Early in 2024 Ally Bank announced a partnership with the USGA with an express purpose of helping to elevate Women’s Golf at large.
This year’s U.S. Women’s Open, taking place next week at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, will carry the largest purse on the LPGA Tour this season. Women’s sports, golf among them obviously, have been in need of serious financial backing and this is where Ally, who has a wealth of experience in supporting sports at large, stepped in.
On the Friday before action begins to unfold for the tournament I was able to speak to Stephanie Marciano, Ally Head of Sports & Entertainment. Stephanie detailed to me how closely Ally has worked with the USGA, digital elements of what will be happening and broadcast partners in the name of supplying the absolutely perfect environment for these events.
Studies show that 4 out of 5 women’s sports fans recognize the Ally brand which helps open conversations from the jump. Stephanie noted that carrying that kind of partnership into and through an organization like the USGA allows for all sorts of opportunities to serve the fan.
Ally is devoted to providing access to any golfer that has a skillset, specifically with the express intent of reducing financial barriers, in the community. They have a Golf With Us Clinic to inspire beginner golfers (mainly collegiate women) to learn to play and utilize golf as a business networking tool to aid their careers that will take place during the week of the event on May 29th. Ally is all about pouring into communities.
Marciano also noted that beyond the Clinic, Ally is a founding partner of the USGA’s National Development program which is the first of its kind in the country. Shining a light on the U.S. Women’s Open is one thing, but offering opportunities for the future of the game at large to grow is where so much of the critical work here is done.
It’s possible though that something like the U.S. Women’s Open is someone’s first touchpoint or exposure to golf. Ally wants to ensure that it is one that is the first of many dominoes to fall.
Consider that Lilia Vu, currently sixth in the Rolex Rankings, is an on-course partner of Ally’s and one who helps promote what they are about and raise awareness of their mission. The goal is for anyone who comes into contact with golf can recognize the fun and value it can provide across the course of their life, something Ally is helping to make more possible with all of their endeavors.
The U.S. Women’s Open is presented by Ally and figures to be one of the more exciting parts of the year in the world of golf.
Here’s to it serving as one that continues to get people excited about the game.
If Ally is involved, and they obviously are, then it certainly will be.
