Philomena Garvey
Encyclopedia
Philomena Garvey was an Irish
amateur golfer, the daughter of James and Kathleen Garvey (née Owens). She was born in the village of Baltray
, which is on the north shore of the Boyne estuary approximately four miles from the historic town of Drogheda
.
On the 27 June 1957 she won the British Ladies Amateur at Gleneagles and was finalist on four other occasions; 1946 (Hunstanton),1953 (Royal Portcawl), 1960 (Harlech) and 1963 (Royal County Down). She won the Worplesdon mixed foursomes in 1955 partnered with Philip Scrutton at her first and only attempt.
Garvey was selected seven times for Great Britain and Ireland to compete for the biennial Curtis Cup
team event between 1948 and 1960 during which she was on the winning side on two occasions, in 1952 and 1956. In 1958 she withdrew from the event in protest against the Union Jack, the national flag of the United Kingdom, being the sole emblem on the team sweaters. The emblem was thereafter changed for the 1960 event. In 1951, Garvey was selected as part of a six-person European team to compete for the Weathervane international trophy against a U.S. professional side at Sunningdale during which Babe Zaharias
narrowly defeated her.
Garvey's final victory in her national championship came at Royal Portrush in 1970 after which she announced her retirement from international golf. She lived in Termonfeckin
, working in Dublin for most of her life. She died on the 5 May 2009 due to old age.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
amateur golfer, the daughter of James and Kathleen Garvey (née Owens). She was born in the village of Baltray
Baltray
Baltray is a village and townland in County Louth, Ireland. It sits on the northern shore of the River Boyne estuary....
, which is on the north shore of the Boyne estuary approximately four miles from the historic town of Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
.
Career
In 1946, at age 20, Philomena Garvey won the first of fifteen Irish Ladies Amateur Golf Championships. She represented Ireland at the Home Internationals, eighteen times, every year from 1947 until 1969, except 1955 when she withdrew through injury and from 1964 to 1967 when as a professional she was ineligible to play. In 1964 she became Ireland's first female professional golfer but eventually had her amateur status re-instated in 1968.On the 27 June 1957 she won the British Ladies Amateur at Gleneagles and was finalist on four other occasions; 1946 (Hunstanton),1953 (Royal Portcawl), 1960 (Harlech) and 1963 (Royal County Down). She won the Worplesdon mixed foursomes in 1955 partnered with Philip Scrutton at her first and only attempt.
Garvey was selected seven times for Great Britain and Ireland to compete for the biennial Curtis Cup
Curtis Cup
The Curtis Cup is the best known team trophy for women amateur golfers, awarded in the biennial Curtis Cup Match . It is co-organised by the United States Golf Association and the Ladies Golf Union and is contested by teams representing the United States and "Great Britain and Ireland"...
team event between 1948 and 1960 during which she was on the winning side on two occasions, in 1952 and 1956. In 1958 she withdrew from the event in protest against the Union Jack, the national flag of the United Kingdom, being the sole emblem on the team sweaters. The emblem was thereafter changed for the 1960 event. In 1951, Garvey was selected as part of a six-person European team to compete for the Weathervane international trophy against a U.S. professional side at Sunningdale during which Babe Zaharias
Babe Zaharias
Mildred Ella "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias was an American athlete who achieved outstanding success in golf, basketball, and track and field...
narrowly defeated her.
Garvey's final victory in her national championship came at Royal Portrush in 1970 after which she announced her retirement from international golf. She lived in Termonfeckin
Termonfeckin
Termonfeckin or Termonfechin is a small village and townland in County Louth, Ireland. It is within the parish of the same name, and lies north-east of Drogheda. The population of the village was 653 as per census 2006.-History:...
, working in Dublin for most of her life. She died on the 5 May 2009 due to old age.