73 years playing golf and still going strong!
Yes, B Bower has been playing golf since she was 12 years old, winning her first tournament at age 13 and her most recent one, now, at age 86.
Born in Kentucky, B’s first win was a 1935 Statewide Tournament in Louisville, “The Pictorial Review,” where she had a 30 handicap and shot a 99, breaking a 100 for the first time. “My picture was on the front page of the sports section of the Louisville Courier Journal, and there I was holding the silver coffee service set that I had won, what a picture,” B smiles as she remembers the occasion.
In High School and College, B was the only woman on the Golf Teams – often times beating her teammates, which she says, they handled well. However, “the competition was not as forgiving,” states B.
After College, B then enjoyed playing with her husband on the weekends and in various Country Club and State tournaments – winning 5 different State Tournaments of Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and South Carolina. The pinnacle of all her winnings, B says, was in 1975, at age 52, when she won the USGA Senior Women’s Championship in Providence Rhode Island.
- B Bower in 1975 at the USGA Senior Women’s Championship
From the USGA archives, “Mrs. Alberta Bower, of Pelham, N.Y. improved her score in every round and won the 14th United States Senior Women’s Championship a day before her 53rd birthday. Mrs. Bower opened with 82, shot 79 in the second round, and finished with 73, for a 54-hole score of 234. The Championship was played at the Rhode Island C. C., West Barrington, R.I.”
Now, at age 86, B is still winning and beating women more than 50 years younger than herself. This past October, the women’s Handicap Tournament was held at the Country Club of Charleston and B shot a 70, 74, and 73 winning the tournament.
Asked how she felt about beating women who were so much younger, B responded, “It was great winning, but I was a bit surprised, as I have not been able to play 2 days in a row, let alone 3 days in a row for some time. I credit the water aerobics program at Bishop Gadsden for giving me the endurance and strength to play, plus the back pain I’ve had for years has completely disappeared.”
- B Bower Accepting the Trophy for Winning the 2008 WGA Handicap Tournament at the Country Club of Charleston.
What makes B’s story even more interesting is up until recently, B had been playing with men’s clubs. After being convinced by some of her fellow golfers that technology had changed and she needed to experience it, B purchased her first set of women’s clubs. Asked how she likes them B says, “So far I have not seen a change and actually I think I play better with the men’s clubs. But, I’ll see if I can get used to them, if not, I’ll go back to the old ones.”
As a novice golfer myself, I think I would say, don’t mess with what works. It is clear that B has a formula for success and as she sat in my office, looking elegant and peaceful, speaking of her wonderful golfing career, I could not help but think, this is an exceptional woman. Because of golf, B has met many wonderful and interesting people and enjoyed some of nature’s most beautiful settings, I say to that – what an extraordinary life!
A Bit More About B & Golf:
Favorite Course: Woodway Country Club in CT.
“Lovely Course, not too long, but quite interesting.”
The Hardest Course: The Cascades at The Homestead in VA.
Most Important Club: “My putter – I may not be long of the tee,
but I’m accurate.”
Handicap Now: 19/20
How Often Does She Play: About 3 days a week, when it is at least 60 Degrees.
Advice for the Novice: “Take lessons from a pro and have fun.”
Favorite Thing About Golf: “It is ever changing.”
Posted by –
Kimberly M. Farfone, Director of Development & Public Relations
