Executive Women's Golf Association

The Executive Women's Golf Association (EWGA) is an organization that supports women in learning and playing the game of golf. The EWGA was founded by Nancy Oliver^[1] in 1991 and is now one of the largest women's amateur golf associations in the United States. As of 2014 the EWGA has 120 chapters; 114 throughout the United States, and 1 chapter each in Canada, Bermuda, South Africa, Ireland and Italy.^[2]

The organization is entirely volunteer run from its national board to its local chapters. The national board of Directors, composed of chapter leaders and representatives from the LPGA, United States Golf Association, PGA of America, and industry-specific specialists, governs the Association. The EWGA headquarters is in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and is a Florida not-for-profit 501(c)(6).^[3] Each EWGA Chapter is an incorporated business entity that is affiliated with the Association.

Chapter activities

Typically chapters host two to three major tournaments per year, sponsor weekly "after work" 9-hole league play, business networking and social functions, weekend golf outings, golf rules and etiquette seminars, education programs, and charity fundraising events. Each chapter hosts a chapter championship which acts as a qualifying event in the EWGA Championship. Winners of the chapter championships proceed to the regional golf tournament and winners from regionals go on to the National Championship.

National Championship

The EGWA has held 19 national tournaments annually since 1995. The format is stroke play.^[4] EWGA Championship Finals consist of five individual flights, or divisions of golfers: Championship Flight, First Flight, Second Flight, Third Flight and Fourth Flight. Awards are given to winners for both gross score and net score.^[5]

The 2014 EWGA Championship finals were at Tennessee's Hermitage Golf Course where, on October 10–11, 222 women representing 80 chapters, 35 states and 2 Canadian chapters competed in two rounds of stroke play.^[6][7] In addition to individual play, there were also scramble teams including the Team Detroit Divot Divas.^[8]

Another event, the EWGA Cup Match Series, has been played since 2012. The regional match play tournament advances teams to the national series. The 2014 series was hosted at Troon North Golf Club. The Cup Match consists of two days of competition with a different format of match play each day. The two formats are: fourball match play and singles match play.^[9]

References