Pioneer of women's golf, Peggy Kirk Bell, passes away at 95

The infamous lady that was Peggy Kirk Bell has sadly passed away at the age of 95, surrounded by her family.

Golf royalty

Renowned for making the beautiful game what it is today, Peggy Kirk Bell is credited with making golf accessible to women professionally; this will always live on in her memory. Peggy was known for being golf royalty and founding women’s professional golf, achieving and winning many golfing titles herself in the forties and fifties, as well as owning the infamous Pine Needles Resort in North Carolina.

Classed as an ambassador from a different era, Peggy brought the Women’s Open to Pine Needles three times, the first being back in 1996. Owning and transforming Pine Needles into one of the most pleasant courses to play on in America, Peggy also managed to make it home for her and her family.

Peggy and her childhood sweetheart Bullet worked hard to make the course what it is today, along with hosting and mixing with all the finest golfing stars over the decades, whom all highly respected both her and her husband. All of their hard work made Pine Needles reside firmly on the golfing map for tournaments.

Encouraging others

She loved golf and loved to play it, but predominantly loved to teach. You would often find Peggy popping along to the driving range on the Pine Needles course to help give tips and improve other golfer’s games. A chartered member of the LPGA Tour, Peggy help to provide the base that is today’s ladies golf by encouraging and teaching thousands of ladies to play.

If it hadn’t been for Peggy Kirk Bell, then ladies golf and golf in general wouldn’t be the game we come to know and love today. Thank you Peggy Kirk Bell for dedicating your life to golf - rest in peace.