The Sixties

The sixties was a decade of change and rebellion with new music, political and social upheaval, and the dawning of the space age.  The WGAWP also saw a new generation of golfers start to make their mark in the organization.

Two new young players, Diana Hoke (granddaughter of Bobby Cruickshank) and Carol Semple (daughter of Phyllis), made their presence known in WGAWP competitions and made a mark by wearing shorts on the golf course.  See the press photos from the 1960's to see the latest fashion in golf attire.

Individual dues in 1960 was $13, then were increased to $15 in 1961, and increased again in 1968 to $17.50.

The organization tweaked handicap requirements for qualification.  At the beginning of the decade, the qualifying handicap was 25.  It was lowered to 23 in 1962 and lowered again to 21 in 1964 where it remained for the remainder of the 1960's.

Olive M. Boschart was the Tournament Administrator / Secretary for the WGAWP since 1938 and remained through 1961 when she retired.  In 1961 she was paid $500 for the season.   

Team play continued to be a popular and serious competition.  Allegheny dominated the Team Championships winning seven times during the decade.  The only teams to "upset" the dominant team were Fox Chapel in 1962, Uniontown in 1967, and Westmoreland in 1969.

The organization continued to introduce new forms of competition, most of which have not survived into the 21st century.

One that does continue today is the Spring 2-Day medal play.  It was started in 1961 and was first played at Nemacolin Country Club.

The Olive M. Boschert Trophy was also started in 1961.  It was to honor the long-time Tournament Administrator, Olive M. Boschert for her long service.  It started and remained through the 1960's as a two day low net for higher handicaps (22-28).

In 1963 the organization started two other events that had a long-life.  The Executive Board Invitational was established to show appreciation to the club WGA and handicap chairmen, the only event where non WGAWP members could participate.  The Secretary's Trophy was also introduced that year.  It was a mixed better ball event for higher handicap members.

In 1965, a Selective Drive/Alternate Shot event was started (today would be called Modified Alternate Shot).  It was first played at Nemacolin and was run through the mid 1980's.

A one day stroke play tournament for low handicappers was started in 1965, but was only played for three seasons.

In 1965, a Better Ball of Foursome set of events were started.  Separate events were held for various flights of handicaps.  In 1965, South Hill hosted the low handicaps (0-16) with 88 players, St. Clair hosted the mid-handicaps (17-20) with 48 players, and Greensburg hosted the higher handicaps (21-28) with 66 players.  At that time, only the one best ball of the group counted for scoring.  This event continued with multiple flights and best ball scoring until 1982.

In 1967, the WGAWP introduced the Junior Championship.  It was hosted by Hillcrest, had 24 participants, and was won by Carol Semple.

Also in 1967, a Scotch Mixed Foursome was started.  It had a short life as it was abandoned in 1972.

The 1960's clearly demonstrated that the WGAWP was eager to try out new forms of competition, but were quick to react and adjust as experience dictated.

To Read more about the WGAWP in the 1960's click the link below:

Clubs joining in the 1960’s:

• Sewickley Heights
• Valley Brook
• Wildwood

In today's dollars:

• The annual dues of $13 in 1960 is equivalent to $124.60 in todays dollars.
• The annual dues of $17.50 in 1968 is equivalent to $142.67 in todays dollars.
• The $500 salary for Olivia Boschert in 1961 is equivalent to $4,744.41 in todays dollars.

On initial review, the player of the decade for the 1960's seemed to be a tight race with four members each holding two WGAWP championships.  They were:

• Phyllis Semple - 1961 & 1963
• Suzy Williams  - 1964 & 1966
• Carol Semple - 1965 & 1967
• Sandra Thomas - 1968 & 1969

So more investigation was required to include other competitive tournaments.  Here are other accomplishments that Phyllis enjoyed in the 1960's:

• 1962 winner of Tag Hill
• 1962 runner up of PA State Championship
• 1963 runner up of PA State Championship
• 1963 runner up Tag Hill
• 1964 winner of Tag Hill
• 1964 runner up of WGAWP Championship
• 1964 winner of PA State Championship
• 1965 runner up of WGAWP Championship
• 1966 runner up Tag Hill
• 1967 winner Tag Hill
• 1969 runner up WGAWP Championship
• 1969 runner up Tag Hill

Carol Semple also enjoyed success in the 1960's as a teenager.  In addition to the WGAWP Championships, she won the WGAWP Junior Championship in 1967, PA State and the Tag Hill in 1969 and the Lehman (with partner Mrs. R. F. Moreland) in 1968 and 1969.

Suzy Williams also had an impressive 1960's record.  In addition to the WGAWP Championships, she won the Tag Hill in 1963, runner up in Tag Hill in 1964, runner up in the WGAWP Championship in 1967, runner up in the PA State Championship in 1966, and she won the Lehman (with partner Mrs. Bernard M. Halpern) in 1967.

The impressive records of Carol Semple and Suzy Williams could not match up to the successes of Phyllis Semple, so Phyllis repeats as the WGAWP player of the decade for 1960.

• March 11, 1960 - Announcement is made of the departure in 1961 of Dr. Jonas Salk from the University of Pittsburgh. He will become the head of a research institute in San Diego, California.
• March 14, 1960 - A $20 million new construction work in Pittsburgh district highway program will begin in the spring. Included is the linkage of the Penn-Lincoln Parkway with the turnpike.
• April 10, 1960 – Arnold Palmer wins his 2nd Masters Tournament as he birdied the final two holes to win by one stroke.
• June 18, 1960 – Arnold Palmer wins the 60th U.S. Open Championship at Cherry Hills Country Club beating Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus.
• September 1, 1960 - Fort Pitt Tunnel is opened.
• October 13, 1960 - With the World Series even, three games each, the Pirates win the seventh game 10-9 with a home run by Bill Mazeroski in the ninth inning.
• July 15, 1961 – Arnold Palmer wins the first of two consecutive Open Championships at Royal Birkdale Golf Course in Southport, England.
• September 17, 1961 - Civic Arena opens for the public.
• April 9, 1962 - Arnold Palmer wins his 3rd Masters in the tournament’s first three-way playoff.
• July 13, 1962 – Arnold Palmer wins his second consecutive Open Championship at Troon Golf Club in Scotland.
• April 12, 1964 - Arnold Palmer wins the 28th Masters Tournament win by six strokes to become the first four-time winner of the Masters.
• September 1, 1964 - Pittsburgh’s WIIC-TV, Channel 11, sold by Post-Gazette and Brennan family to the Cox Broadcasting Company for more than $20 million.
• January 20, 1966 - Bill Austin named new Pittsburgh Steelers head coach.
• February 9, 1966 - Pittsburgh is granted National Hockey League franchise.
• May 25, 1966 - The creation of UHF television Channel 53 is announced.
• August 25, 1966 - The new stadium plans are unveiled.
• March 15, 1967 - US Steel breaks ground for its new skyscraper headquarters, the world’s second largest high-rise office building.
• March 19, 1967 - H. J. Heinz II and the Howard Heinz Endowment acquire the Penn Theater for the Pittsburgh Symphony.
• January 12, 1968 - Pittsburgh Stadium Authority approves final plans for the 52,000-seat stadium on the Northside.
• October 9, 1969 - Danny Murtaugh named to manage Pittsburgh Pirates for the 1970 season.
• December 30, 1969 - Penn Theater approved as new home for Pittsburgh Symphony.

• In 1960 John Fitzgerald Kennedy becomes the youngest person to be elected President of the United States. 
• In 1960 OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) is created. 
• In 1961 Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first person in space. 
• In 1962 the Beatles release their first single “Love Me Do” in the United Kingdom. 
• In 1962 Sam Walton opens the first Walmart in Arkansas. 
• In 1963 President John F. Kennedy is assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. 
• In 1963 US Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. 
• In 1964 US President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law. 
• In 1964 Sidney Poitier wins the Academy Award for Best Actor. 
• In 1965 the Vietnam War escalates and opposition begins to mount with protests. 
• In 1965 Mary Quant designs the mini-skirt in London and it becomes a fashion craze. 
• In 1966 the first episode of “Star Trek” airs.
• In 1966 Miranda Rights come into being after the Supreme Court overturns the conviction of a confessed rapist.  
• In 1967 the first Super Bowl is held with the Green Bay Packers vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. 
• In 1967 Thurgood Marshall is appointed to the Supreme Court as the first African American to serve. 
• In 1968 Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated.
• In 1968 Egypt’s Aswan Dam is completed.
• In 1969 Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first men to arrive on the Moon during NASA’s Apollo 11 mission
• In 1969 the Woodstock Music Festival takes place in New York.
• In 1969 the popular children’s television show “Sesame Street” debuts.