Women’s Golf Month gains momentum in the U.S.

GOLFWEEK STAFF

Boosting women’s participation in golf is a top priority for industry leaders, and they touted a recent success: Participation in the American Express Women’s Golf Month increased 9.2 percent compared with a year ago.

Final results for the event, held in June, were recently tallied by organizers who reported a combined median spend of $3,320 per facility by consumers after participating in Women’s Golf Month activities. In each of its previous three years, the initiative was a week-long event.

More than 105,600 people across the country have been introduced or re-introduced to the game over the past four years during American Express Women’s Golf Month, which premiered in 2005 as Women’s Golf Week.

“We are anticipating an even greater number of courses offering clinics for new players around the country as we celebrate the fifth anniversary in June 2009,” said Anne Lyndrup, director of player development for the National Golf Course Owners Association and leader of the Women’s Golf Month organizers.

Aimed at increasing the participation of women in golf and making learning and playing golf fun, the number of participants has increased each year with a record 37,350 people attending Women’s Golf Month events in 2008. By comparison, in its inaugural year in 2005, Women’s Golf Week was supported by 225 facilities that hosted 9,500 participants.

American Express Women’s Golf Month, part of the national Play Golf America campaign, is coordinated by industry organizations such as the Executive Women’s Golf Association, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the Ladies Professional Golf Association, the National Golf Course Owners Association and the PGA of America.