{"id":10629,"date":"2019-06-10T20:54:34","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T20:54:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pkbgt.org\/news\/?p=10629"},"modified":"2019-06-11T18:01:44","modified_gmt":"2019-06-11T18:01:44","slug":"peggy-kirk-bell-the-player","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pkbgt.org\/news\/peggy-kirk-bell-the-player\/","title":{"rendered":"Peggy Kirk Bell: The Player"},"content":{"rendered":"

The <\/span>Peggy Kirk Bell Girls\u2019 Golf Tour<\/span><\/a> would not exist without one individual. The same could be stated in regards to the <\/span>LPGA Tour <\/span><\/a>and women\u2019s golf entirely. On Monday, June 10, our tour matriarch, Peggy Kirk Bell, will solidify her spot as one of the sport\u2019s true pioneers-joining her many historic counterparts as a member of the <\/span>World Golf Hall of Fame<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Though she will be inducted posthumously, having passed away at the age of 95 in 2016, Mrs. Bell\u2019s spirit lives on within the women\u2019s golf community. Monday evening\u2019s ceremony is the ultimate honor and an exclamation point to her impressive and well-decorated legacy. <\/span><\/p>\n

She was a pioneer, serving as a charter member of the LPGA Tour. Her passion for the game led to an extensive career as an instructor and her ambition resulted in Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club – which she purchased alongside her husband Warren – hosting three U.S. Women\u2019s Opens in her lifetime, and the fourth set for 2022. <\/span><\/p>\n

With each PKBGT event, taking place across the eastern US seaboard and beyond, Mrs. Bell\u2019s impact in the women\u2019s golf community multiplies. Though dozens of girls congregate each weekend – building friendships and forming valuable skills beyond the golf course – they may not be aware of the trailblazer who paved the way for the many opportunities presented to young women through the game of golf. <\/span><\/p>\n

In celebration of the awe-inspiring achievement with the induction ceremony on Monday night, we present a four-part series to recount and reflect on Mrs. Bell\u2019s courageous journey as one of golf\u2019s greatest players, instructors, and ambassadors. \u00a0On the first leg of her voyage, we highlight Mrs. Bell\u2019s roots and the origin of <\/span>Peggy Kirk Bell: The Player<\/i><\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n

All quotes courtesy of \u201c<\/span><\/i>Driving \u2018em Straight<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u201d, an episode of The Story on American Public Media. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Born Out of Boredom <\/b><\/h2>\n

Margaret Anne Kirk was born in October of 1921, though it would be remiss to refer to Kirk by any name aside from \u201cPeggy\u201d. Findlay- a small town in Northwest Ohio – was home to the Kirk family and young Peggy held a passion for sports at a young age. <\/span><\/p>\n

At just <\/span>12 years old<\/span><\/a>, Peggy decided she wanted to become a physical education teacher. Every summer, she would travel to New Hampshire and spend two months at camp – excelling as a natural athlete and enjoying the time to explore different sports before returning home. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the summer of 1939, as she prepared for one last summer before heading<\/span> to Boston University (before transferring to Rollins College), Peggy was blindsided. Informed by her mother that she would remain in Findlay for the summer, having grown too old for the camp, Kirk wondered how she would pass two months alone in the desolate countryside.<\/p>\n

In a perfect storm of luck and timing – on the very same day – Peggy\u2019s father was approached by a gentleman who worked for Marathon Oil. Marathon was shipping the man west, and he hoped to sell Mr. Kirk his membership to Findlay Country Club. Though neither of her parents played the game, with his children in mind, Peggy\u2019s father purchased the membership. He declared at dinner that evening, \u201cIf any of you youngsters want to go play golf, we belong to the country club now\u201d. At that very moment, lights went off in Peggy\u2019s head as she decided <\/span>that <\/span><\/i>is what she would do to pass the time for the duration of the summer. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

First Set of Sticks <\/b><\/h2>\n

At the warehouse of her father\u2019s sporting goods store, Peggy flocked to the back corner where they kept the golf clubs. Eager to get out on the course, she approached the employee at the front counter. <\/span>\u201cGeorge, I gotta have a set of those sticks!\u201d<\/b>, she demanded<\/span>. <\/b>He waltzed with Peggy back to the corner of golfing equipment and fixed her up with the following: <\/span><\/p>\n