Five golfers who compete at the 28th Annual ING Spring Conference will have the opportunity to play their way into an all-expenses-paid trip to Malaysia to represent the USA in the World Amateur Golfers Championship this coming November.
The WAGC-USA National Qualifier is one of several highlights on the schedule at the ING Spring Conference, set for May 20-23 at the IP Casino Resort & Spa in Biloxi, MS. The non-profit International Network of Golf, the industry’s only media-based networking organization, conducts this annual gathering of media and golf companies and leaders. ING is “where the media and golf industry connect.”
Anyone in the golf industry and media is invited to join ING and attend the conference. Call 407-328-0500 for details.
The World Amateur Golfers Championship, USA National Qualifier will take place Monday May 21 on the Davis Love-designed Shell Landing Golf Club. The top five finishers in this individual stroke play net competition will earn complimentary entry and accommodations in the WAGC National Championship Aug. 2-4 at the Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis, MS.
In recent years, ING Qualifiers John Duval and Jim Smith have won their flights in the National Championship and gone on to represent the USA in the World Championship.
The World Amateur Golfers Championship (WAGC) was founded in 1995 by Sven Tumba, a prominent sportsman, representing Sweden in ice hockey, soccer and golf. Annika Sorenstam is the Honorary Chairman of the Advisory Board, and Jesper Parnevik has taken over Arnold Palmer’s position as Patron.
The WGC gives the amateur golfer an opportunity to compete in a “ professional “ atmosphere with other golfers from 44 countries. Competition is offered in flights at 5 different levels 0-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, and 21-25.
In the U.S. the competition is organized by World Amateur Golfers Championship, USA, Inc., headed by Anders Bengston. Competitions are held throughout the year across the country, with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the USA Championship and eventually earning a spot on Team USA.
There will be other golf competitions at ING, including the 11th Annual Durland Cup Team Scramble.
The ING Spring Conference schedule is packed with networking, educational and golf events designed to help all attendees enhance their standing in the golf industry. Highlights include:
- APPOINTMENT SHOW: The ING One-On-One Appointment Show was created to place an emphasis on business relations between the media and golf companies, resorts, destinations and entrepreneurs. Participating companies set up tabletop displays and conduct private meetings held every 15 minutes. Media members use the time to gather story material, do interviews and nurture relationships.
- DEMO LAB: The ING Demo Lab will take place on Monday morning at Shell Landing Golf Club. Companies with golf equipment and training aids set up on the range and putting green where attendees try the products first hand.
- EDUCATION: Sessions include Marketing & PR, Social Media Marketing and more. Also, ING TALKS, structured like Ted Talks, returns with four sessions.
- NETWORKING: Several networking sessions are planned, including the Opening Night Welcome Reception and the Tuesday Night Banquet.
