The Scottish Ladies' Amateur Championship

How it all began
By Gillian Kirkwood

If Scotland had not lost to England and Ireland in our first International Matches in 1902, the Scottish Ladies' Championship might never have started.

Scotland had a great many good players. Edith Orr from North Berwick won the British Ladies at Gullane in 1897 when she beat her elder sister in the final. Lena Thomson won at Cromer in 1898. Molly Graham, a Scot who played at Hoylake took the British at Aberdovey in 1901. The Whigham sisters from Prestwick, the Park family from Musselburgh, Alexa Glover from Elie, Maud Titterton and Dorothy Campbell from Edinburgh; they all played in competitions throughout Britain and were a force to be reckoned with. In 1902, at Cinque Ports, Deal, the 1-9 drubbing in the English match, and the 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 score line against Ireland, caused much shaking of heads in the Scottish camp.

Lady golfers playing at St Andrews, circa 1900

Miss Agnes Grainger, a member of the St Rule Club in St Andrews, realised that our girls' lack of high quality match-play experience was the root of the problem, and set to, almost single-handedly, to organise a National Championship. She visited clubs, collected money for a trophy, and audaciously asked for courtesy of the Old Course at St Andrews. Overcoming opposition from men who thought that the Old Course would be too severe a test, her hard work was rewarded by an entry of 46 ladies, and a successful tournament, won by Miss Alexa Glover of Elie who beat Molly Graham by one hole in the final.

It was decided to play the following year at Prestwick, and in 1904 an Association was formed to conduct future Championships, the start of the SLGA.

Miss Grainger's foresight was rewarded by Scotland's success. Our girls won the Home Internationals in 1904, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1909 and 1910.

For details of the 2003 event click here. To view the table of winners from 1903 until 2003 click here.

The SLGA produced a commemorative programme which was on sale at this year's event, for more details click here.