WPGA Timeline - Womens Golf History

🗓️ WPGA Global Timeline & Milestones

From its birth in 1944, the WPGA movement has embodied innovation, professionalism, and community in women’s golf.

The original WPGA in the U.S. laid the foundation for the LPGA.
The WPGA (UK) created pathways for women professionals in Europe.
The WPGA Tour of Australasia connects the southern hemisphere.
And the Women’s PGA Cup, launched in 2019, finally united them — bringing together national PGAs from around the world in a shared celebration of skill, leadership, and belonging.

Together, these milestones mark the continuing global legacy of the WPGA, linking past pioneers to today’s professionals and tomorrow’s mentors.

Timeline & Milestones

Year	Organisation / Event	Region	Milestone / Significance
1944	Women’s Professional Golf Association (WPGA)	USA	The first-ever organisation for professional women golfers is chartered. Founded by Ellen Griffin, Betty Hicks, and Hope Seignious, it pioneers women’s professional golf.
1946	U.S. Women’s Open (first event)	USA	The WPGA organises the inaugural U.S. Women’s Open — a landmark in women’s professional competition.
1949	WPGA (USA) folds	USA	The WPGA ceases operations due to financial challenges, but its legacy leads directly to the creation of the LPGA.
1950	Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) founded	USA	Thirteen founding members, many with WPGA links, establish the LPGA — ensuring the continuation of women’s professional golf.
1972	Australian Ladies Professional Golf Association (ALPG) formed	Australia	The women’s professional tour is founded in Australasia, later rebranded as the WPGA Tour of Australasia.
1978	Women’s Professional Golfers’ Association (WPGA) established	UK & Europe	Created as a division of The PGA of Great Britain & Ireland, representing women PGA professionals.
1979	WPGA European Tour begins	Europe	The inaugural WPGA Tour (Europe) season launches — the foundation of what becomes the Ladies European Tour (LET).
1980s–1990s	WPGA Championships of Europe & International Challenge events	UK / Europe	Showcase tournaments for WPGA professionals, strengthening the European women’s professional scene.
2021	ALPG rebrands as WPGA Tour of Australasia	Australia / New Zealand	The WPGA name is revived, linking Australasia with the global network of women PGA professionals.
2019	Inaugural Women’s PGA Cup	Austin, Texas (USA)	First international team event for women PGA professionals. Teams: USA, GB&I (WPGA), Canada, Australia, Sweden. USA wins.
2022	2nd Women’s PGA Cup	New Mexico (USA)	USA retains title; growing recognition of the women PGA professional community worldwide.
2025	3rd Women’s PGA Cup (scheduled)	Whispering Pines GC, Texas	Anticipated expansion with more countries joining, marking the event’s growing prestige.