Jessie Valentine

Jessie Valentine (née Anderson) MBE (18 March 1915 – 6 April 2006) was a Scottish amateur golfer who won the British Ladies Amateur in 1937, 1955 and 1958.[1] In 1937, after winning the British Ladies title at Turnberry she was the world number one ranking ladies golfer.[2] In 1959, Valentine was the first woman golfer to be appointed as an MBE for services to golf[1] and was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.[3]

"Jessie Anderson" redirects here. For The Walking Dead character, see Jessie Anderson (The Walking Dead).

Career

Jessie Anderson was born in Perth, Scotland in 1915.[2] Her father was for some time the professional at Craigie Hill Golf Club in Perth.[2] She started playing golf aged five and won the Girls Amateur Championship in 1933.[2]

In 1935, Valentine became the New Zealand Ladies Champion and the following year the French Ladies Champion.[1] She was a member of the Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team in 1936.[1] Famously holing a 60 ft putt on the 18th hole at Gleneagles to secure a win and help the team tie with the United States.[2] She represented Great Britain & Ireland in the Curtis Cup seven times between 1936 and 1958.[1]

Valentine won her first British Ladies title at Turnberry in 1937 beating Doris Park (daughter of the famous Willie Park, Jnr from Musselburgh, Scotland) 6&4 in the final.[4] In 1938 she won the first of her six victories in the Scottish Ladies Amateur Golf Championship and retained the title in 1939.[4] Between 1939 and 1945 she did not compete due to the Second World War.[2]

Valentine won the Scottish Ladies Amateur in 1951, 1953, 1955 and 1956.[1] In 1955, she won her second British Amateur title at Royal Portrush having been runner up in 1950.[1] Valentine won the British Amateur title for the third and final time at Hunstanton Golf Club, Norfolk in 1958, her third final in four years.[4] In 1960, at the age of 45, Valentine turned professional.[2]

Notable wins
  • British Ladies Amateur – 1937, 1955, 1958.[1]
  • Scottish Ladies Amateur – 1938, 1939, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1956.[1]
  • New Zealand Ladies – 1935.[1]
  • French Ladies – 1936.[1]

Team appearances

Amateur

  • Curtis Cup (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1936 (tie), 1938, 1950, 1952 (winners), 1954, 1956 (winners), 1958 (winners)
  • Vagliano Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1947 (winners), 1949 (winners), 1951 (winners), 1955 (winners)

Awards
  • Appointed a Member of The Order of the British Empire for services to golf.[1]
  • Awarded the Frank Moran Trophy in 1967 for the 'Scot who has done most for the game of golf'.[1]
  • Inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.[1]

References
  1. "Jessie Valentine". Sport Scotland. 2003. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  2. "Jessie Valentine World No 1 and three-times holder of the British Ladies' title". The Herald. 11 April 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  3. "Jessie Valentine". Sport Scotland - Scottish Sports Hall of Fame. 2003. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  4. "Jessie Valentine". BBC. November 2005. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
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