2006 Recipient
Jeanne Goddard Memorial Award
The Jeanne Goddard Memorial Award was established in 2003
to recognize those women who have supported and encouraged the game of golf
in Utah. At the 2006 USWGA Fall meeting,
The following is a history of Judy's contributions:
President of USWGA: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1974.
In 1968, she provided the leadership to make possible for the USWGA to blend with the UGA on their handicap system. This was followed by her Board adding 10 new tournaments to the USWGA agenda.
During her 1969 Presidency, the USWGA opened their season with the "Officer's Invitational" in St. George. Also included was the Elko Tournament. This led the way for the USWGA to expand tournament play across Utah borders, which continues to this day.
During 1968 and 1969, she helped expand women's golf throughout the state by meeting with pros and officers of women's golf associations south and north of SLC. She presented them with bylaws to put into their systems as well as helping them organize their first tournaments. They included Beaver, Payson, Ben Lomond, Spanish Fork, Hobble Creek, Tri City, Tooele, and White Barn.
Judy was one of the original, founding members of Mt. Dell Ladies Golf Assn., of which she and Trudy Walton are the only living founders left. In 1967, she was president of Mt. Dell Ladies Assn. In 1968, she was USWGA and Mt. Dell president simultaneously. Her service to Mt. Dell Ladies throughout her continuous 39 years of membership is generous. They included jobs of tournament chairperson, as well as social chair. During her membership years, she helped promote the Mt. Dell City Parks, the second oldest women's golf tournament in Utah, now played as the Mt. Dell Classic. During this time, women Pros were invited to play in the City Parks, which helped expand women's golf in the state. Holding her current handicap of 25 at 74 years old, she recently had her second Hole in One on 09/19/06. She also spent a year researching the history of past winners of the Utah State Women's Amateur, volunteering unlimited hours of her time to help with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the State Am. she has been, and continues to be, an inspiration to women golfers at Mt. Dell, and throughout the state.
During her USWGA Presidencies, Gross golf became a must with tournaments that the USWGA took part in, convincing pros that gross was as important as net winners.
Her objective grew to include Country Clubs in the USWGA tournament program. State Amateurs and Best Balls were held at Oakridge, Alpine, Patio Springs, Willow Creek and Hidden Valley.
One of her other objectives was to have Mixed tournaments. This became an exciting way to help convince men that women could play golf. Every Sunday, for a period of years, mixed tournaments were played at different courses, such as Mt. Dell, meadowbrook, Sherwood Hills, Round Valley, Bonneville, and Rose Park.
She expanded Team Play, during her tenures as USWGA president. With the blessing of the SLC Mayor, she increased the number of clubs participating with many 8 and 10 women teams. Team Play presented many USWGA women golfers with the fun of Match Play, expanding competition throughout the state.
By her fourth term as President, the USWGA grew from 300 to almost 1,000 members. Women's golf was here to stay, with an organization that the press and pros recognized.
Her vision of a Southern and Northern Division with a Central location to keep it all together became a reality. It was her passion to build an organization that would make all handicaps proud to play the "only game in town!" This is more than accomplished.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Simpson
October 2006
P.S. Besides all of this she's a lot of fun to be around.