A FORMER lady captain and president of Skipton Golf Club, Kathleen (Kath) Ellwood, has died.

Born in 1930, Kath died peacefully at the Dales Care Home, Draughton, on Saturday morning following a stroke the previous Tuesday. For family members it is a blessed relief that she can now rest in peace without suffering the gradual decline inflicted by Alzheimer’s for over twenty years.

Her son, Peter, said: “Kath joined Skipton Golf Club in about 1970/71. She had always enjoyed participating in and watching sport. She had previously played hockey for Skipton ladies and played competitive badminton for Belle Vue in the West Craven league. Like many golfers her handicap tumbled in the first few years of competitive golf and she began to play regularly for the ladies’ ‘B’ team. During this time the club was going through a period of increased popularity and there was a very active thriving ladies’ section. She encouraged family members to learn to play and my brother David joined soon after my mum and I followed later in about 1975. In fact, all my friends had parents who loved and played the game of golf.

“I remember at the time it was widely obvious that in order to continue its growth the course needed to expand to the full 18 holes. Plans had been in place in the 1930s but the war scuppered those ambitions. It did expand to 12 holes in 1964 but during the latter part of the 1970s the club began significant fund raising events to generate revenue to fulfil this ambition. I remember that members of the ladies’ section were actively involved in money raising events/initiatives and Kath became fully involved in helping and supporting these efforts at this time.

“Three significant events which stick in my memory, and that of my friends at the time, were two Guinness World Records by the then Professional Graham Webster and a pro-celebrity tournament which had many local golfing celebrities compete on the 12 hole course set up. Some of the celebrities I remember from that day included the likes of Billy Bremner, Charlie Williams, Richard Whiteley and Tim Ewart. Some of the older members may remember one or two more but this was an exciting event to witness. The Radio 1 Disc Jockey David (Diddy) Hamilton provided the musical entertainment that evening in a marquee that was erected at the back of the 18th green and adjacent to the old practice green. These were exciting times indeed!

“Many other fund raising activities and social events were organised by the ladies’ section and Kath was part of this active group of members who made such a significant contribution to the raising of much needed funds. I remember an extension was made to the front of the prefabricated clubhouse to provide a facility for the lady members to relax away from the men after a round of golf. It was nicknamed the ‘Hen Hut’ and I think a lot of ladies were sad to see it go when the new clubhouse was built in 1992. I think my mum had fond memories of the gossip and chat that was exchanged away from the gentlemen members. I think they enjoyed their privacy!

“In 1980, she was elected Lady Captain and on a fine, sunny, Lady Captain’s Day, in August of that year, she arrived at the course in a vintage Rolls Royce for the ladies’ first completion on the new 18 hole course. The competition that day was won by Rowena Crabtree, with Sylvia Coates placed second. An unexpected event took place after supper, as reported in the Craven Herald, when a hot air balloon landed on the 16th fairway. Kath was quick to deny arranging this but did provide the ladies with an entertaining archive film of her travels in the United States in the 1950s.

“In 1985, she was elected Lady President and continued to support the fund raising efforts, this time to replace the prefabricated clubhouse which had originally come from the Ripon Camp after the previous prefab had gone up in flames in 1924. Kath was chairman of the social committee for many years and organised treasure hunts, club quizzes and other social events which encouraged both financial growth and interest in the club. There was definitely a lot of activity and as a family we were always amazed at how she was able to juggle her golfing commitments with her work at the surgery and maintain a happy family life.

“Over the years Kath competed in hundreds of competitions and regularly played for the ladies’ B team and occasionally the A team when required. In 1982 she won the Laffoley Cup and a couple of years later won the Harold Ideson Trophy with playing partner Ralf Carr. She also reached the third round of the Jonnie Walker mixed foursomes with her playing partner at the time Phil Murgatroyd and later won the qualifying round for the “Turnberry” Cup with her playing partner Chris Baker. In 1986, playing with Rowena Crabtree, she holed in one at the par 3 15th (now the 16th) and received the Jonnie Walker International Hole-In-One Award. In 1987 she won the Victory Cup and continued to play regularly through the 1990s. Whist these golfing achievements are quite modest she loved the game, the competition but most of all the social activity and friendships which were made. In 2000 she started to suffer from dementia and in 2003, in one last push to battle the disease, my dad organised her to play a round with Sadie Hayo, a friend and neighbour. At the end of the round, Sadie confided in my dad that Kath didn’t know where the holes were - this sadly was her last round. She leaves behind three sons, one daughter, eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. She will be sadly missed but her zest for life and happy smile will always continue to inspire us all greatly.

“A small, private cremation will take place on Thursday, September 30 at 3pm. Please contact me at pellwood@btinternet.com if you might like to attend or make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society.”