AYRSHIRE LADIES GOLF - County Honorary President in hospital

Phyl Wylie

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

(courtesy of Colin@scottishgolfview.com)

Hopes that Troon-based centenarian Phyllis Wylie, the oldest surviving Curtis Cup player on either side of the Atlantic, would be well enough to be taken on even a day trip to Nairn during the week of the June 8-10 match against the United States have receded.

Essex-born Phyl (Wade) Wylie, whose husband, a Scot, Surgeon-Capt J L Wylie, died many years ago, lives in a big house opposite the 17th hole at Royal Troon Golf Club. She had a fall recently and is now in hospital.

Ladies Golf Union chief executive and herself a Troon resident, Shona Malcolm said:

"While we would love to have Phyl with us in Nairn, it seems unlikely that she'll be able to make the trip. She is currently in the Biggart Hospital in Prestwick, convalescing after a recent fall in her home.

"She is, however, extremely interested in what's going on and I know some of the ladies from her golf club in Troon were taking her Curtis Cup badges and golf results from last weekend's Helen Holm tournament. Everyone involved in the Curtis Cup wishes Phyl a speedy recovery."

As Phyl Wade she was English champion in 1934 and played in the six-a-side Curtis Cup match of 1938 at Essex County Club, near Boston, Massachusetts - the home club of the Curtis sisters who donated the trophy.

Phyl's GB&I team-mates were Jessie Anderson (Valentine), Helen Holm, Nan Baird, Elsie Corlett and Claire Tiernan.

GB&I led 2 1/2-1/2 at the end of the first day but lost five of the six singles on the secodn day and the Americans, whose team included names such as Patty Berg and Glenna Collett Vare, won 5 1/2-3 1/2.

Phyl was married in 1939 and she and her husband set up home at Stewarton, Ayrshire.

Phyl became a member of Troon Ladies and the Ayrshire women's county team for many post-war years. She won the county title in 1954, beating Helen Holm in the final. Mrs Wylie has been captain and present of the country over the years and is an honorary member of Troon Ladies and her original club, Parkstone, near Bournemouth.

Phyl was a guest of honour at St Andrews during the 2008 match played over the Old Course and met up with other past Curtis Cup players - of a different vintage - to have lunch in the R&A clubhouse. Her biggest thrill was holding the Curtis Cup trophy after all these years.

She will celebrate her 101st birthday in August. Last year the Troon Ladies club put on a special 100th birthday party for her in the clubhouse.

+Make it your good deed for the day: Why not sent Phyl a "Get Well" card at Biggart Hospital? I'm sure she would be pleased that people still remember her.
The postal address is: Biggart Hospital, 1 Biggart Road, Prestwick, Ayrshire KA9 2HQ