Female golfers enjoy rewarding connections

They're a golf group, but golf is often the last thing they talk about.

The members of the Executive Women's Golf Association's Augusta chapter discuss everything from family to work to summer vacations. Golf brought them together, and they have become friends along the way.

"We played with our husbands, but that just wasn't near as much fun as playing with other ladies," said Jean Roper, a member and vice president at SRP Federal Credit Union. "The best thing about this group is the friendships and networking contacts that you make to help you in business."

The chapter started in Ms. Roper's living room during a birthday party. It was chartered in 1997 and has 38 members. It is part of the national Executive Women's Golf Association. Based in Florida, the group has 20,000 members in the United States and Canada.

"If I want to call a real estate agent, we've got real estate agents. If I want to call an attorney, we've got attorneys. We've got bankers, accountants, a colonel, teachers, college professors, nurses, small-business owners, every kind of profession that you can think of," Ms. Roper said.

The group has outings one or two Saturdays a month. During the week, they have league play on Wednesday or Thursday afternoons in the spring, summer and fall.

"It's better than being a member of one club because we play every course in the area through the year," Ms. Roper said.

Because the association has chapters throughout the U.S., if a member travels to another city, she has built-in golf buddies.

"It's great networking," said Stefanie Frickey, the vice president of marketing for the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau. "I was a member of the EWGA in Minneapolis.

"It was great for me when I moved here to have an instant group of women to go golfing with and meet people."

The group has played golf in Richmond and Columbia counties, North Augusta, Aiken and Lincolnton and Burke County, Ga.

There are cost benefits for the golfers, too. Members get reduced rates at all the courses, Ms. Roper explained.

"It's affordable, and I have a teacher's salary," said member Susan Hubbard. "It would be foolish while we're still working to join a club, because we can't get out there enough to make it worthwhile.

"This gives us all of those things at the same time."

The association teaches new players about golf rules, etiquette and techniques. The beginner's education program is called Link Up 2 Golf.

The organization works with golf pros, many of whom are women, to teach new golfers the game.

The local group takes the sport seriously. Each year, it has a chapter championship.

Julie Braswell, the chapter's webmaster and a systems engineer at Boral Industries, has been the chapter champion for several years.

"I wish that I had known about this a long time ago," Ms. Braswell said. "I've always played with men. Since the last three years that I've been a member of EWGA, I've just played with women. For me, it's been great."

Her golf partner, Sybil Knapp, the president of the chapter and an accountant at Equity Corporate Housing, joined the group four years ago to "get outdoors and play golf with other women."

"I'm an empty-nester. The kids are gone, and I was coming home every night, so this works out really well," Ms. Knapp said.

In addition to golf, the women are serious about charity. Their accomplishments include raising $48,000 for Augusta State University to start the Lady Jaguars golf team.

Friendship is what most of the women treasure the most.

"We pretty much talk about anything. Our families, our work, our trips, anything," Ms. Roper said. "If you haven't seen someone for a while, you have to catch up on everything they've done since the last time you saw them."

Over the years, the chapter has had as many as 120 members. Players come and go because they have health issues or move away for new jobs.

The group has started a social tradition. In October, it will make its third annual trip to Arrowhead Pointe in Elberton, Ga. The members will rent cabins and enjoy a weekend of golfing.

"It was like Christmas in October," said Francine Nixon, a nurse. "We sang Christmas carols and roasted marshmallows. We had a ball."

Pat Walker, a 12-year member and an employee at the Medical College of Georgia, said she enjoys the camaraderie.

"It allows me a chance to play with other ladies," Ms. Walker said. "Networking is OK, but it's fun. It's lasting friendships."

Reach LaTina Emerson at (706) 823-3227 or latina.emerson@augustachronicle.com.