MyTurn by JIM DUCIBELLA
After 100 Years , the WTGA Still Moving Forward
In November 1924 , representatives of country clubs from Norfolk , Princess Anne , Lynnhaven ( there was no city of Virginia Beach ), Newport News , Hampton , Richmond , and Suffolk gathered at the peanut capital ’ s Laurel Cliff Country Club .
They ’ d been invited by Norfolk club professional Walter Beckett , who enticed them with lunch and a novel idea : The creation of a Women ’ s Tidewater Golf Association .
Who knows why ? Maybe it was inspired by the first Virginia women ’ s amateur championship , staged at The Homestead in 1922 . Perhaps it was the creation of similar groups in D . C . and Northern Virginia .
Maybe it was a transcendent figure like 21-year-old Glenna Collett ( not yet Collet-Vare ). She was in the middle of a dominant cycle in which she won six U . S . Women ’ s Amateurs , earning the nickname “ the female Bobby Jones .”
“ Something cataclysmic was happening ,” Ellen Morey , WTGA president , said .
And continues to happen . The WTGA is honoring its 100th birthday this year with champagne toasts at each event , a formal celebration at Princess Anne Country Club on November 7 , and a special competition at Sewells Point — Beckett was pro there when it was Norfolk Country Club — on September 9 .
Last February , the Virginia Senate and House agreed to a resolution commending the WTGA . It stated : “ Throughout its history , the WTGA has inspired interest in the sport of golf , fostered confidence in new players , familiarizing them with rules , etiquette , and good sportsmanship , and facilitated skill-building and participation in competitive play .”
Louise Lucas ( D-Portsmouth ) who co-sponsored the Senate bill with Christie New Craig , pointed to the WTGA as an example of opportunities women have gained in sports since Title IX .
Moments later , Del . Robert Bloxom read the resolution in front of the House membership .
“ I think it ’ s unusual these days for anything to last 100 years ,” said Cindy Morris ,
We ’ re still strong . We have a lot of people who come and step up to the plate , take over for the board , which is needed in any organization . I think it ’ s going to keep going for a long time .”— Cindy Morris
one of a dozen association members who attended . “ Being there was a once-in-alifetime experience .”
Morey said the resolution summarized the WTGA ’ s strongest values since its inception .
“ Integrity , sportsmanship , fellowship , that ’ s what it means to me ,” she said . And remembrance . Deceased members are honored by annual donations to the Fleming Fund , which was created by the women ’ s division of the VSGA in 2015 to promote and grow junior girls ’ golf .
In keeping with its origins , only members of private or semi-private clubs are eligible to join the WTGA . Individuals must have a handicap index of 22 or less and not exceed 22 for their initial two years of membership . They also must provide two letters of recommendation .
The American Society of Golf Course Architects lists 34 states that sport women ’ s golf associations . It would be naive to think there aren ’ t more . Women On Course , for example , is a national organization that has 60,000 members and sponsors 2,000 events annually . There are two chapters in Virginia .
WTGA membership stands at 95 — eight are honorary members who no longer play — spread among 11 clubs . That ’ s a slight dip from its all-time high . Women today represent 39 % of all business owners and those obligations , along with those that come with relationships and family , easily explain the drop .
Morris estimates that she ’ s won the association championship about 15 times . No matter . That ’ s not what ’ s important .
Being a member “ has definitely increased my enjoyment of golf ,” she said . “ I ’ ve gotten to meet so many more people than just going to one state tournament because we go to so many clubs and play with so many people . I have a lot of good friends because of it .”
As for the future , Morris said the WTGA isn ’ t going anywhere but forward .
“ We ’ re still strong . We have a lot of people who come and step up to the plate , take over for the board , which is needed in any organization ,” she said . “ I think it ’ s going to keep going for a long time .”
COURTESY PHOTOS
40 V IRGINIA G OLFER | J ULY / A UGUST 2024 vsga . org