Womens British Amateur Championship

🌿 The Women’s British Amateur Championship

A Story of Heritage, Excellence, and Belonging

From the windswept links of St Andrews to the parkland beauty of Royal County Down, the Women’s British Amateur Championship has stood for more than a century as one of the crown jewels of women’s golf.

First played in 1893, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious women’s golf championships in the world — a tournament that helped shape not only the careers of its champions, but the very identity of women’s competitive golf.

Origins and Early Years (1893–1914)

The championship was born out of the Ladies’ Golf Union (LGU)’s founding purpose — to give women a national stage to showcase skill, camaraderie, and fair play.
The first event, held at Royal Lytham & St Annes, saw Lady Margaret Scott emerge as the inaugural champion, setting a tone of elegance and competitive spirit that defined the era.

Through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the championship grew rapidly, moving between Britain’s great courses — St Andrews, Royal Portrush, Deal, and Formby — and drawing players from across the British Isles and beyond. It was more than a competition; it was a meeting place for women who believed in their right to belong in the sporting world.

Between Wars and Renewed Strength (1919–1945)

After the Great War, women golfers returned with determination and unity. The championship became a symbol of resilience, producing legends like Joyce Wethered, whose grace and mastery inspired both male and female players alike.
Even through the challenges of World War II, the spirit of the championship endured — a quiet but powerful reminder that community and competition could outlast any hardship.

Postwar Pioneers and International Growth (1946–1990s)

The decades after 1945 brought international recognition and a widening field of competitors. Stars like Philomena Garvey, Bridget Jackson, Catherine Lacoste, and Belle Robertson carried the flag for Europe, while players from the U.S., Australia, and Japan began to see the Women’s British Amateur as a must-win event.

The championship also became a stepping stone to greater stages — many of its champions went on to Solheim Cup teams, professional tours, and leadership roles in golf administration.

A Modern Classic (2000s–Present)

Today, under the stewardship of The R&A, the Women’s Amateur Championship (as it is now known) continues to blend tradition with opportunity. Its format remains match play — a pure test of skill, courage, and sportsmanship.
Recent champions like Georgia Hall, Leona Maguire, and Louise Duncan have carried forward the proud legacy, inspiring new generations of young women golfers around the world.

In 2019, the R&A unified the Women’s and Men’s Amateur Championships under one banner of equality and excellence — a fitting tribute to the spirit envisioned by the women of the LGU over 130 years ago.

Impact and Legacy

The Women’s British Amateur is more than a championship — it’s a living chronicle of women’s sporting progress.
It has nurtured icons, fostered belonging, and celebrated the idea that women’s golf is both art and courage combined.

Every swing on its storied fairways carries the echo of those who came before — Lady Margaret Scott, Joyce Wethered, Enid Wilson, Belle Robertson — and those yet to come.

💫 “A Championship of Heart”

The Women’s British Amateur has never been only about trophies.
It’s about friendship, resilience, and respect — values that have shaped women’s golf for generations.
Each player who walks its fairways joins a legacy of belonging — a family that continues to define what it means to play with purpose.

🕰️ Timeline: The Women’s British Amateur Championship Through the Years

1890s – The Beginning of a Movement

1893: The inaugural Women’s British Amateur Championship is held at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Lady Margaret Scott wins the title, becoming the first women’s national champion in the world.
1894–1899: The championship quickly becomes the centrepiece of the Ladies’ Golf Union (LGU) calendar, rotating among classic seaside links. The early champions — Lady Margaret Scott (three-time winner), Lena Thomson, May Hezlet — establish a culture of skill and grace.

1900s–1910s – Growth and Recognition

1900: The championship attracts its first international entries.
1909: The legendary May Hezlet secures her third title, solidifying her place among the greats.
1914: The outbreak of World War I halts competition, but the foundations of women’s golf remain strong.

1920s–1930s – The Age of Wethered and Wilson

1920: The championship resumes with renewed enthusiasm.
1922–1929: Joyce Wethered dominates, winning four titles with a rhythm and composure that mesmerized galleries.
1930s: Enid Wilson carries the torch, winning three consecutive championships (1931–1933).
These decades define the “golden age” of amateur women’s golf in Britain.

1940s–1950s – Recovery and Renewal

1946: Post-war golf resumes; the championship returns to Royal Lytham, symbolizing national recovery.
1950s: New stars like Philomena Garvey and Bridget Jackson bring Irish and English pride to the fairways.
The championship becomes a symbol of unity and optimism in a changing postwar world.

1960s–1970s – Expansion and European Brilliance

1960s: Continental players begin to make their mark — Catherine Lacoste of France becomes a trailblazer, later winning the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Women’s Open.
1969: Belle Robertson wins at Royal County Down, beginning a new era of Scottish excellence.
1970s: The event continues to inspire and connect players across nations, shaping future leaders and Solheim Cup pioneers.

1980s–1990s – A Global Stage

1980s: The championship attracts top amateurs from the United States, Australia, and Asia.
1990: Julie Hall and Catriona Lambert (Matthew) represent a new generation of talent who will later define professional and team golf.
1999: Mhairi McKay captures the title, symbolizing a bridge between the traditional amateur spirit and the emerging professional age.

2000s – A New Century of Champions

2004: The championship celebrates its 110th anniversary, returning to Formby, one of its early homes.
2009: Azahara Muñoz of Spain wins, marking the growing European influence that will power future Solheim Cups.

2010s – Modern Icons and Renewed Purpose

2013: Georgia Hall triumphs at Machynys Peninsula, later becoming a major winner on the professional stage.
2015: The R&A and LGU begin closer collaboration, aligning the championship’s administration.
2017: The R&A assumes full responsibility for the championship following the LGU merger, ensuring its legacy continues within a global structure.

2020s – Equality, Legacy, and Belonging

2021: Louise Duncan captures the title at Kilmarnock (Barassie), thrilling home crowds and inspiring a new generation of young women golfers.
2023: The championship celebrates 130 years of competition — a living testament to women’s perseverance, community, and passion for the game.
Today: The Women’s Amateur Championship, as it is now known, continues to honour its roots while looking forward — blending history, excellence, and belonging.

🌸 Closing Reflections

For over 130 years, the Women’s British Amateur Championship has been more than a contest — it has been a community.
It has nurtured friendships that span generations and nations, built confidence in women who dared to dream, and upheld the belief that excellence and empathy can coexist on the same fairways.

Every swing, every handshake, every champion — from Lady Margaret Scott to Louise Duncan — adds another thread to a tapestry woven with grace, courage, and belonging.

The story of the Women’s British Amateur is not just history. It is heritage — living, breathing, and continuing to inspire those who believe in the power of women’s sport.