A newspaper article of May 11, 1922 indicated that the "Women's Western Pennsylvania Golf Association" was formed a few days ago.  That name was used in 1922 and then the name became the Women's Golf Association of Western Pennsylvania" sometime in 1923 perhaps after adopting formal bylaws.  Prior to 1922, a few women's golf tournaments, including a Championship, were conducted by the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association that had a women's committee.

In 1922, the newly organized association helped advance the game of golf for women in the region.  In the first year, the organization adopted a handicap policy, conducted a number of tournaments, organized it's first annual luncheon meeting, and held it's first election.  The first tournament was held at Stanton Heights and the Championship was hosted by Pittsburgh Field Club.  The annual luncheon meeting included the USGA President as a guest speaker.  The initial season was very successful, but ended with a bit of controversy as the proposed slate of officers was challenged.  This led to the realization that bylaws were required. The organization used a local attorney who was also an officer of the USGA to develop the initial bylaws.

To read articles about the first year, click the link below.

It’s 1923 and the newly formed Women’s Golf Association of Western PA is starting its first full season.  Twenty golf clubs have agreed to pay $10 in annual dues so that their women members could compete in regional golf competitions.  There were 981 women golfers that were part of the organization.  Fifteen events were conducted with the Championship hosted at Oakmont.  One of the founders, Nettie Price, fittingly won that event.  The season ended with a holiday luncheon held at the William Penn where 648 members and guests paid $2.50 each and celebrated their first full year of competition. 

The word was getting around the golf community and the organization grew in club membership reaching 38 clubs by the end of the decade.  The number of events ranged from 13 to 16 with Oakmont, Allegheny, Pittsburgh Field Club, and Fox Chapel all hosting the Championship.  By 1925, the organization began charging tournament entry fees of $1 for most tournaments and $3 for the Championship. 

Participation in the annual holiday luncheon declined year-by-year to where there were only 44 at the 1927 event at the Century Club.  This tradition ended in that year. 

In 1927 Team competition was introduced and Oakmont won in 1927-1929.  The format was match play with 3 points for each match for front nine, back nine, and overall.

Enthusiasm for women’s golf competitions remained strong throughout the decade as 137 participated in the Championship at Allegheny in 1928 and 161 played in the Championship at Oakmont in 1929.

The WGAWP was off to a Roaring Start.

Clubs belonging in 1923:

• Allegheny Country Club
• Beaver Valley Country Club
• Butler Country Club
• Pittsburgh Country Club
• Edgewood Country Club
• Field Club
• Greensburg Country Club
• Highland Country Club
• Nemacolin Country Club
• Oakmont Country Club
• Montour Country Club
• Schenley Park Golf Club
• Shannopin Country Club
• Stanton Heights Golf Club
• Thornburg Golf Club
• Washington Country Club
• Westmoreland Country Club
• Youghiogheny Country Club
• St. Clair Country Club
• Sharon Country Club

• Longue Vue (1924)
• Hillcrest (1924-1931)
• Kahkwa (1924-1933)
• South Hills (1924)
• Chartiers (1925)
• Fox Chapel (1925)
• Wildwood (1929)

In today's dollars:

• The $10 club membership fee in 1922 is equivalent to $162.50 in todays dollars.
• The $2.50 luncheon cost in 1922 is equivalent to $40 in todays dollars.
• The $3 Championship entry fee in 1925 is equivalent to $46 in todays dollars.

• In 1920 KDKA, a Pittsburgh Westinghouse station, transmits the first commercial radio broadcast.
• In 1923 the entire Boulevard of the Allies opened to traffic.
• In 1924 the Liberty Tunnel and 40th Street Bridge open.
• On  September 1, 1925 Pitt Stadium opens.
• On October 15, 1925 the Pirates win World Series.
• In 1926 the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning built.
• In 1927 the Pittsburgh Symphony Society is established.
• On February 27, 1928 The Benedum Center opens
• In 1928 the Liberty Bridge opens.
• September 10, 1929 Arnold Palmer was born in Latrobe, PA to Milfred Jerome "Deacon" and Doris Palmer.
• In 1929 The Pittsburgh Panthers football team claim their fourth national championship.
• On September 10, 1929 Arnold Daniel Palmer was born to Doris and Milfred "Deacon" Palmer in Latrobe, PA.

• In 1920 Women's suffrage goes into effect following Tennessee's ratification of the 19th amendment (Aug. 26).
• On May 30 1922 the Lincoln Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C. 
• In 1920 British Egyptologists unearth King Tutankhamen's tomb in the Valley of the Kings, the only tomb that remained unlooted through the centuries.
• In 1920 Insulin, which regulates the use of sugar, is isolated and used for the treatment of diabetes.
• In 1924 New York's Computer Tabulating Recording Company is re-organized and will now be known as International Business Machines Corp. (IBM).
• In 1924 the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade started.
• In 1926 Nellie Tayloe Ross takes office as governor of Wyoming (Jan. 5). She is the first woman governor in U.S. history.
• In 1927 Charles Lindbergh makes the first nonstop solo transatlantic flight.
• In 1928 the first television is sold -- a Daven for $75.
• In 1928 Richard E. Byrd starts an expedition to Antarctic; returns in 1930.
• In 1928 The Academy Awards are handed out for the first time. Wings wins Best Picture.
• In 1928 the Aschheim-Zondek urine pregnancy test is developed.
• In 1929 the Stock market prices plummet (Nov.-Dec.). U.S. securities lose $26 billion, marking the first financial disaster of the Great Depression

In addition to being the founder and first President of the WGAWP, Nettie Price was a champion golfer.  In 1921, when she was Chairman of the Women's Committee of WPGA, she won the Women's Western Pennsylvania Golf Championship.

After the WGAWP was established in 1922, Nettie participated in most of the Championships through the decade of the twenties with the following results:

• 1922 - Won Championship at Pittsburgh Field Club
• 1923 - Won Championship at Oakmont
• 1924 - Runner Up in Championship at Allegheny
• 1925 - Won Championship at Pittsburgh Field Club
• 1926 - Runner Up in Championship at Oakmont
• 1928 - Runner Up in Championship at Allegheny
• 1929 - 3rd Place in Championship at Oakmont

Such dominance in the Championship competitions make Nettie Price the overwhelming selection of "Player of the Decade" for the 1920's.

To read more about her performance and her rival Mrs. J. Bernd Rose, who won the Championship in 1924, 1926, and 1927, click the link below.

Virginia Frew Wright, a member of Allegheny Country Club, would have been an early member of the WGAWP.  In addition to regional competitions, she competed in world-wide golf competitions.  Our golfer of the year award is named in her honor.  To read more about Virginia, follow the link below.