Ladies History

The Hong Kong Golf Club has one of the largest ladies’ sections of any club in Hong Kong. There are currently more than 550 lady players with handicaps (the maximum is 36), of whom about 80 play competition golf regularly on Tuesdays, which is also known as the Ladies’ Day. The Fanling season for the Ladies Section runs from September to May and the Deep Water Bay Season runs through the summer months. The Ladies’ Section organises more than 80 competitions for its members, with a regular turnout of between 60 and 80 ladies.

1921

A motion to admit ladies to the Club is overwhelmingly rejected at the Annual General Meeting.

1927

A motion to charge all lady players a monthly subscription of HK$2 fails but finally passes five years later.

1933

At the Annual General Meeting, Mr Stanley Dodwell asked whether courteous representations could be made to the Ladies’ Section in regard to the wearing of shorts. After discoursing on his inability to keep his eye on the ball while playing in the presence of shorts-clad ladies, he went on to say that, “nothing but official action, tactfully, but firmly taken, will save us from the widespread and indiscriminate adoption of this disturbingly scanty, unbecoming and unladylike mode of attire”.

1946

It was decided that wives and lady relatives of members could play at Fanling on payment of the pre-war subscription by the member, and that other ladies could play with a member on payment of a green fee of HK$1.

1947

The first post-war meeting of the Club’s Ladies’ Section is held at the Helena May Institute, the first post-war Ladies’ Day at Fanling is staged, and five sterling silver trophies – the Railway Cup, Taggart Cup, Ross Cup, Championship Cup and Glover Cup, held by the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, are recovered. The latter three trophies are still played for today, while the Railway Cup and the Ross Cup have been replaced by the Nancy Ling Trophy and the Joyce Green Trophy respectively.

1956

The Ladies’ Section assumes responsibility for the running of the annual Club Ball, originally known as ‘The Golfer’s Dance.’ They continue to organize the Ball until 1987, when the Club takes over and runs it with the ladies’ assistance.