18th March 2009

The President of the WPGA of South Africa  and her board would like to make the following statement. This statement is made following the recent controversy that has emerged since the airing of the Carte Blanche program on Sunday 15th March 2009.

The WPGA’s  prime objectives have always been:
1.To promote interest in the game of golf in general and particularly amongst women professional golfers.
2. To establish and maintain high standards in the promotion, conduct and development of ladies professional golf activities and to provide our members with opportunities in teaching and tournament play.
3. To co-operate with organizations engaged in golf promotions whose objectives are compatible with those of the WPGA’s.

As per our objectives, Tania Fourie  is a golf promoter and the WPGA have contracted  her services in the past and largely with great success.  We have also used other golf promoters and what we require from any promotor, is a guarantee of prize fund and a sanction fee. The promotion of the event is left up to the promoter and the WPGA’s role is to provide players and to run all things pertaining to the golf itself . The WPGA has always shown values of good governance, transparency and honesty at these events, and has created a platform for all lady golfers - both amateur and professional to go forward in their careers.

With regard to the Women’s World Cup of Golf, this event is a Ladies European Tour and Ladies Professional Golf Association (the USA professional body) co-sanctioned event and the WPGA’s involvement was in a minor role. The WPGA was included only in the first year as one of the official sanctioning bodies and subsequently has been involved in the selection of the South African Team as per the criteria laid out by the LPGA and LET. The WWC has been a great boost to the growth of the game in South Africa and has brought the world’s top golfers to our shores.

Like most professional golfing bodies, the WPGA is a member owned organization, where the members themselves elect the board.  The board then elects a President and a Vice President. Each of the board members has a portfolio for their office term. We have built up a good reputation withour sponsors and the  many overseas players who have supported us year on year. The WPGA,  like the Sunshine Tour have worked towards providing a place for our local Pro’s, overseas players and amateurs to compete. The hard work put by the WPGA, promoters and sponsors has allowed us to have in 2009 six South African players with full playing rights on either the Ladies European Tour or the LPGA.
The WPGA promoted and operated the SA WOMENS OPEN last week, which was a great success and we have received positive feedback from sponsors, who believe in our product (Women’s Professional Golf) and are ready to commit to our 2010 tour.

May we go forward and grow this game.



Michelle de Vries
President of the WPGA 
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