March 17, 2008

For immediate release

Contact: Staci Schottman, NAIA Director of Public Relations and Communications, sschottman@naia.org 

Meadowbrook Municipal Golf Course | Photo Gallery

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced today that Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau has been awarded the 2009 and 2010 NAIA Women's Golf National Championships. The 15th Annual event will be contested May 12-15, 2009, at Meadowbrook Municipal Golf Course in Rapid City, S.D. The 2010 national championship tournament will take place May 25-28. 

"The NAIA is excited to partner with the Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau for the NAIA Women's Golf National Championships. Rapid City is supportive of character-driven intercollegiate athletics and will provide a great championship experience for student athletes," said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. "Meadowbrook is a fantastic facility and has a proven record for hosting prestigious events. We look forward to this partnership."

The event consists of four championship rounds and one practice round with a maximum of 129 golfers. Approximately 24-25 teams and 5-10 individual qualifiers will make up the field. The best NAIA golfers throughout the United States and Canada will travel to Rapid City, known as one of the friendliest and most supportive sports communities in the northern hemisphere.  

"From the beginning of the bid process Rapid City showed how supportive they would be of the NAIA and this event," said NAIA Championship Event Manager Becki Almeida. "They have a great venue that will challenge the participants, and the location of Rapid City offers an array of sites and recreational activities for teams to take part in, as well as an easy location for travel."

Teams will compete on the links at Meadowbrook Golf Course, an 18 Hole Championship Facility, located at the foot of the beautiful Black Hills of Western South Dakota. Designed in the mid 1970's, by David Gill and Associates, Meadowbrook is traditional in its layout. At over 7,100 yards in total length, the course is an impressive challenge and offers a wonderful golf experience. Rapid Creek flows through the course and comes into play on five of the eighteen holes. The large undulating greens are vey well protected by more than 60 bunkers. Meadowbrook is considered one of the very best Championship Facilities in the country. The pristine greens have played host to the 1984 U.S.G.A. Women's Public Links Championship, one of the only two U.S.G.A. events ever to be held in South Dakota.

Matt Reed, Sports & Events Manager for the Rapid City Convention & Visitors Bureau, partnered with Kristy Lintz, Program Coordinator of the Rapid City Department of Recreation to host the event. "We're excited to show the athletes of NAIA the caliber of golf, as well as hospitality, that Rapid City and the Black Hills are known for. This is a great opportunity for everyone involved," Reed said.

South Dakota has been the location for past NAIA men's and women's golf national championship events, however, this is the first time for an NAIA event to be held at Meadowbrook Municipal Golf Course. "Bringing the NAIA Women's Golf Championship to Rapid City gives us a chance to showcase the quality of golf we have in South Dakota. Meadowbrook Golf Course has a long tradition of playing host to SDGA championships and is one of our most popular venues. I am confident that the young women competing will find that Meadowbrook offers a stern, yet fair test of golf," said South Dakota Golf Association Executive Director, Wade Merry.

Reigning champion Oklahoma City is among the 130 member institutions that sponsor women's golf and vying for a chance to play for another national championship title. To learn more about the NAIA and the women's golf visit www.naia.org or contact Becki Almeida at balmeida@naia.org. For additional information on Meadowbrook Municipal Golf Course visit www.golfatmeadowbrook.com and to learn more about the Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau visit   www.visitrapidcity.com.   

NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.

Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association's innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves.