Lady Heathcoat Amory, formerly Joyce Wethered, was arguably “the greatest woman golfer of all time”. Her swing was a model of balance and grace. Ideally, she used to say; nothing could dislodge her from her right foot at the top of her back swing or from her left at the finish of her follow through. The most remarkable feature of her game was her accuracy with iron shots.

She did not enter championship golf until 1920, when a friend persuaded her to play in the English Ladies Open Championship at Sheringham, in Norfolk. At Sheringham, she won her way to the final where she met ‘Cecil’ Leitch. She was six down with only sixteen holes to play, but through superb concentration, and as always by playing the course rather than the person, she came back to win 2 and 1
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In 1925 Joyce Wethered retired from competition, but was tempted back to play in the Ladies Open of 1929 on her favourite course, the old course at St. Andrews. In the final she met the American champion Glenna Collett in a memorable contest. Joyce was five down after only nine holes, her opponent having gone out in 34, but clawed her way back to win 3 and 1.

She was elected the first President of the English Ladies’ Golf Association (ELGA) and was admitted to Americas Hall of fame.

Lady Heathcoat Amory died in 1997 just after her 96th birthday.

Tiverton Golf Club is one of Devon’s most beautiful courses. It is a joy to play and highly recommended by Dickie Dirts Curiosity Shop.