Director named for local LPGA event
Posted Sep 7, 2011 08:39:07 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A veteran of Golf Canada is taking the reins of the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic to be played in Waterloo next year.
Richard Kuypers has been named Tournament Director for the event, which will run from June 18-24, 2012, at Grey Silo Golf Club.
“The way we make this a great event and a really successful event is by capturing the community and having the community involved with it,” stresses Kuypers, who was once of a member of the golf team at the University of Guelph. “We want people, as volunteers, to be from the community. We want people who play golf in Waterloo Region to be engaged in this event.”
Kuypers has previously held positions at Golf Canada and at the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA). He has also worked with both the LPGA and PGA professional tours and served as Tournament Director for the RCGA’s Amateur Competitions.
Manulife Financial Canada President and CEO, Paul Rooney, is confident that Kuypers’ experience and background will help to attract the best female golfers in the world to Waterloo next year.
“The appointment of Richard Kuypers as Tournament Director is a very important step in bringing this international event to Waterloo,” Rooney says. “As a Canadian company with advisors, employees and customers in virtually every country represented on the LPGA Tour, Manulife Financial is committed to creating a world-class sporting event that will engage local volunteers, shine a global spotlight on Waterloo region and build connections with viewers from across North America, Asia and around the world.”
As Tournament Director, Kuypers will be responsible for the promotion, sales and strategic planning of all aspects of the event. He will also be charged with the development and coaching of a team of tournament staff and volunteers. But he shows little concern with the looming recruitment of some 1,200 volunteers that will be needed to stage the event.
“We don’t see that being a problem in this area. Everyone I talk to talks about how great (Waterloo Region) is for volunteerism, for giving back,” Kuypers notes. “So we’re going to tap into that and that’s part of trying to make this a regional event that residents really own. Obviously, volunteering is the number one way to do that.”
While he’s excited at the nine months ahead, Kuypers knows there will be challenges. He sees raising awareness of the event in the community as one of the biggest hurdles that lies ahead.
But that’s where he also sees the value of a partnership with Manulife Financial.
“We couldn’t ask for a better partner and they’re going to be a key player in helping us make this local tournament an international success,” Kuypers offers. “It’s a strong and reliable local company but it’s also a huge international company and that’s something that Manulife Financial and the tournament are going to be looking to convey in the weeks and months ahead.”
Manulife Financial announced on June 28th that it had signed a three-year agreement to act as title sponsor for a new LPGA event beginning in 2012.
For more information on the LPGA Tour and its players – click here to visit the website.
