COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Judy Bell, whose dedication to golf led her to turn out to be the primary lady to turn out to be president of the USA Golf Affiliation, died Monday at her house in Colorado after spending 15 months in hospice care, the USGA introduced. She was 89 years outdated.
Bell was 15 when she took the practice from her native Kansas to California to compete within the U.S. Ladies’s Junior Championships. She misplaced within the semi-finals to the nice Mickey Wright, taking the highest spot. Nonetheless, she performed on two Curtis Cup groups and was additionally the U.S. captain of two Curtis Cup groups.
Her profession was marked by volunteering on USGA committees, turning into a guidelines official and turning into the primary lady to serve on the chief committee. She was elected president in 1996.
“Judy Bell was greater than only a chief, she was a power of nature whose imaginative and prescient and compassion formed the very soul of the sport,” mentioned USGA CEO Mike Wang. “Judy helped open the door for numerous younger women to search out their place, confidence and pleasure in golf. She broke down limitations not for recognition, however to make golf higher and extra welcoming for everybody.
“All of us on the USGA mourn her passing and have fun the extraordinary lifetime of a lady who will proceed to affect generations.”
Bell was inducted into the World Golf Corridor of Fame in 2001 and was one of many first girls to obtain honorary life membership on the Royal & Historic Golf Membership in St. Andrews when the membership voted to permit girls membership in 2015.
When requested how she felt about turning into the primary feminine USGA president, she was quick-witted.
“I’ve solely been president for a couple of hours, so I do not know but what it feels wish to be president, however I have been president for 59 years, so I do know what it feels wish to be a lady,” she replied.
The USGA created the grant program throughout Bell’s two years as president and now contributes greater than $65 million to golf applications for juniors, athletes with disabilities and different various teams.
“I am passionate concerning the sport of golf. I all the time wish to give one thing again to golf as a result of it offers me a lot pleasure and pleasure,” Bell as soon as mentioned of spending a lot time with the USGA. “No doubt, that’s the true which means of my volunteer work.”
