Prestigious event honors 13 founding members of the LPGA; NJ-based Cognizant named title sponsor as company continues to establish global golf footprint
WEST CALDWELL, NJ (June 4, 2021) – The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) recently announced that the LPGA Cognizant Founders Cup will take place from Oct. 4-10 at historic Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, NJ.
The 2021 LPGA Cognizant Founders Cup, which offers a $3 million purse — making it the largest of any LPGA Tour event outside of the majors and the CME Group Tour Championship — marks the inaugural year as title sponsor for NJ-Based Cognizant, one of the world’s leading professional services companies, which continues to establish a global golf footprint.
As part of pre-event planning, golf fans, local residents and supporters of women’s golf are welcomed to visit the Brand Ambassador Center and register to serve as Brand Ambassadors throughout tournament week. These Brand Ambassadors will assist with all aspects of tournament operations, in both on-course and behind-the-scenes capacities for the week-long event that pays tribute to the 13 founding members of the LPGA including surviving founders, Marlene Bauer Hagge and Shirley Spork.
“There is no better venue than Mountain Ridge Country Club to carry on the great tradition of the LPGA Cognizant Founders Cup,” said Scott Wood, Tournament Director, LPGA Cognizant Founders Cup. “We are thrilled to bring this event to Northern New Jersey, and the home of our dedicated title sponsor Cognizant, during the beautiful fall days of October and showcase the best professional golfers in the world, as we honor our founders and pioneers of the LPGA.
“The Garden State has long been a supporter of women’s golf and we think fans will embrace this event in a big way, which is why we are inviting members of the public to sign on as Brand Ambassadors and participate in making the event truly memorable.”
For those golf fans who purchase an LPGA Cognizant Founders Cup Brand Ambassador Package, they will get an up close and personal experience of a world-class professional golf tournament operation. As an integral part of the LPGA team, Brand Ambassadors serve as the conduit between the players, spectators, event operations and media covering the tournament, delivering relevant information, while providing important services and serving as a positive voice and image during the event.
In addition to core responsibilities, a Brand Ambassador is encouraged to serve as a champion of first impressions, promoting not only the players and their world-class golf skills, but the overall spectator experience of tournament week, the history of the event and the charitable beneficiaries thanks to the LPGA placing its footprint in Essex County, NJ.
Each Brand Ambassador Package costs $80 but is valued at over $350 and includes: 6X single (good any day) general admission tickets, logo hat, polo shirt and outerwear piece, commemorative pin and credential, compact sports seat, free dining on days of service, free general admission parking on days of service and an invitation to the Ambassador Appreciation Party.
“The LPGA Cognizant Founders Cup is a massive undertaking, and the success of the Tournament is elevated by the commitment of a small army of Brand Ambassadors,” said Bella Koenig, Event Brand Ambassador Coordinator and LPGA Manager, Tournament Business Affairs. “Each year, nearly 800 Ambassadors dedicate their time, energy, and spirit to serve in critical positions such as marshaling, scoring, transportation, hospitality services and many other important jobs that make the event so special for both the players and spectators.
“Brand Ambassadors are people who love the game and are strong supporters of women’s golf. For a week each year we welcome them to the LPGA family to be part of the excitement, to play a vital role in making the tournament successful.”
The LPGA Cognizant Founders Cup joins a long list of prominent events to be held at Mountain Ridge Country Club, including the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship in 2012, the Metropolitan Golf Association Open Championship in 1985, 1996, 2000 and 2020; the MGA’s Ike Stroke-Play Championship in 2007; the New Jersey PGA Section Championship in 1962, 1990, 2007, 2009 and 2017, and the French American Challenge in 1997.
The Donald Ross-designed and highly regarded course opened in 1931 and has varied little in 90 years. It is known for wide fairways and deceptive greens. A recent restoration has brought many of Ross’s characteristic run-off areas back to their original closely mowed state.
For more information about the LPGA Cognizant Founders Cup, visit: https://www.thefounderslpga.com/.
