By Fred Altvater
In last month’s issue we wrote about the LPGA changing its rules for induction into the Hall of Fame to include Lorena Ochoa, as well as the original founders of the LPGA Tour.
Just a few days after that announcement, Shirley Spork one of the 13 original founders died at the age of 94. She traveled the country in the 1950’s with her other founding members and enjoyed seeing the country.
Back 9 Report had a chance to chat with Shirley during the 2021 Solheim Cup at the Inverness Club in Toledo. You can watch the interview on Back 9 Report TV: https://youtu.be/tKfb-Q0ik2U
Spork grew up in Detroit, Michigan, attended Eastern Michigan University and taught physical education at Bowling Green State University (BGSU). She taught golf to the young women at BGSU and along with legendary professional golfer, Peggy Kirk Bell, established the first women’s collegiate golf competitions between BGSU and the University of Findlay.
Teaching golf was Shirley’s first love and she convinced the LPGA to create the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional division to foster the growth of women’s golf.
The road to the LPGA for Spork started during the Depression. Her family lived off the 17th fairway of Bonnie Brook Golf Course near Detroit, where they moved after her father lost his job and exchanged caretaker work for free rent.
She bought her first golf club when she was 12, a putter she got for a dollar with money earned from selling golf balls she had found. She was forced to endure the laughter of the boys who caddied at Bonnie Brook because she used that putter to hit full shots. It was her only club.
“Through the years I have met a lot of people and made a lot of dear friends,” Spork said. “It was fun to go to work every day and teach because people who came to me wanted to learn how to play. Learning to play the game of golf is like eating an elephant. It’s overwhelming unless you eat just one bite at a time and slowly digest it.”
Shirley lived through the Great Depression and World War II, she helped found the most successful women’s sports leagues in the world and was one of the leading teachers of her time. She did it all with a quick wit and flair for life.
