In 2025, Pine Forest Country Club in Houston, Texas, decided it was time to punch up the gifting for its biggest annual women’s tournament – the WGA (Women’s Golf Association) Member-Guest, played over two days each November.
“We came up with a $50 gift certificate each participant would receive to spend in the golf shop, where we had brought in Nest Candles, colorful Corkcicle tumblers and – as the main vendor – Best of Golf America, which has the cutest accessories,” says Retail Manager Shelley Tomaszewski, AGM. “Women’s tournament budgets can sometimes be minimal, so it was great to find a company like Best of Golf America that had many acces-sories for under $50.”
The 2025 event had a Parisian theme that included a French-inspired buffet each day for lunch, fun French accessories decorating each hole, accordions on the tee boxes and a bicycle on the first tee with a big basket of baguettes, cheese and wine. In addition, PGA of America Golf Professionals on staff dressed as mimes, with one even serenading the 70 participants before the start of the tournament.
“We had a kick-off welcome party the night before, where the professionals hosted a putting contest and the women brought their guests,” Tomaszewski says. “The club provided heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and lots of French wine, of course. Everyone had a blast.”
And when it came to spending their gift certificate money, members and guests could choose among Nest Candles in different scents, Parker & Hyde cross body totes, Corkcicle tumblers bearing the Pine Forest logo, and a variety of Best of Golf America options like beaded purses, custom ball markers, makeup totes, Birdie juice flasks and clip-on valuable pouches.
Most of the women bought multiple items and spent well over the $50 allotted in the gift certificate, with the average purchase being between $100 and $200 for total sales of $8,000, according to Tomaszewski.
“The women loved picking out their own gifts, and not all receiving the same thing. We also offered an additional 15 percent off their purchase,” she says. “And with the holiday shopping season soon after the tournament, the shop was able to sell the remaining items as gifts.”
There are 50 women in Pine Forest’s WGA, with Ladies Day at the club each Wednesday featuring 18 holes of golf and lunch. Additionally, the club hosts playdays, guest days and other tournaments for women members, who also gather for games of Mahjong in the locker room each Thursday.
Past WGA Member-Guests had featured gifts like tote bags, hats, golf balls and shoes, among other items.
