
The women’s golf chairman of the participating clubs ran the tournaments. In November, prizes were awarded to the Class A and Class B player who lowered her handicap the largest number of strokes during the season. For the most part, the same processes are still followed today with the exception that there is no classification of players.
Originally, there were no officers or dues. The organization was run by the chairwomen at each of the four clubs. The cost for the first three events was 25 cents with the funds being used for prizes. To increase the amount available for prizes, the entry fee for the forth event at Hermitage was set at a charge of a penny a putt. However, future events returned to a set entry fee. After the Hermitage event, Mrs. J. G. Spitz became the first officer in the role of secretary/
treasurer.
Six planned events were held in the first year. For many years following the organization of the RWGA, a medal play championship event was held in September with rounds played at each of the four courses.
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The Richmond Women’s Golf Association (RWGA) was formed as a non-profit organization at its first event at Lakeside Country Club on June 5, 1933. The RWGA was the brainchild of Mrs. J. G. Spitz of Lakeside Country Club, Mrs. John S. Martin of the Country Club of Virginia and Mrs. Alex Ryland of Hermitage Country Club.
The organization included ladies from all three clubs. Following the Lakeside event, Glenwood Country Club formed a Glenwood Ladies Golf Association so that the ladies at Glenwood could participate in the newly formed RWGA, bringing the total number of golf clubs to four.
The idea behind the organization was “to encourage all classes of women golfers.” Only one prize could be won by a player in one tournament. It was recommended that the prizes be bought from the professional of the club where the tournament was held.