Triangle Women in Golf (TWIG) was founded August 10, 1997 as Ladies in Golf. The organization was founded to promote golf among African American women and youth in the Triangle area. The charter members were Rhonda Bridgers, Erica Colleton, Ursula DeLaine, Loretta Hicks, Evelyn Holton, Gwen Hurt, Gwen Macon-Belmont, Effie Merritt, Carolyn Stoud, Winnona Swayze, Delores Tally, and Lawrence Turner. LaRee Sugg, an African American female professional on the LPGA tour and Charles Foster served as consultants to get our organization off to a good start.
In October 1997, our name was changed to Triangle Women in Golf (TWIG). The year ended with the restructuring of TWIG under the leadership of the first president, Jackie Lewis. In the Spring of 1998, we began our first clinics, with 66 members participating at the River Ridge Golf Course under the direction of Ronnie Reitz, PGA Golf Pro.
Over the years, our activities have included golf trips, golf tournaments, league play at local courses, practice parties, Christmas parties, dinners and movies. Our first golf trip was held in 1998 at Fripp Island, SC, in conjunction with a ladies golf group from Atlanta, GA. In October of 1998, TWIG hosted their Fall tournament and outing at Bull Creek Golf Course in Louisburg, one of five African American-owned golf courses in the country. Eighteen ladies played and Mr. Massenburg, the owner of the golf course, gave us the history of Bull Creek. Our first Member-Guest Tournament was held in Raleigh, NC at Hedingham Golf Course in the Fall of 2000. The Fall of 2000 also marked the first publication of our annual newsletter.
In 2001, TWIG created our TWIG KIDZ Program to introduce African American girls, ages 8 to 18, to golf and its valuable life lessons, including honesty, self-discipline, confidence, perseverance and critical thinking. TWIG has successfully mentored and supported over 150 young ladies over the last 19 years, exposing them to golf role models, lessons, tournaments and etiquette. TWIG KIDZ participants develop skills that prepare them to compete on high school golf teams and earn collegiate golf scholarships.
In 2017, the Triangle Women in Golf Foundation, Incorporated was established to enhance and expand the philanthropic endeavors of TWIG. The Foundation is a non-profit corporation operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
