The Founders

Filmmakers Charlene Fisk and Carrie Schrader's warm-hearted documentary focuses on the women who founded the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). Of the original 13, only four remain, but they are as passionate as ever about the sport that brought them together. The outspoken Shirley Spork started out in Detroit, the reserved Louise Suggs hails from Atlanta, the sweet-natured Marilynn Smith transitioned from softball to golf in Wichita, and the precocious Marlene Bauer Vossler and her sister, Alice, were taught to play by their father in Eureka, SD. "I was kind of an oddity," Marlene says. "We both were." After introducing themselves, the ladies talks about the co-founders of the LPGA, most notably Olympian Babe Didrikson Zaharius (her name brought attention, but the women believe she was—at least initially—more interested in promoting herself). As players, they faced racism, sexism, and even class barriers since golf was a rich man's game, and it was hard to make an impact without club membership. World War II also put a crimp in their plans as men went off to fight, while women stepped into the jobs they left behind. Some also served at home, but golf took a backseat for a few years. The precursor to the LPGA came into being in 1944 with the formation of the Women's Professional Golf Association, but it didn't last long, whereas the LPGA has been around since 1950. The first few tours involved long drives between small towns, but the ladies attracted enthusiastic audiences and even after Babe's untimely passing in 1956, they continued to grow and persevere. Rounding out the profile with comments from star players like Renee Powell and Nancy Lopez, this engaging women's sports history documentary is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)