ARIZONA NEWS
LADIES GOLF
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hirty years ago, Sandy LaBauve had a big dream to impact the lives of Phoenix area girls that would forever change the golf community. LaBauve, founder of Girls Golf and director of golf at Westin Kierland Golf Club, shared her passion by developing the “Girls Golf Club” that has since reached more than 80,000 girls internationally (2018 LPGA Foundation Annual Report) and has grown to 500 program sites through the LPGA Foundation. Now known as the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf of Phoenix, our “club” is the most active, strongest and most innovative site paving the way for female empowerment. This year, we continue to chase LaBauve’s dreams by providing more than 40 events to engage our 230-plus paid members (girls ages 3-18). The event schedule includes 10 practice sessions (also known as Game Changers)
that are open to girls of all skill levels; a national Girls Golf Academy in August; and the fifth annual Girls Golf Day, our biggest day of the year, on Oct. 5. We are celebrating the program’s success with a 30th birthday brunch on May 2 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. This ticketed event will relive the last 30 years through a slideshow and presentations by alumni, staff and members. Dreams for the future of Girls Golf of Phoenix will also be shared. The event theme “Chasing Unicorns” was inspired by a newly released periwinkle unicorn headcover by Daphne’s Headcovers (a Girls Golf of Phoenix partner). Single-seat tickets to our birthday brunch are $130, or three tickets for $300. Sponsored tables that seat 10 guests are also available for $1,030. To purchase tickets or get more information, visit girlsgolfpofphoenix.org/birthday. n
LGPA
n BY CORI MATHESON
LGPA
Chasing Unicorns
Daphne’s Headcovers created a Unicorn headcover for LPGA * USGA Girls Golf of Phoenix, which is marking its 30th anniversary. Director Cori Matheson holds the coveted headcover (above) and celebrates with some of her girls (top photo).
AGA NEWS
It’s official: Arizona Golf Month returns in May May is Golf Month is created in conjunction with National Golf Day, which is designated for May 1. National Golf Day was founded in 2007 in an effort to communicate the game’s economic, charitable, environmental and fitness benefits. The golf industry generates $84 billion a year, impacting more than two million jobs and nearly $4 billion in charitable giving. In Arizona, golf has more than a $3.2 billion impact on the state’s economy. 38 | AZ GOLF Insider | SPRINGSUMMER 2019
The Arizona Golf Association will host a May is Golf Month page on its www.azgolf.org website starting May 1. AGA members will be able to check out a variety of special offers from golf courses around the state. Among the many featured promotions, members will find special offers for Mother’s Day, as well as special promotions for golf, dining and more. Get in the game and celebrate May is Golf Month by taking advantage of these offers on www.azgolf.org. n www.azgolf.org
