Peggy Kirk Bell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Peggy Kirk Bell (born October 28, 1921) is a former American professional golfer and golf instructor and is a strong advocate of women's golf.

Raised in Findlay, Ohio, Peggy started playing golf at age 17. She took to the game immediately and quickly won a number of titles. She played the ladies amateur tour in the 1940s before the development of a professional tour, winning three Ohio Amateurs and the 1949 Titleholders and North and South Women's Amateur Golf Championship. She was also a member of the 1950 U.S. Curtis Cup team.

At that time she competed as Peggy Kirk, and in 1953 she married her high school sweetheart, Warren "Bullet" Bell, who had played professional basketball with the Fort Wayne Pistons before turning to business. Warren died in 1984.

In 1990, she was voted the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. She became the first woman voted into the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame in 2002.

In recent years Peggy can be found at the Pine Needles Resort in Southern Pines, North Carolina, where she charms guests with her smile, her graciousness, and her engaging stories of golf in its "golden" era. She is affectionately called "Ma Bell" by friends and family. Her youngest daughter, Bonnie, is married to PGA Tour member Pat McGowan.