Association aims to make game better for women

      Women's golf is growing rapidly throughout the world, but slower in Las Vegas than most places. The local chapter of the Executive Women's Golf Association aims to change that.
      It has 150 members locally with a goal of making the game more accessible, enjoyable and simpler for women. Membership is $70 annually, with $50 going to the national chapter and $20 to the local chapter.
      "A lot of courses don't want the beginning women," said Hermanell Moody, president of the Las Vegas chapter of the EWGA. "So we try to teach that woman rules and etiquette and start her on courses other than the real exclusive ones to help her learn.
      "Nobody teaches rules and etiquette, but it is very important for the speed of play. Before we ever put a club in their hands, they have an understanding of what goes on out there."
      The Badlands Golf Club serves as EWGA's home course, which Moody said is good and bad. The EWGA needed a home course and the Badlands stepped up and made a commitment when no one would, but the course is "too difficult for beginning players," Moody said.
      The EWGA is the largest women's golf association in the country, with more than 100 chapters and 13,000 members. It has reciprocal agreements with clubs in other cities so that traveling members can play at the same rates as local members.
      Moody said the local chapter has tripled its number of events this year. It offers twice-weekly outings, at Desert Rose on Saturday mornings and Los Prados on Thursday afternoons.
      It will hold a championship at the Las Vegas Hilton Country Club on Aug. 24. The winner of that event will qualify for the regional tournament in San Diego with a chance to go to the national event at PGA Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.
      The local organization will hold an informational event on April 24 at 6 p.m. at the Riviera. For more information, phone 260-0929.
      -- GREAT FIELD -- Today is the deadline for Senior PGA Tour players to commit to the Las Vegas Senior Classic, April 25-27 at the Tournament Players Club at the Canyons. It already has one of the best fields in senior tour history.
      Each of the top 25 players on last year's money list is entered, including two-time defending champion Jim Colbert of Las Vegas as well as Hale Irwin, Raymond Floyd, Lee Trevino, Isao Aoki and Dave Stockton Sr.
      "This is a very prestigious event on the senior tour," tournament manager Charlie Baron said. "We only have 56 players, and normally, they have 78 or so, so we've been able to get a good, strong field."
      The event also features 27 of the top 29 all-time money winners on the Senior PGA Tour.
      Among the big-name players, only Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player aren't playing.
      -- SPANISH TRAIL PRO-PRO-PRO -- Dale Akridge of SouthShore Golf Club shot a 4-under 68 at Spanish Trail to win the individual portion of the Spanish Trail Pro-Pro-Pro event.
      Chris Thomas of Sunrise shot 69 for second. Rob Huff of Angel Park, Shane Jensen of Sunrise and Shane Sanchez of Palm Valley each shot 70.
      In the team competition, Huff, Akridge and Andy Deiro of Angel Park shot a 135 to take first.
      -- BENEFIT TOURNEY -- The Down's Syndrome Organization of Southern Nevada is planning to hold a benefit tournament June 1 at the Palm Valley Golf Club.
      The entry fee is $125. For more information, phone 222-1970.
      -- GIVE A KID A CLUB -- The Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association is seeking donations of used clubs, bags, balls or apparel to use for its Give a Kid a Club Day, scheduled for May 3 at the Las Vegas International Golf Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
      The event is designed to introduce children to golf and make appropriate equipment and attire available. To donate, phone 433-0626.
     
      Kevin Iole's golf notes appear Tuesday. To reach him, phone 396-4428, send a fax to 396-4408 or e-mail him at Kevin_Iole@lvrj.com.