Marcia Lockman was the first executive team member that Ruth Kimmelshue, General Chair for the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, selected when she was appointed.

“Marcia is my good friend, but selecting her as Vice Chair was purely business,” said Kimmelshue. “Marcia Lockman has a great mind. Marcia is a golfer. Marcia is a longtime member of Hazeltine National Golf Club. Marcia is a successful businesswoman. Marcia is a detail person. We work very well together.”

The first trip that Ruth and Marcia took was to the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes in 2018. “The trip was all business. We went there to look behind the scenes, not to watch a golf tournament,” Marcia recalled. “We wanted to observe each of their various committees. Looking back, we noted things that we liked and I made detailed notes on areas that we felt could be improved. The chairmen of all 25 committees were very open with us. They were willingly to share lessons learned during our discussions.”

Marcia confided with Tee Times that the relationship between her and Ruth has developed into a CEO and COO alliance. “That relationship, Ruth as CEO and me working as COO is working well, and continues to grow.”

The fact that Marcia is a serious golfer creates a sound foundation for working behind the scenes of a Major Golf Championship. Before she had kids, Marcia was playing 3+ rounds per week and her handicap was 11. With tongue in cheek, she fondly recalls how golf has been a part of her life since her marriage. “For my engagement present my fiancée gave me 10 golf lessons. For my wedding present I got a set of golf clubs. Then we spent our honeymoon of Hilton Head Island playing golf. Yes, g olf is a big part of my life.”

Being a golfer, Marcia watched with particular interest the Augusta National Women’s Amateur the weekend prior to the Masters. With her detail-oriented mind searching every detail, Marcia noted a spike in ticket sales for the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine immediately following the women’s event at Augusta.

Filling the roll of Vice Chair, Marcia works directly with the various committees’ chairmen. She has particularly enjoyed working with Jeff Hintz, Executive Director of the Minnesota Section of the PGA. Under Jeff’s direction, the PGA is sponsoring the Kids Zone, where kids can be kids. It is extremely important to both Ruth and Marcia that every fan, from grandparent to their five-year-old grandchild, enjoys the event.

On the flip side, Marcia is focused on making sure players feel welcomed and that their children have great child care. Marcia has worked closely with the child care committee to provide the ultimate care and safety. “Smucker’s, sponsor of the child care center, has been great to work with in the planning and implementation of the offsite child care facility. With so many young mothers on the LPGA, we had to make child care special.” Marcia reminded us to watch for Stacy Lewis, LPGA star and a new mom, on Twitter Mother’s Day weekend.

Another behind the scenes committee is player housing. Marcia stated with pride, “Many of the best women golfers in the world will be hosted in the homes of Hazeltine members during tournament week. We have learned that special, some lifelong; relationships develop between the host family and their players during tournament week.” Marcia recalled a story about Annika Sorenstam, worldwide ambassador for women’s issues and golf. “Today Annika heads a huge foundation dedicated to women’s issues. The head of the Annika Foundation is a gentleman who hosted Annika in his home during tournament week many years ago.”

Marcia expressed the pride she feels getting various Hazeltine National women members involved in the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. “Almost all of our committee chairmen are women members of our club. Many of the women are younger and are very involved. They are learning to be leaders of the future. We have the pipeline filled with experienced leaders who will manage future events hosted at Hazeltine.”

Marcia is also proud that her family is involved with the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. “My husband is the chairman of a committee and both my children are working on a committee.”

At the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine there will be no grand announcement about Ruth and Marcia. As these two women closely watch each committee flawlessly execute their assigned duties, you and I will simply enjoy the exciting entertainment provided by the best women golfers in the world on a venue dedicated to hosting Major Golf Championships.