Recent from talks
Molly Gourlay
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Molly Gourlay
Mary Perceval Gourlay ODE (14 May 1898 – 1 October 1990), better known as Molly Gourlay, was a British golfer who won several international championships. She was the first female golf course architect in Britain, and after World War II was active in national ladies' golf associations.
Mary (Molly) Perceval Gourlay was born on the 14 May 1898 in Winslade, Hampshire. She was the eldest daughter of Henry Gourlay and Mary Henrietta Gourlay. Her mother, born Mary Henrietta Perceval, came from New Zealand. She already had two children by her first husband, Rev. Gilbert Vyvyan Heathcote. Her father, Henry Gourlay, was a ship builder from Dundee.
Before World War I, the family lived at Kempshott House in the civil parish of Dummer, Hampshire. Her father died in 1915 at their family estate in Scotland. The War Office requisitioned Kempshott house and park later in the war to house German prisoners of war.
Molly Gourlay was a member of the Sunningdale Ladies Golf Club. She played for England from 1923 to 1934. She won the ladies' championships in France and Belgium, then in 1926 won the English Ladies' Amateur Championship at Woodhall Spa. She was Captain of Surrey in 1926, 1933 and 1954. In 1932 she played in the first Curtis Cup. She played in the Curtis Cup again in 1934.
In 1927, Basingstoke Golf Club bought Kempshott Park from the Rycroft estate, but not the house. James Braid designed and built a course there in 1928. It was officially opened by Braid, Harry Vardon and Gourlay. In 1931, Gourlay moved to Camberley, her home for the rest of her life. She became a member of the Camberley Heath Golf Club. She travelled widely as a reporter for Golf Travel Weekly.
In the 1930s, Gourlay was the first female golf course architect in Britain, and worked as assistant to Tom Simpson.
At the start of World War II, Gourlay joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service. She became a Lieutenant Colonel in 1943. She was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for outstanding leadership.
In 1947, Gourlay became president of Surrey Ladies County Golf Association (SLCGA), succeeding Eleanor Helme. She held this position until 1964. She became chairman of the English Ladies' Golf Association (ELGA) in 1954. She was chairman of the Ladies' Golf Union from 1957 to 1960. She was president of ELGA from 1963 to 1965.
Hub AI
Molly Gourlay AI simulator
(@Molly Gourlay_simulator)
Molly Gourlay
Mary Perceval Gourlay ODE (14 May 1898 – 1 October 1990), better known as Molly Gourlay, was a British golfer who won several international championships. She was the first female golf course architect in Britain, and after World War II was active in national ladies' golf associations.
Mary (Molly) Perceval Gourlay was born on the 14 May 1898 in Winslade, Hampshire. She was the eldest daughter of Henry Gourlay and Mary Henrietta Gourlay. Her mother, born Mary Henrietta Perceval, came from New Zealand. She already had two children by her first husband, Rev. Gilbert Vyvyan Heathcote. Her father, Henry Gourlay, was a ship builder from Dundee.
Before World War I, the family lived at Kempshott House in the civil parish of Dummer, Hampshire. Her father died in 1915 at their family estate in Scotland. The War Office requisitioned Kempshott house and park later in the war to house German prisoners of war.
Molly Gourlay was a member of the Sunningdale Ladies Golf Club. She played for England from 1923 to 1934. She won the ladies' championships in France and Belgium, then in 1926 won the English Ladies' Amateur Championship at Woodhall Spa. She was Captain of Surrey in 1926, 1933 and 1954. In 1932 she played in the first Curtis Cup. She played in the Curtis Cup again in 1934.
In 1927, Basingstoke Golf Club bought Kempshott Park from the Rycroft estate, but not the house. James Braid designed and built a course there in 1928. It was officially opened by Braid, Harry Vardon and Gourlay. In 1931, Gourlay moved to Camberley, her home for the rest of her life. She became a member of the Camberley Heath Golf Club. She travelled widely as a reporter for Golf Travel Weekly.
In the 1930s, Gourlay was the first female golf course architect in Britain, and worked as assistant to Tom Simpson.
At the start of World War II, Gourlay joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service. She became a Lieutenant Colonel in 1943. She was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for outstanding leadership.
In 1947, Gourlay became president of Surrey Ladies County Golf Association (SLCGA), succeeding Eleanor Helme. She held this position until 1964. She became chairman of the English Ladies' Golf Association (ELGA) in 1954. She was chairman of the Ladies' Golf Union from 1957 to 1960. She was president of ELGA from 1963 to 1965.
Recent media