THE BABE ZAHARIAS TROPHY
This is a new era for the Babe Zaharias Competition for the Rose Bowl and Ultraplast Cup with East Lothian Ladies’ County Golf Association taking guardianship of the trophies in 2016. Gullane Ladies’ GC kindly offering to host the event in 2016 and in 2017 which is the 70th anniversary of The Babe winning the British Ladies at Gullane Golf Club.
This tournament is held to perpetuate her memory. Babe Zaharias was an exceptional and multi- talented US athlete and golfer, winning amongst so many other medals and titles, the British Ladies’ Amateur title at Gullane in 1947. She then turned professional and went on to win every major Ladies professional title before she died of cancer in 1956 aged just 45 years.
The fascinating story of her life can be found by following this link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babe_Didrikson_Zaharias
Her husband, George, donated a silver plated bowl inscribed “Serbin Open – Miami 1955” to be competed for by “Lady Golfers in Scotland”. Torphin Hill GC hosted this prestigious championship for many years. The tournament however was played for over different courses in different parts of the country before returning to Torphin Hill GC until Whitekirk took up the mantle, raising many thousands of pounds for cancer charities most recently Macmillan Cancer Support.
The decision to restore the competition to a single round of stroke play with scratch and handicap prizes so far seems to have paid off.
The competition has been over subscribed on its two visits to Gullane in 2016 and 2017 with Ladies coming from all over Scotland and a few from further afield.
In 2018 Lufness hosted the event and in 2019 it was held at Musselburgh Golf Course. Despite Coronavirus the competition was held in 2020 at Muirfield and in 2021 at Longniddry. In 2022 it will be held at North Berwick Golf Club.
Over the first two years a total of £7,120 was raised for the nominated Cancer Charity which was Macmillan Cancer Support. The prizes in 2017 were covered by sponsorship from Lindsays (solicitors)
