Alexa Stirling

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

When considering any candidate for such singular honors, the esteem held by other organizations might be worthy of taking note. In this instance, Alexa was previously inducted over 30 years ago into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame (1978), the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame (1986) and the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame (1989). When placing Alexa Stirling’s golfing career in proper historical context, one may wish to consider views beyond those advanced by today’s contemporary historians and instead take stock of the opinions of those who personally knew Alexa, played golf with and against her in competition, and studied and wrote about her exploits in real time. That special group of folks might properly include: Stewart Maiden (golf teacher), Bob Jones (her protégé), Glenna Collett (opponent and 6-time Amateur Champion), O.B. Keeler (legendary golf writer), H.B. Dickie Martin (legendary golf writer). Here is some of what they had to say about the candidate: O.B. KEELER “I was back in Atlanta before Bobby Jones was heard of, outside of the East Lake course, when Perry Adair and Alexa Stirling were just coming into recognition as kid wonders...I saw Alexa play in eight national championships.....I was attending the women’s amateur national championship at Belmont Springs, where Miss Alexa Stirling won the title for the first time.....Later Miss Stirling won the women’s championship for the third consecutive time, at Cleveland, with the finest golf I ever saw a woman display. I think that at Mayfield she reached close to the limits of feminine golfing ability in her match with Mrs. Vanderbeck, when she set a new course record with an 80 from the regular tees.... The heart of all Atlanta, the heart of all the South beats with unbounded admiration for this gifted and charming girl, and offers her a world of homage...Not one man in a hundred can drive a ball as far. Her tee shots average over two hundred yards; her irons are played accurate and with fine distance, her approaching when she is at the top of her game is at most faultless; and her putting seldom fails.... Miss Stirling has in the highest degree the two qualities that go to make a champion--skill plus courage. In each of the three national tournaments in which she has been the victor, she has played better and better as the tournament went on...In addition to being supreme in golf, Miss Stirling is a talented violinist, is active in patriotic and philanthropic work, is highly cultured and socially charming... Atlanta and the South congratulates her on her sports achievements. Hers is indeed a record of which all America is proud and which will be undimmed in the annals of splendid sportsmanship.” H.B. DICKIE MARTIN “Before Bobby Jones had brought any particular fame to Atlanta the honor of this enthusiastic southern city on the links was entrusted to Alexa Stirling who handled the situation quite satisfactorily. Little Miss Stirling won her first championship in 1916 when she was quite a youngster, and then she reigned supreme in women’s golf for five years. ...Miss Stirling was runner-up in ‘21 and again in ‘23. Having moved to New York in ‘22 Miss Stirling started right out to prove her supremacy in that district and took the Metropolitan titles in ‘22 and ‘23. She won the Canadian title in ‘21 so it will be seen that for eight straight years she was not without an important championship to her credit.” GLENNA COLLETT VARE “Alexa’s form has been the model for countless women golfers whom she inspired to better games. I succumbed to her influence the first time I saw her play...During the year 1917 Alexa toured the country in a series of exhibition matches for the Red Cross. This quartet of youngsters played over my home course and I recall the excitement that prevailed at the club over their splendid golf.... Miss Stirling had just won the national woman’s championship and was reputed to be the greatest woman player in the land.... I watched every move of Alexa Stirling. The first thing about Alexa that attracted my admiration was her wonderful poise, especially under fire. She was never flustered, never hurried. I believed that she possessed the perfect temperament for a golfer.... In many respects the National of 1925 marked the highest peak of woman’s golf achievement in this country....

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