What a great day for the sport of golf. After more than a century of being on the sidelines, golf will return to the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. Golf will stage a 72-hole stroke play tournament for men and women, with 60 players in each field. It truly puts a world-wide face on this wonderful sport.
Just imagine the dreams this opens up for young women and men aspiring to be the newest sensation in professional golf. Maybe we have already participated in building a future Olympian through the EWGA’s Drive for Dreams program (2009′s Renee Powell’s Girls Golf Program in East Canton, OH, or 2007′s Rose Naliaka’s girls in Kenya). A few of these young women will be old enough to compete in Rio de Janerio in 2016. That would really be exciting and gratifying that we made a difference in these girls lives.
Michelle Wie summed up the International Olympic Committee’s decision this way, ”I can dream about doing something that neither Tiger nor Ernie Els have ever done, and that is to make the final putt to win an Olympic gold medal. If this dream comes true, somewhere in the world there will be another 4-year old who sees me on that podium and perhaps starts her own Olympic dream.”
Congratulations to the International Golf Federation for all of their hard work to make this goal a reality!
Annika Sorenstam made a keynote presentation to the attendees. During this event, the EWGA received a very prestigious award from the National Association of Girls & Women in Sport (NAGWS). This honor is the most prestigious award presented by NAGWS to an individual or group that “exemplifies the spirit of devoted service to girls’ and women’s sports and who have by their leadership and industry made an outstanding and noteworthy contribution.” And yes indeed, the EWGA has certainly done just that. With more than 100,000 women participating in EWGA programs since our inception in 1991, we certainly have promoted the game of golf to women and helped them learn the game.
