COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Judy Bell, whose love of golf led her to become the first female president of the USGA, died Monday at her home in Colorado after 15 months in hospice care, the USGA said. She is 89 years old.
At 15, Bell took a train from her native Kansas to California to compete in the U.S. Girls Junior Championship. She lost to the great Mitch Wright in the semi-finals, her highest achievement. But she played on two Curtis Cup teams and was the U.S. captain on two Curtis Cup teams.
Her career was marked by volunteering on the USGA Committee, becoming a Rules Official and working to become the first female member of the Executive Committee. She was elected president in 1996.
“Judy Bell was more than a leader, she was a force of nature whose vision and compassion shaped the soul of the game,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “Judy has helped open doors for countless young girls to find their place, confidence and joy in golf. She breaks barriers not for recognition, but to make the game better and more popular for everyone.
“All of us at the USGA mourn her passing and celebrate the extraordinary life of a woman whose impact will continue to impact generations.”
Bell was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001 and in 2015 the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews voted to allow female membership, and she was one of the first women to receive honorary life membership of the club.
She showed wit when asked how it felt to be the first woman to serve as president of the USGA.
“I don’t know what it’s like to be president yet because I’ve only been president for a few hours, but I know what it’s like to be a woman because I’ve been president for 59 years,” she responded.
During Bell’s two years as president, the USGA developed a grant program that has now contributed more than $65 million to golf programs for youth, disabled players and other diverse groups.
“I am passionate about the game of golf and it has given me so much pure joy and fun that I have always wanted to give something back to it,” Bell once said of devoting so much time to the USGA. “Without a doubt, that’s the real purpose of my volunteer work.”
