Golf as a Profession
With a broader base and increased exposure to international competitions, the standard of women's golf lifted. Corporate sponsorship became more attractive and travel between countries became easier, making golf as a profession an option for some of the State's best performers.
Sarah Gautrey, one of WA's Top Women Amateurs with Bill Evans
The beginnings of golf in Australia lay the foundation for a new industry requiring green keepers, caddies, club makers, repairers, instructors and sellers of golfing equipment. Men from Scotland or England who had a broad knowledge of the game were often attached to clubs or retail outlets to become the first "golfing professionals". In the early 1900s, the "professional purse" of the Australian Men's Open Championship drew competitors from around the country. In the early part of the Century, when golf was the domain of the privileged, there was a great difference in status between amateurs and professionals. This was highlighted after the 1911 event at Rose Bay in a letter of complaint from a professional against the Royal Sydney Golf Club.
"Of course we understand very well we are not wanted in the club house, and we never had any intention, despite the Hon member's announcement of invading the dressing-rooms, the dining room or the bar; but our complaint is that the accommodation placed at our disposal is disgracefully inadequate and far and away below that provided by any other club running an open championship in Australia..." Daily Telegraph Sep 18 1911
Shortly after this conflict, the "Professional Golfers Association of Australia" (PGA) was formed to become the second professional golfers association in the world with representatives from New South Wales and Victoria. By 1927 South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland were also represented. Even though Western Australian professionals competed within their own state during the 1920s and 30s, the relatively low prize money did not warrant them making the long journey to other states. P 43 Pro Golf Out of the Rough by de Groot and Webster, published by the PGA, 1991
In Western Australia, playing golf for money began with a 25-pound
wager issued in 1913 to Royal Perth's professional Percy Maunder by
Royal Fremantle's man, David Dakers. The match, which was won by Maunder
was played over both golf courses and attracted quite a following. Percy
Maunder progressed his career by providing golfing advice at the sports
department of Boan Brothers, Harris Scarfe and later at Alfred
Sandover's golf shop. P 17 Pro Golf Out of the Rough by de Groot and Webster published by the PGA, 1991
Both he and an earlier employee at Sandover's, Mr Harrington, acted as arbiter for the Western Australian Ladies Golf Union (WALGU) during its formative years. WALGU Minutes 1918 The trend of having a male arbiter in the WALGU continued for many years. Even by 1931 its council carried a proposal that a man should be asked to act as referee for the finals of the Ladies Championship in preference to a woman. WALGU Minutes 1931
Since their first ventures into golf, women had taken advantage of lessons from professionals who were based at various courses. The Union's 1938 handbook featured an advertisement from a professional golfer based at Nedlands offering "specialist tuition by appointment". He also made and fixed golf clubs.
