Sally was born in Cape Town, South Africa, October 12, 1951. As a youngster Sally would tag along with her father, Percy, while he played, but only because he promised to pay her pocket money if she would pull the caddy cart! At 12 years old, she began to play the game in earnest.
Her game matured quickly. By the age of 17, Sally had claimed more than a dozen regional and national amateur titles. In 1971, not only was she the low individual in the World Amateur, she also won the South African Match Play and Stroke Play titles, all in one week.
As an amateur, she finished fifth in her first professional event in the U.S., the Lady Carling Open.
She then decided to turn professional.
Professional Career
In 1971, after qualifying to play on the LPGA tour, after playing in only 7 events, Sally was named the LPGA Rookie of the Year.
Sally’s first victory on the LPGA tour was in 1976, at the Women’s International at Moss Creek. In a spectacular finish, Sally holed a 75 ft. bunker shot on the 72nd hole, to edge out Jan Stephenson by one shot.
Between 1979 and 1982, Sally won 12 titles, including her first major win, the LPGA Championship, in 1980. For the next 10 years, she was consistently ranked in the top five in the world. Sally won two Major Championships, the last being the Du Maurier, the Canadian Women’s Championship in 1988.
Off the Course
After a successful 30 year career on the LPGA Tour, Sally wasn’t finished yet!
In 2000, Sally joined a group of her peers in founding The Legend’s Tour, the women’s senior division of the LPGA Tour. Since then, she has competed in as many events as her schedule allows, highlighted by her being named Captain of the World Team vs. the U.S. in the 2014, 2015 Handa Cup competition.
Another great interest of Sally’s is golf course design. She was called back to South Africa in 2005 to consult with a new course under construction. Her signature course, Kingswood, located on the Garden Route, is a perfect example of integrating a female perspective into a male master plan.
After being back in South Africa for a number of years, Sally saw a need and felt a great desire to give back. In 2015, Sally formed the Little Golf Trust, dedicated to educating and empowering the previously disadvantaged through the game of golf. Sally is hands on with her learners and has big plans for community upliftment… stay tuned!
Objectives
To educate and empower the previously disadvantaged, with emphasis on young women, using golf as a medium to teach the life skills golf demands: honesty, integrity, respect, co-operation, perseverance, concentration and self-motivation.
To increase educational and employment opportunities for previously disadvantaged youth.
Long Term Goals
To provide opportunities for corporate women to use golf as a platform for business.
To ensure that all schools have the training and equipment to provide a physical education program as part of the curriculum.
To operate a “Teach the Teacher” programme, identifying talented young women and providing them with further education along with their full PGA qualifications.
The Dream
To identify and mentor a young South African woman capable of playing at a high level on the world stage.
The Programme Begins with SNAG
SNAG (Starting New at Golf) is an innovative “First Touch” golf teaching product, designed to promote golf at a beginner level through complete development by providing highly enjoyable and easily accessible equipment.
Sally has endorsed SNAG as the best way to teach golf to beginners of all ages. SNAG can be found at all Little Golf Trust activities.
