Bio

LPGA co-founder Shirley Spork was always a player with a keen eye for golf swing technique, leading her to become one of six inaugural members of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals’ (T&CP) Hall of Fame.

Spork graduated from Eastern Michigan University, where she won the first-ever National Collegiate Championship in 1947, which was the equivalent of today’s NCAA Championship. A teacher at heart, she was the Western educational director for the National Golf Foundation (NGF) for seven years and taught golf in the early 1950s at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Typical at that time, she spent the summer months competing on the LPGA Tour and the winter months teaching golf in the California desert.

In 1959, Spork helped found the LPGA’s teaching division along with Marilynn Smith, Betty Hicks and Barbara Rotvig. The Michigan native was twice named LPGA National Teacher of the Year (1959 and 1984). She also served as the LPGA’s T&CP chairperson for eight years.

But Spork could also hit the shots, finishing among the top 10 on the LPGA’s money list in 1950, placing second in the 1962 LPGA Championship and fourth in the Carling Eastern Open that year. Widely considered the LPGA’s resident “trick-shot artist,” Spork would please crowds with golf shots on command and entertain fans in clinics wherever the tour traveled.

Spork likes to tell the story about the day she turned professional at the urging of LPGA star Babe Zaharias. “One day, Babe said, ‘Kid, why don’t you turn pro? We need players out here?’” said Spork. “I told her that I didn’t know how to do it and she popped me on the head and said, ‘Go down there and tell themyou’re a pro, and then you are a pro. That’s all there is to it.’” And that was the unceremonious beginning of Spork’s professional playing career.

Because of her reputation and experience as a knowledgeable golf teacher and capable player, custom clubmaker, Golfcraft, Inc., hired Spork as an advisor to the company. It was there that she provided feedback to the development of Golfcraft’s clubs.

An avid outdoorsman who loves to fish and travel in an RV, Spork still teaches golf in Rancho Mirage, Calif., and plays nine holes of golf once a week in spite of two knee and two hip replacements.

Inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame, Spork’s accolades in the game include being a recipient of the Bryron Nelson Award, the Marilynn Smith Achievement Award, the Joe Graffis Award (1976), the LPGA’s 1998 Ellen Griffin Rolex Award and the 2000 Commissioner’s Award as an LPGA Founder. Sixty-plus years into her golf career, the spirited teacher with the Detroit accent is still out the door to the teaching tee most every day, enthusiastic as ever.

Career

• One of the 13 LPGA founders.
• Was one of six members of the inaugural class of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) Hall of Fame inducted in October 2000.
• In July 2003, honored by the Minerva Foundation of British Columbia for her contributions as an LPGA founder and LPGA T&CP Hall of Fame member.
• In July 2002, received the Detroit Redford High School Alumni Award for her outstanding achievements in golf and promotion of the game.
• In 2001, along with fellow LPGA Founder Marlene Hagge, was awarded the Executive Women's Golf Association's Leadership Award.
• Serves as director of instruction for The School of Golf for Women Only,established in 1977.
• From 1960-65, was co-chairman of the LPGA National Golf Schools for Women.
• In 1962, placed second at the LPGA Championship (Las Vegas) and fourth at the Carling Eastern Open.
• In 1959, was instrumental in founding the teaching division (now known as the LPGA T&CP) along with Marilynn Smith, Betty Hicks and Barbara Rotvig; won the California Derby Open.
• Twice voted LPGA National Teacher of the Year, 1959 and 1984. She is the only other woman besides the late Dr. DeDe Owens to have won it twice.
• Created the concept of the LPGA Teacher of the Year award.
• In 1947, winner of first-ever National Collegiate Championship held for women athletes.
• Winner of the Tam O Shanter All American Amateur and Michigan State Championship.
• Was Western educational director for the National Golf Foundation (NGF) for seven years.
• Inducted into Michigan Golf Hall of Fame; recipient of the Byron Nelson Award, Marilynn Smith Achievement Award, Joe Graffis Award (1976), Ellen Griffin Rolex Award (1998) and Commissioner's Award (2000).