Committee History

In 1922, Mrs. Charles Uebelacker, a doyenne of women’s golf who had just completed a three-year term as president of the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association (WMGA), formed the Women’s New Jersey Golf Association (WNJGA) to “..stimulate fellowship, sportsmanship and lasting friendship.” And, from 1923 through 1965 (aided by the Garden State Women’s Golf Association (GSWGA) after it was formed in 1953), the WNJGA administered the state amateur championship for women. During that period, only women affiliated with private clubs were eligible for the championship.

Although the New Jersey State Golf Association (NJSGA), which is generally associated with the men’s game, took the reins of the Amateur in 1966, it was a brief ride. By 1968 it had become convinced that women best ran women’s championships. So in 1969, Mrs. Arthur Denney, then-president of the GSWGA and Mrs. Edward D. Keller, then-president of the WNJGA, agreed to a suggestion by NJSGA chairman Robert Miller to transfer responsibility for the championship to a women’s committee, separate from the NJSGA. Steve Foehl, Executive Director of the NJSGA, is unaware of the reasoning behind that move. He does, however, think it was a correct decision and asserted to me in 1999, “Ultimately, championships for women are probably better off run by women.”

With Mrs. Denney as the first Chairman and with a stipend from each of the women’s associations, the New Jersey State Women’s Golf Committee was inaugurated and conducted truly “open” championships for the first time. The seven-member, all volunteer Committee operates independently of the NJSGA as well as the other women’s associations---the WMGA, WNJGA and GSWGA---although those three women’s associations are involved in selecting Committee members. Wholly funded by tournament entry fees, the Committee operates within a stringent budget and without benefit of paid staff.

Steve Foehl credits the Committee with running excellent championships. While acknowledging that the NJSGA can provide some measure of support, for example, posting tournament and entry information on its website (www.njsga.com) and sharing its mailing list, he told me in 1999 that he foresees no scenario in which the Committee would be absorbed by the NJSGA. “There are plenty of competent women involved in women’s golf in the State---experts on both the Rules of Golf and administration. Many of those women have an involvement with the USGA and with tournament administration at the national level,” he continued, citing Ann Beard, Ann Probert, Dot Paluck and Brigid Lamb.

 Jean Gascoigne, the Committee Chairman from 1998-2000, agrees with Foehl that the two organizations can benefit from collaboration. She has been in the vanguard of efforts to engage more public course players in the championships. It was her attempt to identify and reach out to those players that led to the Committee’s use of the NJSGA’s up-to-date and extensive mailing list. Mrs. Gascoigne was recently appointed to the NJSGA Advisory Board and she admits to “looking forward greatly” to participating in their discussions.

The first New Jersey State Women’s Amateur Champion was crowned in 1923 at Essex County Country Club. The reign of Mrs. Thomas Hucknall, however, was short-lived. The following year, Maureen Orcutt, the 17 year-old prodigy from Haworth, captured the first of her eventual six championships. Her wins, spanning an incredible 43 years (’24,’25, ’33,’42,’54,’67), punctuated the history of women’s golf in New Jersey.

Other well-known players claiming the State title were Charlotte Glutting (’31, ’32,’34,’35), Helen Hockenjos (’36,’39,’48,’52), the redoubtable Sophie Untermeyer (’38), Marge Mason (’49,’51,’53,’58,’62) and the incomparable Carolyn Cassidy Cudone (’55,’56,’59,’60,’63,’65).

More recently, multiple winners have included Cindy Ferro (’72,’75,’76), Laura D’Alessandro (’84, ’89), Karen Noble (’87,’88,’90),  with an unprecedented four consecutive wins, Sherry Herman (’95, ’96,’97,’98) and Kelly Cramp (2003,2005).

The Mason and Cudone era was, in many ways, the pinnacle of women’s golf in the state. Incredible media attention was paid to the feats of those great players who competed nationally and internationally, as well as in metropolitan-area events. Today, as the game has become more democratic and the number of outstanding female players has burgeoned, it has become noticeably more difficult to garner coverage for the championships and, as a consequence, to draw in players who may be new to competition.

In an effort to stimulate younger players’ interest in competition, a junior girls’ championship was added in 1969. The 18-hole stroke play event has produced a stellar list of winners---Cindy Ferro (’71), Janet Aulisi (’72,’73), Kendra Beard (’80), Laura D’Alessandro (’83, ’84, ’85) and Diana D’Alessio (’91). Indeed, three of those champions--- Ferro, D’Alessandro and D’Alessio---went on to win the Amateur title as well, underscoring the wisdom of instituting that championship.

A 9-hole division, which has proved to be another wonderful training ground, was added in 1988. Rita Aurora won that division in 1990, became the Junior champion in 1992, and, in 1999, was a semi-finalist in the Women’s Amateur.  

In 1970 a 36-hole stroke play Senior Women’s Championship for players over fifty years of age was established. Mrs. James Whelan was the inaugural winner. Other notable champions have included Mrs. Henry Cross (’71, ’77), Evie Pyne (’80), Betty Halloran (’80, ’85, ’87), Ann Beard (’88), and the ever-impressive Ann Probert (’89, ’91, ’95,’96,’98).

In 2005 the committee instituted a change to the junior girls championship in response to the increasing skill level observed among junior players. The 36-hole format was contested over two days at the impressive Roxiticus Country Club. 13-year-old Sarah Brown of Stewartsville successfully defended her title by shooting rounds of 77 and 76. The nine-hole format was dropped.

The primary requirement for entry into one of the State championships is proof of residency in New Jersey, which is defined as residing the majority of the previous handicap season in the State. For the Amateur and Senior Amateur, a USGA Handicap Index of 14.0 and 19.4 or less, respectively, is required. While a senior player must be over fifty, there is no age limit for the Amateur as long as the handicap requirement is met. There is no handicap requirement for the junior girls’ championship, although a player must not have reached her eighteenth birthday on the day of play.