Royal and Ancient Golf Club

Obituary - Judy Bell

The R&A

04 Nov 25

8 mins

Judy Bell of the United States in action at the 11th Curtis Cup at the Lindrick Golf Club in 1960.

Judy Bell, an honorary member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, has sadly passed away at the age of 89.

The American was a trailblazer in the world of golf, helping drive the sport forward on and off the course throughout her life. The first female president of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and a two-time Curtis Cup player and Captain, Bell died at her home in Colorado after battling many health issues without complaint over the last 30 years. As stated on the USGA website, “her tenacity and spirit – the qualities that made her a towering figure in golf – enabled her to continue to lead a vigorous life.”

Tireless energy

Bell was a larger-than-life personality who helped advance the sport with her tireless energy. In her 31-year career with the USGA, she held a variety of committee roles, with her infectious spirit rubbing off on staff and volunteers. During her tenure as president at the USGA from 1996, she played a leading role in programmes to take golf to youth, minorities and disabled groups. An accomplished amateur golfer, diplomat and successful entrepreneur who ran businesses in Colorado, Virginia and Pennsylvania, she was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001 thanks to her exceptional contribution to the sport. In December 2015, she was among the first women to receive an honorary membership from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. She was also the recipient of the USGA’s highest honour, the Bob Jones Award, in 2016. Mark Darbon, Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, said, “Everyone at the Club is today mourning the passing of Judy Bell, an extraordinary woman in the world of golf. “Judy enjoyed a long and distinguished career and made substantial contributions to golf through her outstanding achievements as a player and through her tireless work in supporting the development of the sport. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.”

Judy Bell is presented with the William D. Richardson Award by sportswriter Len Shapiro in 2002.

Judy Bell received the William D. Richardson Award from Len Shapiro at the Golf Writers Association of America awards dinner in 2002.

Golfing exploits

Bell was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1936 and took up golf at the age of ten. Her mother was a dedicated community volunteer, who served as president of the Kansas Women’s Golf Association, while her father was a successful businessman. While still in junior high, with two friends she founded Wichita’s girls’ basketball league of three teams, which eventually grew to 16 teams. Golf, however, became her focus. Aged 13, she played in the US Women’s Open and at 15 reached the semi-finals of the US Girls’ Junior. She won six times on the Florida women’s amateur circuit, as well as winning the 1963 Women’s Trans National and three Broadmoor Ladies Invitation titles. She was a three-time quarter-finalist in the US Women’s Amateur. Such was her play, Bell secured her place on the USA team at the Curtis Cup in 1960 at Lindrick and 1962 at Broadmoor in Colorado. “My selection to two Curtis Cup teams remains one of the most satisfying and meaningful accomplishments in my life,” she said. Bell was also non-playing Captain of the USA team in 1986 and 1988, going up against her friend, Diane Bailey MBE, who led the Great Britain and Ireland side.

Bailey friendship

“Judy was an exceptional lady,” said Diane. “So many people will have great memories of her and the camaraderie we shared. “I remember playing against her in the 1962 Curtis Cup match and winning comfortably in our singles tie. When we came up against each other as captains in 1986, I always remember Judy saying ‘could you be a little more gentle this time?’ That was typical of Judy. “Our beliefs were that the players should mix socially together in the Curtis Cup. A lovely memory was when Judy took both teams to her farm in Kansas in 1986 for a party one evening during that week at Prairie Dunes. She had this game where we stood one on either side throwing eggs at each other that you had to catch before they dropped on the floor. That was a typical Judy thing! “She was such a sportswoman, whether supporting an American player or whoever, if she felt a girl needed support she would be there for her, German, British or whoever, she was that sort of a person. Our paths crossed a lot in the golf world and then over the years we became closer. She was a wonderful woman and she has definitely enriched my life.”

Woods honour

Bell became a USGA volunteer in 1961, when she was a member of the Junior Championship Committee. In the 1970s she became a rules official, then served on the Women's Committee and later became the first woman on the executive committee. Bell has been inducted into 11 Halls of Fame and held honorary memberships at other golf clubs in Scotland and the United States of America. Notably, in her first year as USGA president, she had the honour of handing the Havemeyer Trophy to Tiger Woods after his historic third consecutive US Amateur victory at Pumpkin Ridge.

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