Women’s Golf
Throughout the history of golf ladies playing the game has been a controversial issue. In fact, some have said “golf” stands for Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden. However, there have always been strong women willing to stand up for their beliefs and rights and to venture into so called men’s domains, including golf courses. Changing old attitudes has always been an uphill battle.
One article in the Montreal Gazette in the summer of 1926 asks, “Why don’t women golfers learn to play as quickly as men? Answer: Men golfers are more or less athletic and their muscles are trained while the women are handicapped by first having to loosen up.” The same paper indicated that shorter skirts did more to improve a women’s game than anything else, the drives no longer getting tangled in the long skirts.
All of this did not keep women from competing. In the spring of 1894 a ladies’ team from the Royal Montreal Golf Club went by train to Quebec City to compete in an interclub golf match. In 1897 a team of six players from the Royal Quebec Golf Club and four players from Royal Montreal met a combined team from the Toronto and Rosedale Golf Clubs and won the first interprovincial team match.
By 1901 ladies from coast to coast were playing golf. The Royal Montreal Golf Club was chosen as the site for the first women’s Canadian Golf Championship. Played on October 14, 1901, the tournament was won by Lily Young of the host club.
By the 1950s things had changed for women. After two difficult decades including the depression and the Second World War, the economy took an upward swing. During the war women had carried a great part of the work load outside the home and were ready to pursue activities other than homemaking, including golf.
Little is known about the women of Summerlea in its early years. Almost everything was lost in the 1949 fire and the newspapers of the day were concerned mostly with men’s golf. What is known is that by 1921, when Summerlea opened, there was great interest and participation in women’s golf.
The first Ladies’ Executive of the Summerlea Golf Club was formed in 1922 and since then the women have always taken a keen interest in their club and prided themselves on the excellent management and conduct of their section. At home and in outside tournaments, whether playing good or bad golf, the Summerlea women are well known for their good sportsmanship and their great sense of fun.
The July 28th, 1926 Montreal Gazette reports that a team of ladies from Summerlea Golf Club were defeated in a friendly match by a team from the Boischatel Golf Club.
On July 9th 1927 one hundred and fifty ladies teed off at Summerlea in a Quebec Branch of the Canadian Ladies Golf Union Field Day. The scoring was higher than anticipated as the contestants were playing on a longer course than usual and in very hot weather. The Summerlea course had wintered better than most that year, resulting in faster greens. Mrs. W.R. Vining of the home club won low net.
On June 23rd 1931, Marion Taylor of Summerlea led a field of one hundred and eighty golfers at the Country Club of Montreal in St. Lambert to win the Bronze division of the Quebec Branch of the CLGU. In 1935, this same event was won by Yolande Moison, a fine Summerlea golfer who went to Laval-sur-le-Lac Golf Club when she married J.C. Whitelaw.
On June 29th 1934, at Summerlea, Mrs. J. Dagenais of Laval-sur-le-Lac and Mrs. A. B. Darling of Whitlock competed for the title of Provincial Ladies’ Golf Championship. This was a repetition of a match played on June 21st 1929 on the same course between the same two competitors. Both times, with a display of very good golf and hard-fought matches, the results were the same: Mrs. Dagenais emerging the winner over Mrs. Darling (then Miss Doris Virtue).
During the 1950s, dress codes for women on the golf course became a big issue. In 1929 women wore long flannel skirts to the ankles but with shorts and halter tops underneath. During the Second World War large numbers of women went to work in long and short pants and liked the comfort and convenience. Although skirts were traditional on golf courses, the issue had to be addressed. This situation was complicated by the fact that in predominately Catholic Quebec shorts and bare shoulders were not allowed on the streets. After much discussion at the Board level the decision was made to allow Bermuda shorts and slacks in the spring and fall. Over the years dress in general has become more casual and rules have relaxed somewhat. Summerlea women and men are now comfortable in slacks and shorts, always dressing in style and good taste.
On September 10th 1951, at a special meeting of the Ladies’ Executive and the Board of Directors an amendment to the By-Laws was proposed, and passed, giving the women jurisdiction over their own section.
This amendment stated: “A Ladies committee, known as the Ladies’ Section, with the power to elect their own officers and function under the Rules of Procedure agreed upon by the Directors.”
The 40th and last Annual meeting of the Ladies’ Section at the Lachine location was held on September 18th 1962, Mrs. J.F. Girouard, President presiding. On June 13th 1963, following a 9-hole competition the first meeting of the Ladies section in the new clubhouse at Dorion took place. The membership consisted of 416 women, an increase of 45 from 1962.
The Ladies’ section; wives of senior members and independent women, consists of three groups; the aforementioned Day Ladies; the Business Ladies and the 9-Holers, each with their own tournaments, as well as combined competitions. Some tournaments include all these groups – The season Opening and Closing; the Friendly Challenge, two matches between the Day Ladies and the Business Ladies, one in spring and one in late summer for the prized silver tray. Summer Swing, now Summer Sensation, has a different theme each year followed by dinner and a fun filled evening. This event continues to be special due to the creativeness and enthusiasm of Summerlea women.
During the summer there are many hard-fought competitions. Playing in the Intersectional Team has always been a great honor.
The climax of the season is the Club Championships for both men and women. Qualifying rounds are played in late summer with the grand finale on Labour Day weekend. The Club Champions are feted at a champagne party when they are presented with their trophies.
Two special groups were the Business Ladies and the Nine Holers. The Business Ladies section began in the late 1940s at the Lachine location when many women were working outside the home. Arriving by train (Montreal – Summerlea 10 cents) after work they called themselves the 6 o’clock club. They would play 9 holes of golf, have supper and return home by train just after 9 o’clock. There were no problems of slow play at these events.
Initiation Fees $50 with annual dues of $50.
The Nine Holers were probably the most enthusiastic and appreciative group in the game. New to golf they were also taught the rules of golf, routines, etiquette, courtesy and responsibilities. In 1992 a 9-hole group played in an outside tournament for the first time at the Cornwall Golf Club.
Summerlea women are well known for their love for the game, the club and their great sense of fun.
In May, 2003, an event of great importance happened at Summerlea long sought after by the Women’s section. After a balloted vote 89% of the voting members approved a change in the By-Laws allowing women to become official members of the Board of Directors.
Accordingly, Ladies’ President, Denise Christie, an excellent choice, was appointed a member of the Board. The decision was warmly applauded by the women of Summerlea who for some time had felt the need for representation on the Board. This decision would greatly enhance the golf club as it moves into the new century.
This article would not be complete without paying tribute to our ladies’ locker room attendants. They have loved and cared for us so well all these years. We could not have managed without them.
Lil Lilly
Lil Lilly, born in England, met and married Walter Lilly during the Second World War. They returned to Lachine after the war when Walter became head professional at Summerlea. After her husband’s death Lil became the club’s ladies’ locker room attendant. She remained in this position for 15 years faithfully looking after the ladies Lil enjoyed her retirement years in Hudson until her death.
Pauline Vanasse
Pauline, born and raised in Vaudreuil-Dorion, came to Summerlea in 1983 replacing Lil Lilly. A gracious, cheerful presence Pauline is always ready with TLC for her girls. A busy mother of five and grand mother of ten, her efforts are much appreciated by the women of Summerlea.
As I write this the leaves are beginning to turn, a beautiful time at Summerlea. It also reminds us that the golfing is coming to an end. There will be major changes at our beloved club and we look forward to what is ahead.
To all our snowbirds who will soon be winging south, enjoy the sunshine and balmy breezes while we at home enjoy the cold and howling blizzards.
Something told the wild geese
It was time to go
Although the fields lay golden
Something whispered “snow”
Leaves were green and stirring
Berries inter glossed
But beneath the warm feathers
Something cautioned “Frost”
All the sagging orchards
Steamed with amber spice
But each wild bird stiffened
At remembered ice
Something told the wild geese
It was time to fly . . .
Summer sun was on their wings
Winter in their cry
Marion Dunn