Alexa Stirling

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

which I am happy to say seems to have taken a turn for the better. Golf is, of course, very young in this country and all due credit must be given to those pioneers who were brave enough to start. It is interesting to note, however, that in a little over twenty years the number of entrants for the National Championships have increased from approximately 8 to 200 – or to such a stage that it has almost become necessary to limit the list of those eligible to players with low handicaps. The qualifying scores perhaps tell the story best. In 1914 five tied for last place at 103 and amongst them was the then Miss Elaine Rosenthal, who was runner up to Mrs. Jackson during this same tournament. In 1922 at White Sulphur Springs the highest score to qualify was 94 and the lowest 81. This shows a crop of eight strokes for last place and a substantial reduction for first place. Altogether, just from my more or less limited experience, I should say that golf for women in this country has increased 200 percent in popularity; that scores are from 5 to 8 strokes lower; and that the average additional distance for the different shots has increased from 30 to 50 yards. Whether this is due to the balls of recent years or even the clubs, the fact remains that women in this country are showing a steady and a very gratifying progress in the game of golf. In addition to her leadership, Alexa should always be remembered also for her compassion to her fellow competitors. She always lent a helping hand to even the most keen competitors. Rhonda Glenn remembered: Alexa Stirling helped Glenna correct a fault of closing her club face at the top of her swing and the tip helped her overcome a tendency to drive wildly. She was a very long hitter and at eighteen, at five feet six inches, and weighing 128 pounds, she hit a tee shot of 307 yards, at that time the longest measured drive by a woman. Author Pam Emory also noted: The night before the 1916 National Amateur final [Alexa’s] opponent was bemoaning the fact that she was having trouble with her mashie shot. At Alexa’s urgency she and Mildred went out to the practice area. The next day Mildred Caverly came within one mashie shot of victory. Alexa was truly generous – a champion and a person in a class by herself. Her nickname among her parents and sisters was “sexie or sex” for short. So it was that they attempted to send her a telegram celebrating her inaugural 1916 Women’s Amateur championship title. The telegram was never delivered because Western Union thought it was too racy to be put on the wire. But everyone in golf now has gotten the message sooner or later. The telegram read “HURRAH FOR SEX!” Today we say “HURRAH FOR ALEXA!” – “QUEEN OF EAST LAKE!” “LONG MAY HER MEMORY LIVE!”

Source : Champions of Eastlake, Chapter 5

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