The Yamaha Golf-Car Company is proud to serve as a benefactor of the 2025 GCSAA Women’s Leadership Academy, reinforcing our commitment to supporting women across the turf and golf industry. Through this sponsorship, Yamaha helps provide access to a week of intensive leadership training, mentorship, and community-building designed specifically for women in turfgrass management — a field where opportunities for connection and development can be limited.

This year’s academy brought together women from across the country to participate in sessions focused on personal leadership style, communication strategies, conflict resolution, team building, and practical career development. The week also served as a rare opportunity for participants to connect with peers who share similar challenges, aspirations, and experiences in an often male-dominated field.

Attendee Felicia Childs, Assistant Golf Course Superintendent at Bucks Run Golf Club, described the experience as transformative: “Connecting with other women always leaves me feeling encouraged, energized, and heard. It’s a refreshing reminder that even on the days when I’m frustrated or questioning whether I’m doing enough — I am.”

When asked what Childs is going to take away from this experience she said, “the importance of giving and asking for more frequent feedback. I’m even planning to create an opportunity for my crew to evaluate me. I think it will be eye-opening for all of us and help make feedback a normal part of our culture.”

These reflections mirror a common theme from this year’s cohort: the academy not only builds leadership skills but also fosters confidence, community, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Sponsoring the WLA reflects core beliefs at Yamaha Golf Car: investing in people, strengthening the industry, and championing voices that have historically been underrepresented. As a company, Yamaha Golf Car deeply believes in supporting pathways for women in turf to grow, lead, and shape the future of our industry. Programs like the Women’s Leadership Academy give women the confidence, tools, and connection they need to thrive — and we are proud to help make that possible.

About the GCSAA Women’s Leadership Academy

The GCSAA Women’s Leadership Academy is focused on providing women in the turfgrass industry with education, mentoring and networking enabling participants to unleash their potential, empower their future and become inspirational leaders. The event will guide participants from all walks of the industry and various years of professional experience on a path of discovery aimed at breaking down barriers and producing a spark to inspire women to be successful leaders.

About Yamaha Golf-Car Company
The Yamaha Golf-Car Company builds from the 60-plus-year legacy of the Yamaha brand to manufacture the most innovatively engineered and highest quality golf, utility, and specialty vehicles in the golf industry. Yamaha Golf-Car Company is headquartered in Kennesaw, Georgia with assembly and production of all cars taking place at our Newnan, Georgia production facility. Yamaha was the first to develop Electronic Fuel Injection technology in a golf car (producing the best gas mileage and smallest carbon footprint); the first golf car with fully independent, four-wheel suspension (producing the smoothest ride in the game); and the first gas-powered car that is almost as quiet as an electric one.