Patricia “Patty” Berg (1918 – 2006)
She was the first United States Women’s Open Champion, first president of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, and one of golf’s greatest ambassadors. Her 15 major titles remain the all-time record for most major wins by a female golfer.
She was born in Minneapolis in 1918, and began playing golf at the age of 13. She won her first title, the 1934 Minneapolis City Championship three years later, and went on to win 29 amateur tournaments in seven years, including the 1938 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. She turned professional in 1940 and won the Western Open in 1941 and then joined the Marine Reserves (1942-45) as World War II commanded our country’s attention.
In 1946, she joined the Women’s Professional Golfers Association tour and won four titles, including the U.S. Women’s Open. In 1949, she and Babe Zaharias formed the Ladies Professional Golf Association. She served as its first president, and fostered its growth with her active tournament schedule.
Patty enjoyed 55 victories between 1948 and 1962. She was a charter inductee into the Women’s Golf Hall of Fame (now the LPGA Hall of Fame) in 1951. In 1963, she was voted the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the USGA in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. She was also one of the first inductees into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. The LPGA honors Berg through its Patty Berg Award for diplomacy, sportsmanship, goodwill and contributions to the game. The LPGA established the Patty Berg Award in 1978.
Patty remained an active member at Cypress Lake until her passing at the age of 88 on September 10, 2006, participating in social functions, and encouraging the women’s golf leagues. She was frequently seen on the practice tee. Cypress Lake hosts two tournaments that bear Patty’s name. The Patty Berg Pro- Am is an annual women’s tournament that benefits junior golf. In her later years, Berg teamed up with PGA Tour player Nolan Henke to establish the Nolan Henke/Patty Berg Junior Masters to promote the development of young players. Patty always shared a special interest in the Vera Berg tournament, which is named for her mother, who was also a member of Cypress Lake, and a winner of the WGA championship.
Patty Berg racked up one of the finest amateur and professional records in the game. Although she was one of the most skilled players in history, her larger than life personality nearly overshadowed her talent and she was much in demand for public appearances long after she competed in her last tournament in 1980. Berg received the 1986 Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the organization’s highest honor. The largest single exhibit of Patty’s trophies and memorabilia are displayed in the Cypress Lake clubhouse lobby. Patty placed this collection on permanent loan to the Club so that her legacy and contribution to the game of golf would forever be an inspiration to us all.
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