The Year of Women’s Golf; Female Trailblazers Beyond the Ropes
Mizuho Americas Open Media Day (L-R): Cara Banks, Caila Roberts, Cheryl Gilberg, Katie Li, Michelle Wie West
KENILWORTH, N.J. - It’s the Year of Women’s Golf in New Jersey and while there has been and will be plenty of exceptional golf being played at Upper Montclair Country Club, Liberty National Golf Course, Seaview Golf Course and Baltusrol Golf Club, there is also noteworthy work going on behind the scenes.
At Liberty National, Caila Roberts, Tournament Director of the Mizuho Americas Open and at Baltusrol, Jackie Endsley, Championship Director of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship are helping change the game.
Roberts is no stranger to tournament administration. She spent five years at the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) as a tournament director and then in the tournament business affairs department. Feeling strongly about working with women and underserved communities, Roberts naturally transitioned into her role at Excel Sports Management.
“When this new event came around with Mizuho as the title sponsor, it was an amazing opportunity because not only do we get to have 120 of the best female golfers out here at Liberty, we also get to have 24 of the best junior golfers from the AJGA,” explained Roberts. “For me it was really a no brainer to step into this role as tournament director and it felt like a full circle kind of opportunity to have all of my career path align into this one role.”
The groundbreaking event is unlike any other. On Thursday and Friday, 24 of the highest ranked AJGA golfers will be playing alongside one another and will then join two LPGA players on Saturday and Sunday for a true look of what it takes to play alongside the professionals.
“Now that I've been doing this for six to seven years, these girls are the future of the game. The girls that were on the AJGA back when I started are now on the LPGA Tour.”
Working alongside Michelle Wie West, host of the Mizuho Americas Open. Roberts has helped create a unique environment unlike many other LPGA events.
“It's extremely helpful to have her voice and to have her opinion and experience as we have built out what this tournament looks like and feels like and is an experience for the players,” said Roberts.
The Mizuho Americas Open from June 1-4, features a trio of New Jersey natives in Marina Alex, Megha Ganne, a rising Stanford sophomore from Holmdel who received a sponsor’s exemption and Katie Li, of Basking Ridge who’s competing as the No. 8 ranked AJGA player.
Tickets for the LPGA Mizuho Americas Open
For Endsley, who has made Baltusrol Golf Club her second home the last several months -- will be leading the efforts in hosting one of the five major championships in 2023.
Without having any experience in sport administration, Endsley took a leap and served as the Sales and Marketing Manager for the 2012 U.S. Open Championship.
“I thought, you know what? I need to just give it a shot,” Endsley recalled. “I sold on why golf is amazing and why growing the game is such a critical and crucial important element, not just to people that already play, but people that aren't aware of the game.”
Needless to say, she was hooked.
Now, entering her sixth year as Tournament Director for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Endsley has seen the women’s game grow to new heights, and deservingly so.
“Every year we try something new, it might not work, but we tweak it for next year and continue to just evolve and grow,” expressed Endsley. “This championship, from when I started, the purse was a little over $3M. Fast forward five, six years later, we're at $9M and growing. There's a multitude of things that you just continue to see evolve. Clients are buying hospitality at rates that they had in back in 2018. I think that is a testament to women's sport in general and just the continuing growth and equality in men’s and women's sports.”
Breaking down barriers is exactly what the KPMG, PGA of America, Endsley and her staff are working toward.
“Our mission is to continue to not only make this championship great for the 156 players that play in it every year, but it is more than just that,” said Endsley. “It's taking them to these golf courses that typically men's championships have been held on. We're elevating it to that level, making that playing field a little more equal.”
Tickets for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship June 22-25
While world-class championship golf is being played throughout the summer in the Garden State, the staff running the events are top-notch as well. For Roberts and Endsley, who are now seasoned veterans in the golf administration realm, their experience in the industry will certaintly influence women moving forward.
“A lot of times women get intimidated by the male dominated industry that it has been. It’s been so wonderful to see over the past 5-10 years, the transition of leadership roles has now become more diverse, more equitable from a gender perspective,” Endlsey commented. “My advice would be to just stay true to yourself, work really hard and you can achieve and get into any role that you want.”
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