Judy Bell

Judy Bell took up golf from a young age, putting on the practice green when she was seven, before playing in her first tournament when she was 11. When she was 15 Bell won three consecutive titles at the Kansas State Women’s Amateur Championship. During her amateur career she represented the United States in the Curtis Cup in 1960 and 1962, and made a record score of 67 in the third round of the US Women’s Open in 1964.

After her playing career Bell continued to be involved with the sport, including working as a volunteer for the United States Golf Association (USGA) for 30 years, and as a rules official at the Masters for 10 years. In 1987 Bell became the first woman to serve on the USGA Executive Committee, and in 1996 she became their first female President. For her work she was induced into multiple halls of fame including the World Golf Hall of Fame and the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.

In 2015 Bell was awarded with an honorary lifetime membership of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, with her also holding honorary memberships at multiple clubs in both Scotland and the United States. The following year she was bestowed with the Bob Jones Award, the USGA’s highest honour.