The Women Leaders Platform, formed by PGA Magazine to create a network for female PGA of America Golf Professionals and industry figures through events, mentorship and platforms, celebrated its 10th anniversary Wednesday with a mix of trailblazers and women in the early years of their golf journey.
This year’s PGA Magazine event was sponsored by Premier Golf, Rhone, Signs By the Sea and the PGA of America.
Starting with just 70 women in 2016, the platform now has close to 1,000 members with more than 150 in attendance, including national and Section PGA of America award winners, junior golf leaders, Section champions, U.S. Women’s Open and Senior Open participants and Hall of Fame members, among others.
“I love seeing so many women from around the industry with similar interests,” said Gina Bamberger, PGA, Director of Sports Retail at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, who joined the platform last year.
“Being in the same room with these powerhouses with so much industry knowledge is inspiring.”
Katie Camp, PGA, a territory manager with Grass Roots Golf in Ohio, and a Women Leaders Platform member since 2019, noted the growth of the organization, the larger size of the meeting room and the mix of women from all phases of the golf industry.
“There are older women, younger women, golf professionals and other industry females who bring so many different perspectives,” she said. “I’ve been coming to the Show since about 2013, and when I started, you didn’t see nearly as many women as you do now.”
A panel of PGA of America Members — Monique Thoresz, Cathy Matthews-Kane and Wendy Modic — emphasized the importance of having a network of other women leaders you can ask for help when you need it, and building out your network as much as possible.
“Women are a huge part of this industry, and I want to see more of us winning awards, sitting on boards and moving into bigger positions, which only happens through networking,” Thoresz noted.
PGA of America President Don Rea (pictured) also stopped by the event to encourage attendees to keep reaching out to others, honing their skills and encouraging other women to join the movement.
“I can do the best I can to encourage growth, but when you do it, it changes the world,” Rea said. “Set up appointments, not just here, but throughout the year. Go out, walk proudly and keep recruiting. I can’t wait to see where this goes.” —Lisa Goulian Twiste