History - A Female
Perspective
Ladies, the next time you grab your
clubs and head out to the golf course for your weekly foursome, take a
moment to reflect on the amazing contributions that women in golf have
made throughout history. The contributions were not only to the game
itself, but to your "right" to play this sport which was once reserved
for men only.
Our first tip of the hat goes to Mary
Queen of Scots who in 1552, despite being a woman, was allowed to play
golf anytime she cared to. History credits Her Royal Highness with
coining the term "Caddy" which was a derivative of the her favorite word
for these indispensable golf helpers who she called "Cadets". It should
also be noted that it was during her reign that St. Andrews, the world's
most famous golf course, was built, but it would be almost 400 years
later that the first woman would be allowed to play there.
Speaking of firsts, the year was 1890
and the earliest known mixed foursome hit the greens. This banner event
for women in Golf featured winners Miss Carrie Low and John Reid who
soundly defeated Mrs. John Reid and Mr. John Upham.
Apparently that first foursome featuring
women in golf sparked some major interest among the ladies, because just
one year later the still-operating Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Long
Island welcomed the first female duffers. The response was so
overwhelming that the golf course management built a special 9-hole
course especially for women in golf just two years later.
The 1800's proved to be an exciting
decade or women in golf and, towards the end of 1893, the British Ladies
Golf Union sponsored the first of a long line of British Ladies'
championships. Although Queen Mary was long gone, the Royal House was
represented by tournament winner Lady Margaret Scott.
Meanwhile, across the pond, the United
States was waking up to the women in golf movement as evidenced by The
first women's' golf tournament held in Morristown, NJ on a 7-hole
course. This 1894 event was won by Miss Hollard A. Ford who finished 14
strokes under her nearest competitor with a then-amazing 97.
Not to be outdone by the Yanks, 1894
also marked the debut of the Australian Women's National Golf
Championship.
By the year 1895, women in golf were
becoming a common site and courses in most of the "civilized" countries
started opening their doors to women. Even the staid Meadow Brook Club,
in Hempstead, N.Y., got into the act by sponsoring the first Women's
Amateur Golf Championship which offered up a field of 13 women golfers.
The trophy was taken home by Mrs. Charles S. Brown who finished with a
132.
Fast forward to the present and it's
unlikely that there is a woman today who is old enough to remember the
time when "No Women Allowed" signs were posted on their local links.
Even young girls are active in the sport. Which reminds me; if you're
looking for a female role model to help you get your name on the woman
in golf roles, you needn't look any further than 16-year-old newly
turned pro Michelle Wie. From what she's shown so far, Michelle is sure
to become a major entry in the annals of women in golf.
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