Another tradition and true highlight of the season is the Ladies Member-Guest. CWGO held its first one on its own in 1993 when it began at 1 pm and finished in the dark. The organizers got wiser with scheduling, and with cooperation of the golf staff got better results. The CWGO and Women’s Golf Organization-18 combined their Member-Guests in 2017 and then in 2021, head golf pro Greg Scott wisely initiated the ANCC Ladies Member-Guest open to all women, including the Women’s Nine Hole Golf Organization and unaffiliated lady golfers. Every year it has had fun themes, great prizes, generous sponsors, many guests from nearby and distant golf clubs, and special features like a Par-3 Challenge and put- ting contests. The CWGO has enjoyed tremendous support from all quarters of club staff, none greater than the golf and catering staffs, who always go above the call of duty to ensure our Member-Guest is a huge success. It grows in popularity every year. Another tradition is the Working Women’s Off-Site Fall Outing (WWOFO), a two-day event at a resort usually within 3 hours’ drive. The golf features fun formats and some irregular rules to make the difficult game of golf a little more light- hearted. The WWOFO Champion has the dubious honor of being crowned WWOFO Queen and planning the following year’s outing. This event caps the year in many ways, and a waitlist forms as soon as the venue is announced during the spring kickoff event. One tradition that did not stick was an effort to institute a winter/spring trip to Myrtle Beach. Held over four years in the mid-‘90s, this first attempt was shelved due to persistently cold or rainy weather. CWGO uses its strength in numbers and spirit for good causes as well. We honor our fallen members with a Memorial Garden at Arlington and drink a toast to them during our an- nual Memorial Tournament. We also self-fund Care Bags for breast cancer patients at Walter Reed and Belvoir Community Hospitals. Each year, CWGO receives thank-you notes from women going in for their first treatment who were comforted by a bag of snacks, games, and other items to help them get through a very long and difficult day. From 2012-2024 approx- imately 600 Care Bags were distributed. Last year, during the Holiday Season, we sponsored 65 children from the Homeless Children’s Playtime Program in hopes they would enjoy the holidays like every other child. The bonds built over these years inspired dozens of past members (many traveling from as far away as California) and 17 of our past presidents, to attend our 30th Anniversary Cele- bration. Again the club provided an outstanding venue for an afternoon of golf and an evening celebration where the golf staff served as emcees for a funny and moving tribute.
Past Presidents at CWGO 30th Anniversary celebration on 7 Aug 2022 Front: Laura Driscoll, Ellen Haffa, Marilu Tate, Kelly McGowan, Lisa Moore, Laurie Bravo, Mary Ann Cronin, Sue Mandry Back: Margaret Ann Connors, Pam Quinn, Bev Winston, Wynn Coggins, Susan Walthall, Beth Foster, Emily McGee, Deena Hollingsworth, Mary Kathryn Horner
Columbia Golf Association where we compete and serve as volunteers supporting both organizations. Early on the fledgling CWGO played only 9 holes on Satur- days but soon these became 18-hole rounds. Later, play days expanded to 9 holes at 5 pm on Wednesdays in Arlington and then also on Thursdays at Fairfax. Saturday play days are high- lighted by monthly 18-hole tournaments, again alternating between both courses. Many CWGO events have evolved into traditions. Each year CWGO holds a Member-Junior tournament where we golf 9 holes with the juniors and present prizes during a dinner that includes the parents and often siblings. CWGO is also active in planning an annual Nine, Wine and Dine with the other women’s golf organizations in an effort to build camaraderie
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