The Metropolitan Golf Writers Association (MGWA), which has been recognizing golf's greatest players, contributors, and organizations at its National Awards Dinner in Westchester County since 1975, will host this year's National Awards Dinner at the Westchester Marriott on June 23. The event is the longest running, and often the largest golf dinner in the United States, bringing in people from all over the nation.
Honorees this year include Fred Couples (Gold Tee Award), Nancy Lopez (Winnie Palmer Award) John Feinstein (Golf Journalism Award), and the Blackwelder Family (Family of the Year). The National Awards Dinner is hosted by Bruce Beck, lead sports anchor for NBC 4 New York and president of MGWA.
"Westchester has always been at the forefront of golf, dating back to 1888 when Yonkers was recognized as the birthplace of golf in America," said County Executive Robert P. Astorino. "With the recent news that the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (formerly the LPGA Championship) is coming to Westchester Country Club in June 2015, we continue to be excited about what's happening in Westchester. We are equally pleased that the Metropolitan Golf Writers will again host their National Awards Dinner in Westchester. Congratulations to Fred Couples, Nancy Lopez and all of the honorees."
The history of golf in Westchester started when a Scottish-born businessman in Yonkers started the Saint Andrews Golf Club – the oldest golf club in America – with friends. Since then, the game's national organizations, the USGA and the PGA of America have held several championships in the county.
Westchester County currently has four golf courses on Golf Digest's Top 100 USA golf courses, including Winged Foot Golf Club (both West & East Courses) in Mamaroneck, Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, and Hudson National Golf Club in Croton-on-Hudson.
Natasha Caputo, Director of Westchester County Tourism & Film, said that aside from being a landmark for golf, Westchester County provides exceptional spaces for such dinners, galas, and meetings of all sizes. In addition to hotels and conference centers, sites for meetings, team-building, social functions and other group events are available.
"We are so pleased that the Metropolitan Golf Writers continues to keep Westchester as its home for the National Awards Dinner, as well as other events throughout the year," Caputo said. "Each year, this event brings professionals together to celebrate golf in a grand way, right here in Westchester."
For ticket information, please contact Kate Keller at (914) 909-4847 or .
For more information about planning a meeting in Westchester and for a full list of hotels and conference centers, go to Exceptional Spaces, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/westchestercountytourism, follow us on Twitter @westchestertour or call (800) 833-9282.