Thirteen women had one common goal: To change sports forever

 

NAPLES, Fla. – (November 18, 2015) The Founders, a feature-length documentary of the remarkable journey of 13 women who battled society, prejudice and preconception on the way to establishing a global sporting legacy, premieres Wednesday, November 18, in Naples, Florida.

 

The film, in conjunction with the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship, will have a special screening at 6:00 p.m., at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples.

 

“Babe Zaharias, one of the LPGA Founders, once said on the golf course, ‘The Babe’s here, now who’s going to be second?’ She was a feisty, showboat player with a huge swing and immense talent,” says Executive Producer Charlene Fisk. “From the glamour girl to the consummate athlete, from the shy sweetheart to the boisterous ‘it-girl,’ the characters draw you in and make you want to know how they did what they did.”

 

They were not supposed to be athletes. They were not supposed to get paid to play. They were not supposed to call the shots. But in 1950, 13 amateur women golfers battled society, finances and sometimes even each other to stake their claim to become professional sportswomen by creating the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). 

 

With humor, grit and raw talent, these underdogs not only changed the course of women's sport but created a timeless story of redemption and endurance. Through rare, archival footage, historical reenactments and current-day interviews with surviving founders and leading players, their story – a special legacy – is told in this feature-length documentary.

 

The film is produced by award-winning filmmakers Charlene Fisk, Phoebe Brown and Carrie Schrader of Mighty Fine Pictures in Atlanta. The film has been picked up by Kaleidoscope Films, an international distribution sales company who specializes in narrative films and documentaries.  The film will premier in film festivals worldwide and be followed by theatrical, broadcast, and on-line releases.  

 

The Founders isn't just for those who frequent the golf course. This is a film for anyone who believes in the transformative power of defying the odds.

 

Here is a link to a brief trailer featuring the late Louise Suggs.