International Golf Federation | Spain’s Emma Villacieros Named IGF Women’s Chairman

Spain’s Emma Villacieros Named IGF Women’s Chairman

December 2006

Far Hills, N.J., USA – Emma Villacieros of Spain has been named to succeed Vicky Whyte of Brazil as the Women’s Chairman of the International Golf Federation.

Villacieros’ nomination was ratified at the biennial meeting of the IGF at the World Amateur Team Championships in South Africa in October. The chairman serves a six-year term, long enough to assist in the administration of the championships conducted in each of the IGF’s three geographic zones.

A six-time past member of the Spanish team at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship, Villacieros was captain of her nation’s team that won the Espirito Santo Trophy in 1986. A five-time Spanish Amateur champion, she also brings a valuable playing background to the office; however, it is her commitment to administration that sets her resume apart. Villacieros has been president of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation since 1988. During her tenure, she was the chairman of the 1997 Ryder Cup National Committee and has overseen large growth in golf participation and numbers of golf courses in Spain.

"It is a great honor to have been appointed as Women’s Chairman of the International Golf Federation," Villacieros said. "I will do my best to promote the development of women’s golf. I think it is very important that women participate as much as they can in the game of golf and my aim is to increase the number of future players. I also extend my congratulations to the outgoing Chairman Vicky Whyte of Brazil for the work she has done and, of course, I will be open to receive all the suggestions from Women’s Committees from around the world."

Villacieros has won three prestigious awards for meritorious service to the game – the Gold Medal of Merit in Sports awarded by the Consejo Superior de Deportes in 1998, the Royal Order of Isabel La Catolica awarded by the Spanish Royal Household in 1998, and the Christer Lindberg Bowl awarded by the PGA of Europe in 2001.

As Women’s Chairman, Villacieros will work closely with the joint secretaries of the IGF, Peter Dawson (The R&A) and David Fay (USGA), as well as the joint chairmen David Pepper (The R&A) and Walter Driver (USGA).

The IGF was founded in 1958 to encourage the international development of the game and to employ golf as a vehicle to foster friendship and sportsmanship. Recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the official international federation for golf, the IGF comprises the national governing bodies of golf in more than 100 countries.

As one of its main functions, the IGF conducts the World Amateur Team Championships for women and men on a biennial basis. Future championships are scheduled for 2008 in Adelaide, Australia and 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

For more information on the IGF, contact Stephanie Parel, IGF joint deputy secretary at (908) 234-2300 USA.