Golf It Forward drives the future of professional women, spirited by the history of women’s golf.
Golf It Forward drives the future of professional women, spirited by the history of women’s golf.
WELCOME TO GOLF IT FORWARD®
Welcome to GOLF IT FORWARD®, the vibrant heart of the Marilynn Smith and Founders’ Legacy Foundation. Here, we're all about celebrating the bold vision and unstoppable spirit of 13 pioneering women who not only saw a future for women in golf but also paved the way for golf to play a pivotal role in women's futures. The founders of the Ladies Professional Golf Association.
These trailblazers, who include legends like Shirley Spork and Marilynn Smith, lit a path that we're excited to walk with you, hand-in-hand. A journey that embodies the spirit of the founders as we work to golf it forward.
WHAT WE DO
For nearly seventy years, LPGA Founders Marilynn Smith and Shirley Spork hosted events, championing opportunities for women in golf. Today, the essence of these legendary founders is alive and thriving through our annual programs like the annual Marilynn Smith Pro-Am, Sunday Tea, and Silent Auctions.
Thanks to these dynamic events, we're thrilled to offer $5,000 scholarships each year to twenty-five ambitious high school female golfers from the United States and Canada, empowering them to pursue their college dreams within the United States.
With $1.5 million in scholarships granted to 300 young women so far, our impact is a testament to what we can achieve together.
The Ancestry Project
Golf It Forward announces the launch of a new video series, The Ancestry Project: The History of Women in Golf. This initiative aims to capture and preserve the stories of the pioneers of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) including the founders and the women who continue their legacy.
The first video in the series, honoring LPGA co-founder Louise Suggs, premiered at the Marilynn Smith Sunday Tea on April 25, at Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale. It features stories and insights from her nephew, Joel Suggs, as well as LPGA members and World Golf Hall of Fame members Beth Daniel and Meg Mallon, and LPGA member Carla Glasgow.
Enjoy!
Thank you to Ancestry Committee Members (Carla Glasgow, Nan Ryan, Jamie Zimron, Karen Skovran, Debbie Waitkus, Pete Goebel and Tracy Hupko) for your dedication in preserving the history of women’s golf.
Founders of the LPGA
Celebrate the remarkable journey of women in golf with us as we honor the 75th Anniversary of the LPGA and the inspiring efforts of Golf It Forward. We are thrilled to present a video that celebrates the legacy of the 13 pioneering founders of the LPGA and the extraordinary women who have shaped the game throughout the years.
This video showcases the spirit of empowerment and opportunity, featuring memorable moments from events like the annual Marilynn Smith Scholarship Pro-Am, Sunday Tea, and the Arizona Senior Women's Open. These gatherings are more than just tournaments; they are a chance for people to come together, to "Golf It Forward," and to create a ripple of positive change within the community.