CHRIS LANG ( 2 ), SARA BUECHLER to golfers of every type in Virginia , and in opening its governance to contributions from a wide array of golfing interests .
“ While I may be the first woman to hold the title of president , I am certainly not the first woman to hold an important leadership position in the VSGA . Quite a number of women have made pioneering and enduring contributions to the VSGA , including developing its full slate of top caliber golf tournaments for women and junior girls . I am just the most recent in a long and proud tradition of women leaders at the VSGA , including the presidents of the former Women ’ s Division . Without their diligent work building a solid foundation for women in this organization , I would not be here today .”
The VSGA is one of 59 allied golf associations ( AGAs ) that partner with the United States Golf Association to best serve the game . VSGA Executive Director Matt Smiley says several other AGAs have had female presidents in recent years , and “ there are several who , like us , will have their first female president in 2022 . It is an exciting time in golf .”
“ Being the first woman president is significant because it demonstrates the great progress the VSGA has made in extending its services to golfers of every type in Virginia , and in opening its governance to contributions from a wide array of golfing interests .”
— Anne Greever
Sarah Miller and Sydney Elliott from Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville and Jean Brydon from The Country Club of Virginia spearheaded the formation of the Women ’ s Division in 1950 . Before that , “ women ’ s golf in Virginia was just a line item in the men ’ s budget ,” Virginia Golf Hall of Famer Robbye Unger recalls . “ It was such a giant step forward to have a Women ’ s Division with its own budget .”
The Women ’ s Division conducted tournaments and had a board with officers , but it had no say in VSGA governance . Greever , an attorney , headed a committee in 2014 that sought to integrate the Women ’ s Division into the overall governance of the association .
“ We undertook the integration process to get women seats at the table where the decisions are made about the VSGA , the game of golf and the business of golf in Virginia ,” Greever said . “ We wanted not just seats at the table , but also voices in the discussion and votes on matters of importance before the Association , including its board leadership , its staff leadership , its budget and
Greever at the 2019 VSGA Women ’ s State
Team Matches .
ANNE GREEVER
HOMETOWN : Richlands , Va .; played her first golf at Tazewell CC .
EDUCATION : University of Mary Washington ; JD William & Mary Law School .
WORK : Hunton & Williams law firm for 30 years ; partner 1985 ; specialized in employment and labor law for corporate clients ; chair of Virginia Bar Association Labor and Employment Law section .
HOME CLUB : Willow Oaks CC since mid-1980s ; served on Willow Oaks board for nine years and was board ’ s first woman president ; served as women ’ s golf team captain ; also plays tennis .
VSGA LEADERSHIP : Served on board of Women ’ s Division ; served VSGA Board as treasurer , secretary and vice president ; secretary of VSGA-VIP Scholarship Foundation ; founding member of Fleming Fund committee .
ON THE TEE : Maybe three times a week weather permitting ; walks when can and uses electric golf trolley .
FAVORITE COURSES : Willow Oaks ; Golden Horseshoe Gold .
FAVORITE EVENTS : VSGA Women ’ s State Team Matches ; VSGA Spencer-Wilkinson tournament to raise funds for girls college scholarships ; participates in Richmond Women ’ s Golf Association City Amateur and monthly tournaments .
FAVORITE VSGA ASSIGNMENT : Captain of junior girls team for the Poindexter Cup ( Virginia vs . Maryland ) and Mid-Atlantic Championship ( Virginia and Maryland vs . Carolinas ).
vsga . org J ANUARY / F EBRUARY 2022 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 19