The Seventies
Terrible Times & Terrible Towels
The 1970's marked a big transition period for the Pittsburgh area as it saw the major decline of the steel industry resulting in high unemployment for most of the decade. To make economic matters even more difficult, high inflation and very high interest rates became the norm. However, it was the decade when Pittsburgh was the City of Champions with the Steelers, Pirates, and Panthers all capturing national titles. The successes of the sports teams helped offset the economic doom and gloom.
The WGAWP remained very healthy through the 1970's economic challenges and had lots to cheer about with major sports achievements of its own.
In 1970 the membership fee was $18. By 1979 the fee was $30, reflecting the inflationary pressures of the decade.
Some computer support for calculation of handicaps was introduced in the 1970's, but much of the work was painfully manual. In June handicaps were calculated and issued. During the season club handicap chairs recorded scores and submitted these to WGAWP for updating of handicaps. While there were biweekly revision dates during the season, the WGAWP's policy was not to allow handicaps to be raised during the season. So, your handicap was never higher than the one issued in June.
In 1976, when Dr. Ann Buck was President, the Executive Board took steps to legally formalize the organization. Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws were officially filed with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and signed on November 9, 1976. After 54 years, the WGAWP was official.
Since founding the WGAWP, Nettie Price was named a Life Director. She held this position in the organization until 1973 when she passed away in December. The organization honored our founder by establishing the First President's Memorial Tournament in 1975. It was first played at Fox Chapel and Oakmont. Miss Betty Abernethy presented the trophy which is kept at Fox Chapel Golf Club and the winner is presented the First President's Medallion. The tournament was by invitation and members qualified by placing well in the field of stroke play events. Getting an invitation to the First President's became the season goal for many of our members.
Membership remained strong through the decade, with 733 members in 1975 and 751 members in 1976. WGAWP golf was thriving.
In 1976 the family of Bobby Cruickshank presented a trophy in his memory to recognize the medalist in the WGAWP Championship. The trophy is kept at Chartiers Country Club. In 1976 the Championship was played at St. Clair Country Club and Sally Royston from Longue Vue was the first Bobby Cruickshank winner.
In the 1970's two member advocates for Junior Golf established the Rosemary Balsley and Helen Cuden Trophies to recognize the winners of the Junior/Member Better Ball. Rosemary Balsley chaired junior golf for many years and her trophy established in 1976 recognizes the Low Net winners. Helen Cuden, a local and national supporter for junior golf, established her trophy in 1978 to recognize the Low Gross Winners.
In 1975, Phyllis and Carol Semple were made honorary life members of the organization.
Technology arrived at the WGAWP in 1979 when walkie-talkies were used on the course to vastly improve communications. 1979 was also the first year when awards were distributed at the closing meeting.
Team competition continued to be a serious and popular. At the beginning of the decade seven divisions competed. At the time two leagues were identified, the Championship League with four divisions, and the Bush League with three divisions. In 1972, the Bush League designation was eliminated. In 1975 eight divisions participated and it remained at that level through the decade. Team competition continued to be a three-point system, with one point for front, one for back, and one for overall. In addition, winners of a division did not automatically move up a division, they only gained the right to challenge the losers of the higher division. Newspaper coverage continued to be the norm for Team matches celebrating team victories and always providing line-by-line point scores. (See news articles).
In the Championship flight, Allegheny dominated the first four seasons winning in 1970-1973, then Butler won back-to-back in 1974-1975; Westmoreland repeated in 1976-1977; followed by Pittsburgh Field Club in 1978 and Sewickley Heights in 1979.
But the exciting news for the 1970's was when two of our members attained national prominence. Carol Semple won the WGAWP Championship in 1971, 1973, and 1979 and Judy Oliver won it in 1974 and 1977. Both of these members attained national and international recognition as they played in US Women's Amateurs, US Women's Opens, PA State, Curtis Cup teams and other national and international competitions. The big headline for the decade is Carol Semple capturing the US Women's Amateur in 1973. In 1974, amid local sports icons, Pittsburgh recognized and honored Carol for her achievements in the annual Dapper Dan dinner. More details about the Carol Semple and Judy Oliver accomplishments and rivalry are included in the player of the decade.
Indeed, the seventies was the decade to celebrate sport in Pittsburgh, the Steelers, the Pirates, the Panthers, and Carol Semple (Thompson).
The seventies saw Carol Semple hit her prime and marked some of her biggest golf accomplishments. In August of 1973 Carol won the US Women's Amateur at Montclair Golf Club in New Jersey with a 1 up victory in the 36-hole final. After this major win, she followed up by winning the British Ladies Amateur in 1974 and almost repeating her US Amateur title but settled for the runner-up position. No other western PA woman golfer has accomplished these feats.
But that doesn't mean that Carol did not face some stiff competition at home. The seventies started the big rivalry between Carol Semple and Judy Johnson Oliver, who also competed nationally. Both Carol and Judy Oliver played in the US Open in 1973, made the cut and placed high in the tournament. Here is a list of their golf accomplishments in the 1970's:
Carol Semple
Judy Johnson Oliver
Carol's and Judy's accomplishments are even more impressive when you realize that they probably would have won more WGAWP tournaments but for conflicts with their national schedules. In almost any other decade, Judy Oliver's accomplishments would have earned her player of the decade, but her rival, Carol Semple outshined her with her national and international championships.
Click the link below to read more about their accomplishments and rivalry.
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