The golf world mourns the passing of Judy Bell, a trailblazing figure who broke barriers as the first female president of the United States Golf Association and left an indelible mark on the sport. Bell has died at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy of administration excellence and dedication to making golf more accessible.
Breaking Barriers at the USGA
In 1996, Bell made history when she was appointed as the 54th president of the USGA, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the organization's 102-year history. Her appointment marked a significant shift for an establishment traditionally perceived as conservative and male-dominated.
Bell served as USGA president until 1999, during which time she focused extensively on expanding golf's reach to communities that had historically been excluded from the sport. Her commitment to inclusivity began long before her presidency, however. From the moment she joined the USGA executive committee in 1987, she travelled thousands of miles annually to advocate for reasonably priced public facilities in inner cities.
"If we don't even try then we've wasted a wonderful opportunity to truly make golf an all-inclusive sport," Bell famously stated. "I believe that the USGA has to be for all golfers. If we're the governing body of the sport we really do have to look out for everyone."
Distinguished Playing Career and Curtis Cup Legacy
Before her administrative achievements, Bell enjoyed a notable amateur golf career. She represented the United States in the prestigious Curtis Cup on two occasions, both resulting in victories against Great Britain and Ireland.
Her first appearance came in 1960 at Lindrick Golf Club in Nottinghamshire, where she halved her match. Two years later in 1962, she contributed to an 8-1 US victory at Colorado Springs, though she personally lost her singles match to Britain's Diane Frearson (later Bailey).
Bell's connection to the Curtis Cup continued decades later when she returned as non-playing captain for the 1986 match at Prairie Dunes in Kansas. In a remarkable upset, her British and Irish opponents secured victory, becoming the first golf team from the British Isles - male or female, professional or amateur - to win on American soil.
Despite this defeat and the subsequent retention of the cup by Great Britain and Ireland in 1988, Bell displayed exceptional sportsmanship that earned widespread respect. Carol Semple Thompson, a twelve-time Curtis Cup team member, recalled that Bell "was the most fun captain I had in my playing career."
From Champion Golfer to Hall of Famer
Born in Wichita, Kansas on 23 September 1936, Judy was the youngest of four children and only daughter of community volunteer Mariam and businessman Carl Bell. She began playing golf at just seven years old with cut-down hickory-shafted clubs.
Bell often shared an amusing anecdote about winning her first tournament with a score of 72 and taking the girls' prize - before revealing it was a nine-hole competition and she was the only girl playing.
During her competitive peak in the 1950s, she reached the quarter-finals of the US Women's Amateur Championship three times. In 1964, she shot a record 67 in the third round of the US Women's Open, a low score that stood for fourteen years.
Her administrative journey included chairing the USGA's women's committee (1981-1984), joining the executive committee (1987), and serving as treasurer (1991), secretary (1992-1993), and vice-president (1994-1995) before her historic presidency.
In 2001, Bell's contributions to golf were recognized with induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club, which had notably not invited her to become a member during her presidency despite tradition, eventually made her an honorary member in 2015, following their policy change on women members in 2014.
Bell is survived by three nieces and four nephews. Her passing on 3 November 2025 marks the end of an era for golf, but her legacy as a pioneer for women in golf administration and an advocate for inclusivity will endure.
