The Ladies Golf Union for the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland was founded in 1893, with the preliminary meeting taking place that April 19th at the Grand Hotel in St Andrews. It’s objectives were “To form a central legislative authority representing all clubs if possible, for handicapping on a universal system starting from par scratch of each particular green & to promote the interests of the game in general.” “Mr. Franklin Adams proposed that there should be an Annual Championship held by the Union. This was seconded by Miss A. Grainger [St Andrews] & carried unanimously.” Issette Pearson was made Honorary Secretary of the Union, with “gentlemen” W. Laidlaw Purves, Talbot Fair, H.S.C. Everard, and T. Gilroy made vice presidents of club.
I looked at the minute book on a trip to St Andrews in 2016 and on May 16, 1894, the following entry appears. It is not clear, but I think it’s from Issette Pearson:
“Despite the sneering allusions to the golf by women made by some correspondents…who appear to think the golf of women something entirely different to that of the other sex, the Union has kept on the even tenor of its way, and has succeeded in enlisting many well known clubs in its membership, & many of the best golfers in its ranks. Twenty clubs from all parts of the kingdom except Scotland have joined the Union.” The membership by then was nearly 2,000. “To the coming contest [now the British Ladies Amateur] I hope you will all endeavor to go either as candidates for the trophy or spectators. To those male golfers who despise the golf of the sex, I would with your permission give a special invitation, for it is my belief that they might by visiting such a contest: ‘live & learn.’”
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