75 Years of Swing, Sisterhood, and Staying Power: The Story of the Elgin Golferettes
On any given Tuesday night in the Elgin area, you’ll find a group of women carrying on a tradition that began 75 years ago—one built not just on golf, but on friendship, independence, resilience, and joy.
The Elgin Golferettes, believed to be the oldest all-women’s golf league in the area, are celebrating their 75th anniversary this season. What began in 1951 as a small after-work recreation league for employees of the Elgin National Watch Company has evolved into one of the city’s most enduring traditions in women’s sports.
A Heritage of Independence
The Elgin Sports Hall of Fame is proud to highlight this story, as it represents a vital chapter in our local sporting history. When longtime member Sue McIntyre—who spearheaded the gathering of these histories—reflects on the founders, one word comes to mind:
Freedom.
“These women survived the hardships of the Depression and the war years of the 1920’s, 1930s, and 1940s. By the 50s, many were finally experiencing a new sense of personal and financial independence. They were earning their own money and looking for an outlet beyond responsibilities at home and work. The Golferettes gave them that outlet- a chance for friendship, competition, exercise, and fun!”- Sue McIntyre
The original members were looking for something simple but, for its time, progressive: recreation and camaraderie after a long shift at the watch factory.
“I think that they were very independent women, back in a time when women’s independence was not a priority.” — Jeanne McCoy
At the time, taking up golf was a brave act. Member Betty Clark, who once helped start the University of Illinois women’s golf team, notes that it was “brave that women wanted to learn what was considered a man’s sport at the time”. Originally known as the “Whackers,” these women modeled themselves after the factory’s men’s leagues, proving they could hold their own on the fairway.
The Moment of Connection
While the “Whackers” started with a game, they built a culture. Susan Walsh recalls the exact moment she realized the Golferettes were different. She had been resistant to joining a league until she saw them at Randall Oaks.
“I saw them greet each other… with joyful greetings, hugs, and laughter. They were clearly glad to see each other! I was happy to see a group of ladies… that seemed down to earth, happy to golf, and fun to be around.” — Susan Walsh
This “living history” is what the ESHOF seeks to preserve—the way sports create a “community” that surfaces when someone is sick or “down”. As Walsh puts it, “We always find a way to reach out with support so our friend knows we care”.
Built to Last: The Secret to 75 Years
When the Elgin National Watch Company shuttered in the 1960s, the league refused to fold. McIntyre attributes this longevity to the founders’ foresight in creating “organizational standards”. When she joined nearly 36 years ago, she was impressed by the structure: opponent schedules, elected officers, and established rules of play.
The league has also mastered the art of evolution. Betty Clark notes the physical changes: moving from pull carts to electric ones, and watching fashion shift from “long skirts and shorts to shorter hems”. Jen Trenda remembers the “fun stories” and the “fancy drinks” the earlier ladies shared after a round. Even the logistics have modernized, with Jeanne McCoy highlighting the transition to assigned tee times and sub-coordinators as a welcome change from the “mildly chaotic” first-come-first-serve days.
Legends on the Links
The Golferettes’ history is intertwined with remarkable athletes like the late Wilda “Willy” Turner. Turner was an All-American pitcher who played for the Cleveland Bloomer Girls baseball team. Alice Kolski Lundgren, a stand-out catcher in the National Girls Baseball League, where she started for the Chicago Queens in the 40’s and 50’s. Their presence in the league connected the Golferettes to the broader national story of women in sports, a legacy the ESHOF is honored to document.
A Legacy That Keeps Showing Up
The Golferettes remain a “stable, friendly, and consistent activity” in an ever-changing world. While the league has seen a decline in younger members over the years, the spirit of those who remain is unwavering.
“The ladies of the past would probably tell us to have more fun and not take our scores so seriously. Stay after the round and tell stories.” — Jen Trenda
As the Elgin Golferettes celebrate 75 years, they stand as a reminder that women’s recreation spaces have always been vital hubs of community. They represent the very mission of the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame: to recognize the perseverance, talent, and heart of those who play the game.
“My golf league was started by the women of the Elgin Watch Factory. They felt they deserved to have a league just like the men. A foundation was laid 75 years ago and I’m proud to carry on that tradition today!”-Joanna Ralph, League President
Through every decade, one thing has remained true: the women keep showing up. On Tuesday nights in the Elgin area, they are still swinging, still laughing, and still carrying forward the freedom found on the fairway 75 years ago.