry
representatives from the LPGA, USGA, PGA of America, as well as golf
professionals, governs the Association. All are members of the EWGA.
Chief Executive Officer Pam Swensen, manages EWGA operations from its
headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
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