The Twenty Tens
A Digital World
The world went digital in the twenty tens with the proliferation of smart phones, social media, and electronic devices. The WGAWP caught up and over the decade introduced more and more electronic and digital tools.
At the turn of the decade the WGAWP was paper and mail dependent. Both membership and event registration used paper forms with mail-in entries. In 2011, the WGAWP began its first website with basic information available for reference. In 2012, the registration for "A" Open Days was moved to an email system where both the request and the confirmation were handled by email to the Open Day Chair.
In 2013, the WGAWP made the big leap with a full function new website that provided for online membership renewal and online registration for tournaments and Open Days as well as comprehensive access to general and membership information. Electronic distance measuring devices were allowed during tournament play. In 2013, the WGAWP began a partnership with West Penn Golf Association and this relationship was formalized in 2016 with an agreement that provided the WGAWP with office space and use of WPGA facilities and services for tournament management. In 2017, both WPGA and WGAWP converted their tournament management and registration software to Golf Genius which now provides for online scoring and an electronic scoreboard.
In 2010 membership dues were $90.00. In 2013, with the move to digital processing and the elimination of the Executive Secretary, dues were reduced to $85.00 where they remained through the decade. The operational cost savings also allowed for expansion and upgrades of tournament prizes.
Through the twenty-tens, the WGAWP continued to modify the tournament portfolio. In 2014 the Buck Cup, as a team event, and the VP Challenge, modeled like the Curtis Cup, were introduced. In 2015, the Volunteer Invitational Player (VIP) tournament was introduced to replace the Delegate and Executive Board Invitational Events. Also, that year the President's/Secretary's Trophy was abandoned after several years of low interest. In 2017, two new team events were introduced, a mixed event, the Mixed Team - Better Ball of Men and Better Ball of Women, and the One and One (One Gross and One Net). In 2018, a major change to the Championship was introduced. The Championship would no longer be played as a match play tournament over 5 days, but as a 3-day stroke play tournament for the championship flight and a 2/3-day Stableford event for the other flights.
In 2010 there were six divisions with six teams each participating in the Team Competition. By 2014 the participation dropped to 5 divisions and it remained at that level through 2019. The Team Championship was competitive at the beginning of the decade with four different teams winning: Fox Chapel, Allegheny, Oakmont, and Diamond Run. Then Sewickley Height dominated at mid-decade winning four consecutive Team Championships from 2014-2017. At the end of the decade Oakmont won again and then Ligonier captured their first Team Championship in 2019.
In 2016 the “You Betcha" Scholarship began in partnership between the WGAWP and the family of the late Dr. Ann Buck, a Past President of the WGAWP, as a way to provide participants in WGAWP Junior events with financial assistance for college. Annually at least two $2,000 scholarships are awarded to girls who participated in the WGAWP Junior Program and demonstrated leadership and academic accomplishments.
By the end of the 2010's the WGAWP had transitioned substantially to the new digital world while still maintaining the traditions of the past decades.
The decades started with Carol Semple Thompson in command of the Championship with wins in 2010 and 2012 and Runner-ups in 2013 and 2014. But two relatively new players began to challenge the long-dominant player, Kristen Obush, who joined in 2009, and Danielle Proctor, who joined in 2005.
Danielle's list of accomplishments in the 2010's is impressive. She won the Bobby Cruickshank in 2013 and 2014; was Runner-Up for the WGAWP Championship in 2017; won the Tag Hill in 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018, and was WGAWP Player-of the-Year in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2017.
Kristen's accomplishments in this decade are even more impressive. She won the WGAWP Championship five times in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018 and was Runner-Up twice in 2010 and 2015. She won the Bobby Cruickshank twice in 2011 and 2017; won the Tag Hill in 2010 and was the WGAWP Player-of-the-Year in 2011. Kristen also won the PA State Amateur Championship in 2018. Kristen's record for winning Championships surpasses those of her competitors and gives her the edge over other accomplished players awarding her the title of Player-of-the-Decade for the 2010's.
The Point ~ Fall 2013
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