MARLEY SPEARMAN, DANCER WHO BECAME STAR GOLFER, DIES
FROM THE LADIES GOLF UNION WEBSITE
The LGU regrets to report the death of Marley Harris (formerly Spearman, nee Baker) last week. She had not been well for some time.
Marley was born in 1928 and became a dancer on the West End stage. The famous story of her introduction to golf is well-known. She was shopping in Harrods on a wet afternoon, and, unable to find a taxi outside, she returned and saw a sign to a Golf School and thought she would give golf a try.
One lesson was enough to alert the professional to her potential, and she made incredible progress, reducing her handicap to four within two years.
A Middlesex County player, Marley won the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship in 1961 and 1962, as well as the English Championship in 1964. She played in the Vagliano Trophy matches in 1959 and 1961, the Commonwealth (now Astor Trophy) Tournament in 1959 and 1963 and the Curtis Cup in 1960, 1962 and 1964.
Marley was a breath of fresh air in the staid and respectable tweed-suited 1950s. Her dancer's training gave her the work-ethic of practice, and she knew instinctively where her body and club should be throughout her swing.
Always smiling, with a skip in her step, she was a tremendous team member, and British Golf will be sadly the poorer for her passing. Condolences to her son Mark.
The LGU regrets to report the death of Marley Harris (formerly Spearman, nee Baker) last week. She had not been well for some time.
Marley was born in 1928 and became a dancer on the West End stage. The famous story of her introduction to golf is well-known. She was shopping in Harrods on a wet afternoon, and, unable to find a taxi outside, she returned and saw a sign to a Golf School and thought she would give golf a try.
One lesson was enough to alert the professional to her potential, and she made incredible progress, reducing her handicap to four within two years.
A Middlesex County player, Marley won the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship in 1961 and 1962, as well as the English Championship in 1964. She played in the Vagliano Trophy matches in 1959 and 1961, the Commonwealth (now Astor Trophy) Tournament in 1959 and 1963 and the Curtis Cup in 1960, 1962 and 1964.
Marley was a breath of fresh air in the staid and respectable tweed-suited 1950s. Her dancer's training gave her the work-ethic of practice, and she knew instinctively where her body and club should be throughout her swing.
Always smiling, with a skip in her step, she was a tremendous team member, and British Golf will be sadly the poorer for her passing. Condolences to her son Mark.
Labels: OBITUARY
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