EWGA-Long Island

Winter, 2010

Fellow EWGA Long Island Members:

From the first day I joined EWGA, I knew I was in the right place with the right people. I can remember my first Tee Off Dinner as if it was yesterday. I walked in nervous and excited and saw the hustle and bustle of hundreds of women. I wondered what all these women were doing around the tables, six people deep. Everyone was socializing, chattering and moving from one table to the next. I soon found out these were the sign-up tables for leagues, outings, clinics and other chapter offerings.

Over time I learned about the EWGA Core Values: Honesty, Integrity, Respect, Honor, Sportsmanship, Fun & Friendship. The first six months of my membership I took many beginner clinics, outdoors in the cold, on Sunday mornings in early spring. With a set of beginner clubs, I was prepared to play the beginner league at Harbor Links. The first year I was so focused on playing and learning golf. I went to all the Rules, Etiquette & Handicap seminars, signed up for the Beginning Mentor Outing, and met a dozen or so people. But everything changed for me in my second year. I finally decided I felt comfortable enough to volunteer. So I signed up to marshal at the Senior PGA event at Eisenhower. I met many EWGA members there and was totally blown away when I saw four of our members playing in the Pro Am with a Golf Professional. I knew right there I wanted to feel as comfortable as they were, playing golf with anyone. The next year I became Tee Time Captain for Eisenhower and I met so many different members, some of which are my best friends for life. The rest is history. I became League Chair for three years, Vice President for two and now President.

In my opinion, EWGA is the best deal in town!!! Where else can you join a golf organization and get so many benefits as a member? You can sign up for clinics covering all golf levels; join as many as 13 golf leagues ranging from beginner to intermediate or advanced; participate in our popular social events and monthly business networking nights; attend Rules, Etiquette & Handicap Seminars; play in our three incredible 18-hole outings at prestigious courses on LI or two Nine & Dines; participate in on-course mentoring by experienced members; get a free GLMS handicap service to maintain handicaps; participate in the largest women’s amateur Chapter Championship; and soon a new President’s Cup and Champions Match Play event for advanced golfers. Whew…..and that is not all we offer!!!!

This is what we do as a chapter, and it has been proven successful throughout the past 10 years. We will do the same, if not more, in the next 10 years. We do it well and we do it together. This organization is run solely by volunteers – like you and me. We have over 100 volunteers that we recognize each year at our Holiday Party. Volunteer for day jobs or seasonal jobs. We appreciate every minute – hours, days, weeks, months – a volunteer gives us. If it was not for the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, we would not be in existence.

We are also supported by our sponsors who help defray the cost of some of our offerings. During the year we ask you to become aware of our sponsors and patronize them. You will see signage at all our events recognizing our sponsors. We also send a quarterly e-Blast by email solely dedicated to our sponsors and what they offer. Without our sponsors it would be harder to exist.

We are all on the same path – to golf, network, socialize and have fun. Some of us will become better golfers, some will stay the same. It really doesn’t matter. One thing is for sure, if you make the most out of your membership, your life will be enriched. Participate in whatever you can and as much as you like.

I know I am in the right place. EWGA’s core values have made me a better mother to my two children, a better girlfriend to my fiancé, a better manager at the office and a better golfer. And if you are wondering …YES, YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE, TOO!!!!!

Jackie Meli-Rizzo, President
Executive Women’s Golf Association – Long Island Chapter