Golf History - A Female Perspective

Ladies, the next time you grab your clubs and headgone, the Royal House was represented by
out to the golf course for your weekly foursome,tournament winner Lady Margaret Scott.Meanwhile,
take a moment to reflect on the amazingacross the pond, the United States was waking up
contributions that women in golf have madeto the women in golf movement as evidenced by
throughout history. The contributions were not onlyThe first women's' golf tournament held in
to the game itself, but to your "right" to play thisMorristown, NJ on a 7-hole course. This 1894 event
sport which was once reserved for men only.Ourwas won by Miss Hollard A. Ford who finished 14
first tip of the hat goes to Mary Queen of Scotsstrokes under her nearest competitor with a
who in 1552, despite being a woman, was allowed tothen-amazing 97.Not to be outdone by the Yanks,
play golf anytime she cared to. History credits Her1894 also marked the debut of the Australian
Royal Highness with coining the term "Caddy" whichWomen's National Golf Championship.By the year
was a derivative of the her favorite word for these1895, women in golf were becoming a common site
indispensable golf helpers who she called "Cadets". Itand courses in most of the "civilized" countries
should also be noted that it was during her reign thatstarted opening their doors to women. Even the staid
St. Andrews, the world's most famous golf course,Meadow Brook Club, in Hempstead, N.Y., got into the
was built, but it would be almost 400 years later thatact by sponsoring the first Women's Amateur Golf
the first woman would be allowed to playChampionship which offered up a field of 13 women
there.Speaking of firsts, the year was 1890 and thegolfers. The trophy was taken home by Mrs. Charles
earliest known mixed foursome hit the greens. ThisS. Brown who finished with a 132.Fast forward to the
banner event for women in Golf featured winnerspresent and it's unlikely that there is a woman today
Miss Carrie Low and John Reid who soundly defeatedwho is old enough to remember the time when "No
Mrs. John Reid and Mr. John Upham.Apparently thatWomen Allowed" signs were posted on their local
first foursome featuring women in golf sparked somelinks. Even young girls are active in the sport. Which
major interest among the ladies, because just onereminds me; if you're looking for a female role model
year later the still-operating Shinnecock Hills Golf Clubto help you get your name on the woman in golf
on Long Island welcomed the first female duffers.roles, you needn't look any further than 16-year-old
The response was so overwhelming that the golfnewly turned pro Michelle Wie. From what she's
course management built a special 9-hole courseshown so far, Michelle is sure to become a major
especially for women in golf just two years later.Theentry in the annals of women in golf.Richard Myers is
1800's proved to be an exciting decade or women ina keen golfer and his web site and contains many
golf and, towards the end of 1893, the British Ladiesfree tips and great golfing advice plus training videos
Golf Union sponsored the first of a long line of Britishand DVDs to help you to improve your swing and
Ladies' championships. Although Queen Mary was longlower your score using some very simple exercises.