Alexa Stirling

I V | A L E X A S T I R L I NG

British golf writer Pat Ward-Thomas met Alexa Stirling Fraser in 1976 when he was reporting from the U.S. Open at the course of the Atlanta Athletic Club. She cut the ribbon at the opening of the Bob Jones room in the clubhouse: ‘Meeting her was an unexpected delight. That morning in Atlanta it was easy to understand what an uncommonly appealing golfer Alexa must have been. A spry, charming little person, her lively talk belied her years. Her husband is dead, but she has seven grandchildren, all boys, and her spirit is ageless.’ Despite her national championships, few American golfers have heard of her.5 She was a child of the nineteenth century, and her last major win in 1934 is ancient history to most young golfers. There was an Alexa Stirling clothing line for a time, but it has not continued. No sets of golf clubs or golf courses are named for her. When the Georgetown University Women’s golf team visited East Lake in 2016, one of the players introduced herself as Alexa but had never heard of the champion. She was impressed that the other Alexa had learned to play at East Lake with Bobby Jones and won national championships here and in Canada. She was told how to spell her last name and said she would look her up. After the short visit at the water cooler by the fifth tee, she left to hit her drive; but after a few steps, she turned her head and smiled over her shoulder, still walking: I’ve got it — last name not spelled like the silver.

Source: East Lake: Where Bobby Learned to Play, Chapter 2 By Linton C. Hopkins

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