A dozen players from the Celebrity Golf Association (CGA)
are heading efforts to form their own players association,
according to Dave Shedloski of GOLFWEEK. The celebrity golfers
hope the association expands their "opportunities" in stroke-play
tournaments, corporate outings and golf-related ventures. Former
Dolphin Dick Anderson: "Athletes have been owned by owners all
their lives. We want to control our own destiny." He added, "We
think celebrity golf tournaments for prize money has bigger
potential than what's being explored." Five celebrity golf
events took place in '96, down from seven in '95. However, only
three of the '96 events were organized by the CGA, founded in '90
and owned and run by Jim Karvellas. Anderson said the new, yet-
unnamed players association, with approximately 100 members,
would continue to work with Karvellas, but would also "field
offers" from other promoters and corporate sponsors. Anderson
said there was no time table for completing work on the new
association, but added, "We're close to getting it done." Other
"prominent players" on the association exec committee include
Rick Rhoden, Mike Schmidt, Johnny Bench, Mario Lemieux, and John
Elway. Anderson said he has six tournament offers, and five
pending, including events hosted by Dan Marino and Michael Jordan
(GOLFWEEK, 9/14 issue).
