About Us
LGU HISTORY
A brief history of the LGU
1893 - The LGU is formed
1893 - The first Ladies' British Amateur Championship played over Royal Lytham & St Anne's. This was won by Lady Margaret Scott who defeated Miss Issette Pearson by 7 & 6. The Amateur Trophy (pictured) is currently on display in the British Golf Museum, St Andrews. The original trophy is still played for today. Details of the winners of this Championship from its inception can be found in the Lady Golfers' Handbook.
1895 - The first Home International Match (England v Ireland) won by England at Royal Portrush G.C.
1919 - First Girls' Open Golf Championship (GOGC) held at Stoke Poges. Won in 1933 by Jessie Anderson (now Valentine).
1931 - The first Vagliano Trophy Match played against only France. It is now played against a European Team.
1932 - The first Curtis Cup match played against the USA at Wentworth.
1949 - The first British Girls' Championship played at Beaconsfield Golf Club.
1949 - The first Girls' International Matches. The Stroyan Cup won by England.
1969 - The first British Ladies' Stroke Play Championship played at Northumberland Golf Club.
1976 - The first Women's British Open.
1981 - The first British Seniors Ladies' Championship played at Formby Ladies' GC.
2002 - Inaugural British Mid-Amateur Championship played at the Berkshire Golf Club in memory of the late Angela Uzielli.
2003 - The first Senior International Matches played at Whittington Heath G.C
The Women Golfers' Museum (WGM)
The Women Golfers' Museum has been in existence sice 1938. Since then the WGM has remained in Scotland. The collection consists of clubs, balls, trophies, medals, costumes, books, photographs and other artefacts.
LGU Photo archive
The Ladies' Golf Union has a vast collection of old books and photographs housed in its own library in St. Andrews
Issette Pearson, the first LGU secretary, on the first tee of Royal County Down 1899
The Ladies' Golf Union was founded in 1893 and is the encompassing body for ladies' amateur golf throughout Great Britain and Ireland.
It operates with the agreement of the National Organisations (English Ladies' Golf Association, Irish Ladies' Golf Union, Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association and the Golf Union of Wales), and consists of these organisations, ladies' golf clubs and ladies' sections of recognised golf clubs and every annual playing member of those clubs within Great Britain and Ireland.
There are currently around 2,750 clubs representing some 205,000 lady members.
A number of overseas unions, associations and clubs are affiliated to the LGU, with other overseas unions and associations remaining associated to the Union.
Above: Competitors at British Amateur Championship, played at Littlestone 1894
Upholding the rules of the game
The primary objective of the Ladies' Golf Union is to uphold the rules of the game and to advance and safeguard the interests of ladies' golf. In support of this objective the LGU has the following responsibilities:
- British Championships and Home International Matches - Amateur, Girls, Stroke Play, Seniors, Girls International Matches, Home International Matches, Senior International Matches
- International Matches - Curtis Cup, Vagliano, Five Nations Tournament
- Ricoh Women’s British Open
- Competition for club golfers - Peugeot LGU Coronation Foursomes
- Member Services - LGU Flat, website, newsletter, Hole in One Club, Lady Golfers’ Insurance, LGU Yearbook
- International Team Selection
- Team preparation
The Union is administered by an elected Council representing the National Organisations. There are eight elected members, two from each of the four Home Countries with a Chairman, elected annually from the Council members, a President and an Honorary Treasurer.
A proportion of the Union's income is generated by membership subscription and this goes some way towards the delivery of national championships, international matches, member services and representation. The financial shortfall on these operations is offset by the income generated for the Ricoh Women’s British Open, which is owned and managed by the Ladies’ Golf Union. The only women’s major championship played outside the USA, the Open provides the ideal opportunity for golfers in Great Britain & Ireland to see the world’s top players in action.
The Ladies’ Golf Union is in the process of implementing its approved business plan, with the following strategic objectives at the heart of future activities;
- To achieve international success for Great Britain and Ireland women and girls golfers and teams
- To increase awareness and raise the profile of women and girls golf through the Women’s British Open and other golf events
- To provide a collective strong voice for, and represent the interests of, women and girls golf in partnership with the National Organisations for women’s golf
- To actively influence and drive equality in golf
- To be operationally and financially sustainable
Do you have comments or questions about the LGU?
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Ladies' Golf Union, The Scores, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AT
Tel: 01334 475811, Fax: 01334 472818