Alexa Stirling

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

M A R T H A K I R O U A C JANUARY 14, 2022

Dear Members of the World Golf Hall of Fame Selection Committee,

I am pleased to support the Atlanta Athletic Club’s proposal that Alexa Stirling Fraser be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Although I cannot claim to be a golf historian, having been a member of the Atlanta Athletic Club for almost 40 years has given me reason to learn more about this accomplished golfer who is so honored by my club. Competitive record is surely important in measuring the qualifications of a candidate for membership in the World Golf Hall of Fame. Alexa Stirling, a three-time U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion, was arguably the finest woman golfer of her time. Her reign as U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion spanned five years during the War Years – her first win was in 1916. The Championship was not played the following two years, but Alexa was still at the height of her game when the Championship resumed, winning the Championship again in 1919 and 1920. She remained very competitive, finishing as runner-up in the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1921, 1923 and 1925. She also won the Canadian Women’s Championship in 1920 and again in 1934. Her record in multiple national championships provides evidence of her outstanding competitive skills. Alexa Stirling was born in Atlanta, Georgia, where she grew up with a youngster who would become recognized as the world’s greatest amateur golfer. Bob Jones was a few years younger than Alexa, but they played golf together frequently. Over the years, the friendship included a great respect for each other. As young men left to fight the War, Bob Jones, Alexa Stirling and two more young golf stars joined together to use their skills to support the war effort. They became known as the Dixie Whiz Kids. These young players barnstormed the country, playing golf exhibition matches at different clubs for the purpose of raising funds for the Red Cross. People traveled to see these players, exposing the game to the next generation of rising stars. I have a personal connection to a result of one of those exhibition matches. On the day the Whiz Kids played at Wannamoisett Club in Rhode Island, there was a young girl in the gallery who was inspired by what she saw, watching Alexa Stirling play. That player became one of the amazing players who influenced my development as a player. Glenna Collett, age 14, was in that crowd, and later listed that experience as the encouragement she needed at a time when her game was just beginning to develop. Much later, when Glenna Collett Vare had retired from playing and was living in Pt. Judith, RI, I had the opportunity to play in a women’s fourball invitational at her club there. My partner was Glenna’s long-time friend and we were invited to stay at the Vare home. Over the several years that we played in that invitational, I developed a wonderful friendship with Mrs. Vare, and the experiences shared will never be forgotten. Seeing Alexa Stirling and the other Whiz Kids that day at Wannamoisett helped launch Glenna Collett’s amazing career, and in some way, helped to inspire multiple generations of women golfers.

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