PEGGY KIRK BELL: the First Lady of Golf by Kendra T
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PEGGY KIRK BELL: The First Lady of Golf By Kendra T. Brown, Ph.D. To some, Peggy Kirk Bell’s story reads like an old-fashioned fairy tale. An of it; Peggy took him up on attractive young woman falls head over heels in love, rides off into the sunset to his offer. She was desperate a life filled with adventure, travel, fame and fortune, and ultimately arrives at a for activity that summer, so she went to Dad’s supply beautiful “castle” where she lives happily ever after, surrounded by family and of sporting goods, where receiving visitors daily who come to enjoy the lovely grounds of her kingdom. she selected some of “those sticks” and three balls. But this isn’t your average She expected to learn fairy tale. The love of which how to play golf on her first we speak is none other than day at the course; she wasn’t golf! And she rode off into the going to need more than three sunset on her golf cart, not balls! astride a white horse. Those “I hit the first ball and it lovely grounds where she went into the woods,” Bell receives visitors daily? They said. “I spent 25 minutes are the greens and fairways of looking for that ball and her cherished golf resort, Pine couldn’t find it. I wondered, Needles, in Southern Pines, ‘What do we do now?’” N.C. After a couple of hours, Peggy Kirk Bell’s love affair all three balls were lost and with golf began about 73 years she never got to the green. ago - when she was 17 and But, she lost more than those known around her hometown balls to golf that day. She lost of Findlay, Ohio, as just her heart to golf, as well. Peggy Kirk. She had already “I was hooked,” she said. demonstrated considerable “Because I couldn’t do it.” talent in multiple sports. Other sports had come “I was voted Best Athlete relatively easy to her and at Findlay High School,” she was surprised at how Bell recalled. “We played difficult it was to play intramurals – not for girls – so I golf well. But, with her Peggy loved flying and characteristic confidence always played with the boys.” playing with celebrities Her father’s supply of like Bing Crosby (left). and determination, she sporting goods (through his found a teacher and began wholesale grocery business) to learn and hone the skills came in handy. attended each year was purchased a membership at that would later take her to “I was the catcher on the no longer available to her the local Findlay Country championships, honors and boys’ baseball team because because of her age. What Club. Her father’s membership accomplishments spanning I had the biggest mitt!” she to do with her time? She was associated with business; seven decades. laughed. wanted to do something he didn’t play “that silly Those initial lessons The summer of her 17th physical and her dad, Robert game” of golf, as he put it. quickly paid off. During the year, she found herself with a Kirk, happily provided an He did, however, encourage first year of her love affair dilemma: The camp she had option. He had recently his kids to take advantage with golf, Bell won the Photos courtesy Pine Needles Resort 16 | LADIES LINKS FORE GOLF MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2012 LL4G.COM club tournament. The local sat for hours watching Ben in Hollywood, Fla.,” Bell memories while playing newspaper carried the story – Hogan practice his swing. She said. “I was nervous and, in professionally were breaking in the society column – black played with some of them, a practice round, Babe asked the tournament scoring and white evidence that, in too. On one occasion, Bell what was wrong. I said, record at the Titleholder’s those days, women golfers and Zaharias were playing ‘You have won the last seven Championship and being PEGGY KIRK BELL: were viewed very differently with Sam Snead and a club tournaments you played in on the first professional U.S. than male golfers. professional. and I don’t want you to lose international team. It was the After graduating high “Babe hit a long drive and this one with me.’ Babe said, Weathervane Team. Patty Berg school, Bell carried her love said to Sam, ‘See if you can ‘I can beat any two of them was the captain on that team The First Lady of Golf affair with golf on to college, and other members included where she first attended Zaharias and Betty Jameson. Boston University’s Sargent Although these women College of Physical Education, were competitors, there and then Rollins College, was a bond between them. graduating with a degree in There were so few women education. at this level of competition “I went to school every that they were showcased. morning and teed off with the Together, they dreamed of a men every afternoon,” Bell professional tour for women, said. “I played with the men and so, the Ladies Professional because the women were no Golf Association was formed. good then!” Bell says she is considered a Peggy Kirk became charter member, rather than a recognized as one of the founding member, because she nation’s top players. Since it wasn’t at the first meeting and was before the development of some of the early records have a professional tour for women, been lost. she played on the ladies’ In 1953 – when she was amateur tour. In the 1940s, in her thirties – Peggy Kirk she won the Ohio Women’s became Peggy Kirk Bell, Amateur championship marrying her high school three times, the North- sweetheart, Warren (“Bullet”) South Women’s Amateur Bell, who had been patiently in Pinehurst, the Eastern waiting in the wings while she Amateur and the Augusta followed her golf dreams. Titleholders. In 1947, she “I went with him for seven teamed with Babe Zaharias to years and he kept wanting win the International Four-Ball Peggy stands in front of her beloved Pines Needles Resort in Southern to get married,” she said. “I Championship. Pines, North Carolina couldn’t get married because I Travel to tournaments – wanted to play golf.” which were scattered around catch that one,’” Bell recalled. without you. I’ll let you know Truth be told, Warren had the country – was time- “Sam hit, but not as far…” if I need you!’” been busy, too – in college, in consuming in those days. So, and questioned the ball Babe In 1950, Bell reached a military service and playing with her characteristic “can had hit. She informed him it personal goal – playing on professional basketball with do” attitude, Bell took flying was the same kind of ball as the U.S. Curtis Cup Team. the Fort Wayne Pistons (today’s lessons and began piloting her his - Wilson.” (Both Zaharias “That was my greatest Detroit Pistons). own plane. and Snead had contracts with goal – to play for my In the same year as “I took up flying because Wilson Sporting Goods at the country,” beamed Bell. their marriage, the couple I was tired of driving coast-to- time.) Shortly after that, she purchased the Pine Needles coast, and it was fun to fly,” Another memory of began her professional resort. Along with fellow she said. Zaharias brought a smile to golfing career, signing with investor, PGA pro Julius Boros, During those years, Bell’s face. Spalding Sporting Goods in they had a vision for the she also observed many of “Babe asked me to play 1951. Donald Ross-designed course the great male golfers. She in an International Four-Ball Two of her fondest and surrounding property. OFFICIAL ONLINE AMatEUR GOLF COMMUNITY OF THE LPGA SUMMER 2012 | LADIES LINKS FORE GOLF MAGAZINE | 17 men, women and juniors. her golf cart (with her clubs A Lifetime of Golf Achievements Bell admits that she in the back) from her home wasn’t all that keen on – nestled in the heart of the Peggy Kirk Bell, who will be 91 this year, is named in golf Halls teaching golf at first. resort – to the clubhouse, of Fame, is a master professional, and remains active in civic, “I was more interested where she meets and greets charitable and sports organizations. Among her many lifetime in hitting the ball myself,” visitors. Their admiration for accomplishments are: she said. “I didn’t want to tell her is apparent; she glows • 2007 First Lady of Golf – PGA of America - May 2007 someone else how to hit it!” in their respect, while, at the • Winner of the 1947 International Four Ball teamed with That changed, and she same time, seeming to be Babe D. Zaharias became a sought-after and amazed herself at the wealth • Ohio Amateur Champion – 1947, 1948,1949 valued teacher, and the first of awards chronicling her • Titleholders Champion - 1949 woman voted into the World accomplishments and the • North – South Champion - 1949 Golf Teachers Hall of Fame photos of celebrities she’s met • Eastern Amateur Champion – 1950 in 2002. Her ability to build all over the world. • Member of the 1950 USGA Curtis Cup Team solid relationships with her Indeed, her love affairs • USGA Bob Jones Award, 1990 students was evidenced with golf and with “Bullet” • LPGA/Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, 1989 when Robert Linville – a Bell have rewarded her many • Golf Writers Assn. Of America’s William Richardson Award, 1993 former student who has been times over. Daughters, Bonnie • National Golf Foundation’s Joe Graffis Award, 1981 named a Carolina’s Teacher and Peggy Ann, and son, Kirk, • Halls of Fame: NC Business Hall of Fame, 2002; Ohio Golf Hall of of the Year and a two-time live nearby, along with her Fame, 1992; Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame, 1981; NC Sports Hall of Division III National Coach sons-in-law, Pat McGowan Fame, 1976; Inducted into the LPGA (Teaching Division) Hall of of the Year – named his and Kelly Miller.