Written by Gina Phillips, SCOREGolf
The paint had barely dried on the newly renovated clubhouse at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley when a spirited group of 50 women gathered there in late May for a day of golf, networking and good times.
SAP’s Tee Up 4 Success, an initiative supported by Golf Town, is in its second season and has grown into a national program. This year, 150 women in Calgary, Montreal and Toronto will benefit from four days of stress-free lessons, nine-hole rounds, dinner and drinks. The mission: create a non-judgemental environment for women in business to develop their skills on the course while expanding their network.
The invitees, many of them C-suite executives, don’t need to be convinced of the value of golf in a corporate environment. Many have seen their male counterparts gain an edge. “You can see the distinction between those who golf and those who don’t,” said Darlene Dasent from University Health Network. “There’s a level of connectedness.” That closeness is an advantage that can show in deals made and promotions given.
Gina Izumi is a Senior VP at SAP and the brains behind Tee Up 4 Success. She’s motivated to bring more women into a game that has long been under male domain. Her fire to do so was sparked decades ago when Izumi started in sales. “There were a bunch of guys in the cafeteria talking about golfing with their clients,” she said. “They turned to me and said, ‘Your boyfriend golfs, right?’ They didn’t ask if I golfed. Then they said, ‘If you marry him, you’re going to be a golf widow.’”
Determined to never be in that position — and understanding the value golf could play in the corporate world — she vowed to never let herself be held back in her career because of her gender, so Izumi went home, grabbed her boyfriend and drove straight to Golf Town to gear up. A quarter-century later, her fervour for the sport and unwavering will to share it with other women attracted partners Deloitte, E&Y, IBM, PwC and Syntax to help co-sponsor the events where they invite joint SAP clients to participate in Tee Up 4 Success.
Mara Notarfonzo from CAA was excited to be tapped for the program. “It’s a missed opportunity if you do not learn,” she said. “There’s still a group of individuals who don’t necessarily think to invite ladies to participate. I think I’d be invited if I knew how to play better.”
Despite the event taking place at the home of next year’s RBC Canadian Open, the tone of the day was casual. Facility instructors worked with the women, giving tips, answering questions and, most importantly, facilitating fun. That is what Terry Kim loved most about the day. “When we hear that screaming and excitement, then we know we’re doing our jobs,” said TPC Toronto’s general manager.
Chad McKinnon, President and CEO of the Sporting Life Group, said expanding participation and increasing rounds played by women is a focal point of their key initiatives and part of the reinvention of the Golf Town Brand. “At Golf Town, we’re thrilled to launch this partnership and play a small role in the wonderful Tee Up 4 Success initiative to get more women introduced to the game of golf,” he explained. “As leaders in business and their fields, we are confident that these groups of women will become champions for the game as they grow their careers while developing a love for the game.”
It seems to be working. In fact, a few women at TPC Toronto were already talking about keeping the momentum going. “There’s a great opportunity to take this back to where I work,” said Notarfonzo, “or even in my own circle of friends.”
The day ended with dinner and hosted topics of discussion that reach far beyond golf: kind leadership, imposter syndrome, professional resilience and personal branding.
To her delight, Dasent won a Golf Town gift card and said she immediately knew how she’d spend it. “I’m excited to look a bit more golf-like.”