The CWGA is understandably proud of all the statewide championships it runs, one of which dates back 95 years. But while keeping that tradition intact, the association wants to make clear that it is much more than simply an overseer of tournaments.
That’s been a major emphasis in the last year and a half, and one need look no further than the organization’s upcoming schedule of events to see evidence of how the CWGA is branching out.
Besides running its championships, the association is spreading its wings with numerous golf-oriented social events over the coming months. On the calendar are three “CWGA Experience” outings for women that include well-rounded group instruction in an atmosphere that emphasizes having fun rather than competing; three “Nine and Wine” nine-hole events that can fit in after a workday; a CWGA-hosted trip to the Broadmoor for the final day of the U.S. Women’s Open in early July; and an 18-hole member play-day held for both CWGA and CGA members.
The CWGA kicked off the agenda on Saturday with its first CWGA Experience of the year, this one at the CWGA/CGA-owned CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora. Sixty-two women attended, a significant percentage of whom have become CWGA Affiliate Members this year.
“The women really enjoy (the Experience),” said CommonGround Learning Center instructor Elena King, one of six instructors who provided their services to those in attendance on Saturday. “Women need to be comfortable and we’re providing a very fun, comfortable environment so it’s not so scary or intimidating to go out to the golf course. The more of these events that we can provide, it’s all a great thing.”
The CWGA held its first — and only previous — “Experience” event last year, but it tripled the number this year, spreading up and down the Front Range. The next one, which will include instruction from 2010 national PGA of America Junior Golf Leader Ann Finke, will take place at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs on May 21. The third is set for the Olde Course at Loveland on June 18.
CWGA president Joanne Braucht said the association plans to hold these Experience events each year, and if the ones outside of Denver draw decent numbers this year, there might be an Experience on the Western Slope in 2012.
“From an organizational perspective, we will have touched our membership (with CWGA Experience events) — the membership that doesn’t play in championships,” Braucht said. “We will have met those women face to face. With our Affiliate Program, hopefully we will have brought in some women who do not belong to a women’s club. And we will offer them — as well as our other members — more opportunities to play outside of their league and expand their network of golfers. The whole goal is to strengthen women’s golf.
“The long-term goal is to reach all of our members and let them see us face-to-face, and championships alone don’t do that.”
During the CWGA Experience events, which last about five hours, attendees eat lunch, then rotate among three instructional stations (putting, chipping and full swing) before partaking in snacks and a cocktail while the CWGA tells them what the association is all about and holds drawings for various prizes.
The event is appealing on several levels, but from feedback the association receives, one of the main lures is the instruction provided by some of Colorado’s best-known female teachers of the game. In Saturday’s case, the instructors lineup included King, Lana Ortega, Denise McGuire, Dawne Kortgaard, Stefanie Ferguson and Kimmy Adam.
One attendee told a CWGA official that the group instruction she received on Saturday was better than a private lesson that she’s had.
“We really did have kind of a Hall of Fame board of instructors here, especially for the price (attendees) paid ($59 for CWGA members),” CWGA executive director Robin Jervey said. “We heard that the instruction was definitely very good.”
While the instructors cover the basics and provide valuable tips on how players can tap into their own resources to reach their full potential, an emphasis is placed on providing everyone involved a positive experience.
“Our takeaway is, “˜Did you have fun, and did you learn something?'” King said. “If so, then it’s a great day.”
After thumbing through comment cards after the event, Braucht took it as a positive sign that one of the only recommendations for improving the event was asking that participants be allowed to play a few holes with the instructors in tow in order to get even more useful pointers.
“Here they are all gung-ho, thinking they’ve got it, and they want to play and test it,” Braucht said. “That’s not negative. They wanted more.”
As for the other main socially-oriented events the CWGA has planned this year, the Nine and Wine outings are set for June 1 at the Green Valley Ranch par-3 course, July 27 at the Pelican Lakes Falls Course in Windsor, and Aug. 25 at Columbine Country Club’s par-3 course. The mixed-member play day with the CGA is scheduled for Aug. 2 at The Ranch Country Club in Westminster. And the event at the U.S. Women’s Open will be held July 10.
“Just the fact that we’re offering a service other than competitive golf is really the message we’re trying to get out to the average golfer,” Jervey said. “The CWGA isn’t just state championships.”
