WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Commissioner Ty M. Votaw today announced the creation of the first-ever World Congress of Womens Golf, a landmark event featuring worldwide industry leaders focused on the advancement of womens professional golf. The inaugural staging of the World Congress of Womens Golf will be May 20-22, 2004, in New York City during the Sybase Classic presented by Lincoln Mercury, which will be played in nearby New Rochelle, N.Y.
The growth of womens golf worldwide serves as an opportune time for organizations from around the world to come together, said LPGA Commissioner Ty M. Votaw. With the popularity of womens golf at an all-time high, the time is right for a summit of this nature. As leaders in the golf industry, we aim to advance womens golf in all areas, and I am confident the inaugural World Congress of Womens Golf will greatly serve that goal.
The World Congress of Womens Golf was created by the LPGA as an opportunity to unify and strengthen womens professional golf by providing shared leadership, knowledge and friendship in an inclusive and encouraging environment. Womens professional golf organizations from around the world have been invited to attend and participate in meetings and panel discussions. Thus far, commitments have been received from the following associations, tours and corporate sponsorship organizations:
American Junior Golf Association (AJGA)
Australia LPGA
Futures Tour
Israel Golf Federation
Japan LPGA (JLPGA)
Korea LPGA (KLPGA)
Ladies European Tour (LET)
Ladies Golf Union (LGU)
LPGA Tournament Sponsors Association
PGA of Sweden
Royal & Ancient Golf Club (R&A)
Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA)
South Africa LPGT
Spanish Royal Federation of Golf
Sybase, Inc.
Tournament Sponsors Association of Japan
United States Golf Association (USGA)
Womens Senior Golf Tour (WSGT)
Topics throughout the three-day World Congress of Womens Golf will
include: developing future golfers and building the pipeline; sponsorship; television; a womens golf world ranking; and golf in the Olympic Games.
Sybase Inc. is a founding sponsor of the World Congress of Womens Golf.