Triangle Women in Golf (TWIG) surpassed its 25th year of introducing golf to African American ladies and girls in North Carolina. 2022 marked the silver anniversary of successfully enabling learning, playing, and sisterhood fellowship with golf
The organization, started in 1997 by an innovative group of ladies from the American multinational technology corporation IBM, successfully recruited ladies from the Triangle to join and play the game of golf. Several past presidents and founding members Carolyn Stroud, Erica Colleton, and Loretta Hicks are still active in the organization today.
TWIG has become a premiere ladies’ golf league and formed its 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation to support their TWIG Kidz program. This supports young girls from the ages of 6-18 in their journey to learn, enjoy, and compete in golf. The TWIG Foundation has surpassed all expectations in becoming an extraordinary way to identify the “next generation” of young lady golfers.
TWIG has been hosting tournaments since 2001 and the TWIG Foundation’s annual golf Invitational tournament held each September raises money for the Kidz program. Fearless leader of the Invitational and an immediate past president of TWIG, Renee Allain-Stockton, has led TWIG to new heights in fundraising and tournament success. Three years in a row, the tournament sold out within weeks of being announced with 100+ golfers and an exceptionally long wait list.
The Foundation raised more than $100,000 over the last five years and received three grants from the Carolinas Golf Foundation to support TWIG Kidz. Over the last 19 years, the members of TWIG have supported and mentored more than 130 girls and provided more than 390 golf lesson series for girls. Currently, North Carolina State University golf professionals teach the TWIG Kidz during the season.
TWIG has more than 71 members and 70 alumni. The impact of this organization is evident in the sisterhood connections, enviable golf competitions, and the must-have-TWIG involved from other tournaments in the region.
TWIG is self-run by its members. The vision and leadership matter in 1) introducing African American women and girls to the game of golf, 2) learning and growing skills and fellowship around golf, and 3) enabling golf for the next generation through the TWIG Kidz Program.
Future Forward: The TWIG organization is poised for greatness by building on the work of the last 25 years. The organization still has six past presidents (shown above) involved in the league and Foundation’s activities. These ladies attended the 25th-anniversary celebration in Florida. Rose Foster is continuing as a 3-year term president. A new slate of officers is set and ready to continue successes such as the notable league programs set by Kaja Heater-Lee in 2022.
Looking towards the future, we are fostering several state and national champions from the TWIG Kidz programs, while also advancing the golf games of the TWIG lady members. The ladies come from a diverse set of careers such as accountants, entrepreneurs, doctors, education professionals, executives, technology professionals, teachers, healthcare leaders, government, and many other disciplines. This is what makes our blend of golf unique, fun, and innovative. We are ready for the next 25 years and the best is truly yet to come.
(Article submitted by Angela Allen)
