Character of a

CHAMPION
The Patty Berg Story

INSIDE:
The Winning Attitude
Rising Star
How To Be A Champion
Making History

P R ESENTED BY:

United States Golf Association

USGApattybergTAB.indd 1

Patty Berg fits the definitionof a champion—someone who issuperior at what they do and who
has the attributes of a winner.
She is one of the all-timechampion golfers. But it was
her zest for life and the positive
example she set for others that truly
secured her place as a champion
among champions.
What does it take to be achampion? Patty Berg was asked
to address that question in 1960.
Her speech, The Make-Up of A
Champion, is still a valuable
guide today.
Read an excerpt of this speech on
page 16. Then read the pages of thisbooklet and discover the challenges
and triumphs, joys and sorrows ofPatty Berg—a real-life champion.

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Early LifeC O N F I D E N C E

It didn’t take long for Patty Berg, an
extraordinary natural athlete, to make hermark as one of the greatest golfers of all
time. Although she won more than 80 golf
tournaments in her lifetime, including 15 major
championships, it was Patty’s genuine love
for and dedication to the game, as well as her
desire to give back to the world of golf, thatmade her unique. Known for her charismatic
personality and warm spirit, Patty wasrespected and loved dearly by everyone whocrossed her path, and it was this warmth,
charisma and dedication that separated herfrom many other great golfers in history.

With a tradition of perfection,
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symbol of performance andprestige for more than a century.
Rolex is a timeless supporterof the game of golf, especiallyfor women and juniors. I am
honored to count Rolex as mypersonal partner, and proud thatthe company is sponsoring the
USGA Museum’s “Newspapers
in Education” series. This
unique series offers children theopportunity to enjoy inspiring
stories of past USGA champions
and the character they displayed.
I hope that you will enjoy thisparticular story about Patty Berg,a true champion and an LPGAFounding Member. After all,golf is a game that teaches theimportance of integrity, tradition,and character; values that we canapply to our own lives every day.
Follow your dreams!

Annika Sorenstam“Twenty-two!” shouted the young
girl, not yet a teen, as she clutcheda football in her hand and watched
her all-male team run helter-skelter.
Spotting an open teammate, shepropelled the ball with power anduncanny accuracy. The young girlwas Patricia Jane Berg. In a vacant
lot behind her childhood home,
she played football as the starquarterback with the neighborhood
The freckle-face, redhead Patty Berg started playing golf at the age of 13.
boys for a team called the “50thShe is photographed here at age 17 in 1935, the year she won the Minnesota
Street Tigers.”
State Championship and was runner-up in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.
Born February 13, 1918, in
didn’t often play sports! Little did
she wasn’t good enough, saying, “I
Minneapolis, Minn., to Theresa
young Patty know that one day
lost too many races by a nose!” At
and Herman Berg, Patty had two
she
would
profoundly
influenceJohn Burroughs Grammar School,older sisters, Helen and Mary, andwomen’ssports.
Patty competed in baseball, hockey
a younger brother, Herman Jr. Her
One day, after Patty ruined a newand track, setting a grammar school
father owned a grain company
dress,
hermotherput
anrecord for the 50-yard dash.
and had played semi-pro
endtoPatty’sfootballbaseball, making
playing. When she
Patty no stranger
could no longer play
to athletics.
football, she didn’t
Everyone liked
It wasn’t until she was 13 years
waste any time andPatty. The charming
oldthat Patty found her true nichesoon joined a famous
little redhead always— golf. One day, her father caught
speed-skating club
had a cheerful smile
her clumsily swinging one of his
called the Powder
on her freckled face.
old golf clubs in the back yard andHorn Club and won
said, “How’d you like to put a golf
She loved football
medals competingball in front of that swing?” To
and for a time aspiredin national
Patty wasto be a football player
championships. She which Patty replied, “Gee, that’drunner-up for the National
when she grew up
later quit ice skating be great!” Her father then offered
Junior Speed Skating title
to take her to Interlachen Country
because she felt
in 1934.
— this when women

2 Character of a Champion: Patty Berg
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“Patience and concentration and control and relaxation are allimportant. Those are the ingredients of a Champion.”Club to teach her how to play. He
gave her four of his old clubs andcut down a 2-wood so it would fit
her small frame.
He was always supportive of her
athletic interests and encouraged
her desire to play golf by telling herthat she could be a great golfer if
she practiced and studied the game.
They spent many delightful hours
together playing golf. At first, Patty
had a tough time mastering thebasics. Her first day on the course,
she lost six golf balls, frequently
hitting into the rough. Once, whenin a bunker, Patty swung at the ballwildly and almost hit a golfer 30
yards away. But Patty did not get
discouraged — her confidence anddrive kept her going.
When she wasn’t at the course,
she would practice at home in any
weather. Neighbors would walk by
the Berg home and see a young girlbundled up in the dead of winterendlessly swinging golf clubs. It
was unbearably cold outside, butthat was Patty’s choice. She wasdedicated not to the belief thatpractice makes perfect … but that
perfect practice makes perfect!

— Patty BergTIMELINE: 1918-1932
1918: Born February 13,
1918, in Minneapolis
1930: Set track record(first athletic event
she ever won) for
50-yard dash at
John Burroughs
Grammar School
1931: Takes up golf, takes
lessons at Interlachen
Country Club
Patty’s first love was football. Bud Wilkinson, the captain of a neighborhood team—the50th Street Tigers—made her the quarterback. The reason, he explained, was because
she was the only one who could remember the signals. Apparently they never lost agame, only teeth.

Patty Taught Me
Bud Wilkinson, the captain of the 50th Street Tigers, eventually played
football for the University of Oklahoma, and went on to become that
school’s head coach from 1947 to 1963. Wilkinson’s teams compiled
a spectacular .826 winning percentage and won three national
championships. He would later introduce Patty to his team as “the girlwho taught me to play football.”Let’s Talk It Over
What kinds of things did Patty do asa child that were not typical of girls
her age?
Do you think self-confidence helped
her to do these things?
What do you feel self-confident
about in your life?

The Last Football Game

Patty’s football career ended one afternoon when she ripped her brandnew dress in a rough after-school game with her brother and his friends.
Her knees were bruised, her face was scratched, the pretty collar on
her dress was torn and she couldn’t even find the belt that went with
it. Running home as fast as she could, Patty was determined to fix her

dress before her mother saw it, but her brother told her all of the sewing
machines in the world wouldn’t be able to fix it. Patty’s mother wasunderstandably upset when she saw the remains of the dress, since it
was newly acquired. It was then that her parents decided she shouldn’t
play rough-and-tumble football anymore.

Find the two Pattys
that look exactly
the same.

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3

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Rising Star
D E T E R M I N A T I O NW“Isaid to myself, ‘I’m
going home andpracticing for one year. I’mgoing to work and I’m going
to work and I’m going tosee if I can’t do better.’ And
I worked and concentrated
and took my lessons. Finally,a year later, I came backand I won that same
Minneapolis championship.”

DETERMINATION
It took a lot of determination for Patty
to practice golf every day. Find anarticle about a person who is successful.
What kinds of things do you think
this person had to do to become so
successful? Create a timeline for one
imaginary day in this person’s life. Look
for at least one way you are the same as
this person.

hile teaching her thefundamentals of golf,
Patty’s father recognizedsuch tremendous potential in his
daughter that he brought in someexpert instructors to improve hergame, including Les Bolstad, oneof the nation’s best golf teachers.
Bolstad fine-tuned Patty’s natural
golf swing. She also learned how
to make imaginative shots aroundthe greens, something that would
soon make her stand out from otherplayers. It didn’t matter where theball landed, Patty would come up
with a creative way of making theshot work. Nothing could deter,
defeat or distract her —she would
figure out a way.
When Patty was 15, she
qualified for her first amateur
golf tournament, the Minneapolis
In 1935, at her home club of Interlachen, Patty was runner-up to Glenna Collett Vare in
Women’s City Championship. She
the most important women’s golf tournament—the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.
Patty had a never-give-up attitude and practiced diligently to improve her game.
lost by a large margin, racking up
the highest score in the tournament,a run-and-hide 122. Instead ofreassurances kept her going.
going to sleep at night.
quitting, young Patty vowed neverWith renewed determination and
The following year, 17-year-old
to play so poorly again. She decided Patty won the Minnesota State
relentless practice, Patty became
she would practicemore confident with her game andChampionship.
every day of theconquered her nerves.
Sometimes Patty
she
was
so
scaredyear, even at night.
Later that summer, Patty made it
got nervous
her freckles ‘seemed to playing with some to the final of the U.S. Women’s
She practiced atleast an hour daily
be popping out.’ ”
Amateur Championship, the mostof the country’s
and if she played
important women’s golf tournament
finest golfers.
poorly, she practiced even more.
in the nation. She won five matches
Once that summer, while playing
Not only did she work on her game, in an exhibition with professionals
in a row, but was runner-up to
but she concentrated on developing Walter Hagen, John Revolta
Glenna Collett Vare, one of theher determination, a never-give-up
finest female golfers of the 20thand Horton Smith, Patty was so
attitude and the will to win.
century. Patty and her father
nervous she couldn’t hit the ball
The hard work paid off in 1934celebrated after the tournamentstraight, and repeatedly hit into
when she won the Minneapolis
with an ice cream cone. It was
the rough. To make matters worse,
Women’s City Championship. As
this championship that brought theon the first nine holes, she hit fivea reward, her father bought her acharismatic young golfer to national
people in the crowd! Later, Patty
brand new set of golf clubs — 10
attention. Thousands of spectators
admitted to reporters that she wasirons and five woods. She cherished so scared her freckles “seemed towatched and took note of herthem so dearly she would line them be popping out.” Although Patty
phenomenal putting stroke. Putting
was the best part of her game and if
against her bedroom wall before
was discouraged, her mother’s

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“When I go to hit the ball, I tackle it.”— Patty Bergher way to becoming a true
champion.
The Curtis Cup is thebest-known team trophy forfemale amateur golfers, andis awarded to the winner of
a competition between the
top women golfers from
America and from GreatBritain and Ireland. The
first Curtis Cup match was
in 1932. Many women who
have played on Curtis Cup
teams have gone on to
become professionalgolf stars.

she missed one, she would
work harder and practiceeven more. Many fans said
she stroked the ball as well
as Bobby Jones.
In 1936, Patty puttedwell enough to finish in thewinner’s circle in five of the
12 tournaments she entered.
She was also selected toplay on the USA Curtis Cup
team by the United States
Golf Association, with
Glenna Collett Vare serving
as the team captain. Eighteenyear-old Patty Berg was on

TIMELINE: 1933-1936
1933: Qualified for first
tournament; theMinneapolis Women’s
City Championship
1934: Won Minneapolis City
Championship
1935: Won Minnesota
Women’s Amateur
Championship
1936: Won five tournaments:
Champion ofChampions, Helen Lee
Doherty Championship,
Minnesota Women’s
Amateur Championship,
Mason and Dixon
International, Equinox
International
Member of USA Curtis
Cup team

Let’s Talk It Over
It took hours and hours of practice for
Patty to become a star athlete. What
incidents in her early life are examplesof her determination to become the best
golfer she could?
Think about a dream or goal you havefor yourself. What steps can you take toachieve your goal or make your dreamcome true?
Patty Berg was a great favorite among the caddies. Here she’s surrounded by caddies seeking autographs after she advanced to thequarterfinals in the 1938 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. She went on to win the championship.

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Which one of these steps could you
start working on today?

Character of a Champion: Patty Berg

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4/21/08 12:41:41 PM

Amateur Years
W

A

“T

he wish to
win is notenough to make achampion. It is the will
to win. The will turns the
dreams to reality. I can’t
stress this too much.”

THE WILL TO WIN
Patty’s road to success started out withchallenges. Find an article about aperson who is facing challenges in his or
her life. Identify the challenges and write
a suggestion for overcoming each one.

I

L

T

O

W

t the age of 19, Patty said herambition was to “make thevery best out of life that I can.”True to her ambition, she won four
tournaments in 1937, including the
Titleholders, a major championshipopen to professionals. Again she
competed in the U.S. Women’s
Amateur Championship but lost toEstelle Lawson Page in the finals.
She was so nervous during thattournament that she could barely
hold a club. By making the bestout of life, Patty took this as alearning experience from which
she could grow. She practiced
with renewed resolve and thefollowing year beat Page in the
final match of the U.S. Women’s
Amateur. That year she won 10 of
the 13 tournaments she entered,
was again elected a member of
the USA Curtis Cup team, and was
voted Woman Athlete of the Year by
the Associated Press. Patty was also
made an honorary lifetime member
at Interlachen Country Club. Onceagain, her hard work paid off.
In the fall of 1938, Patty
enrolled at the Universityof Minnesota to study
business. She
practiced golf in
the afternoon andstudied at night.
Sometimes she missed
school for tournaments,
but still
maintained herstudies. Being anavid athlete, andremembering her
childhood days as
a star quarterback,Patty was one of
the football team’s
biggest fans. She
played softballwith a women’s
team, frequently
hitting home runs.
Just as in her

6 Character of a Champion: Patty Berg
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L

I

N

Titleholders Championship.
She spent endless hours eagerly
practicing and studying her swing.
To Patty, practicing was as muchfun as playing, and through her
years of practice and hard work,
she developed grace, timing andrhythm. She was just as carefulwith her swing during practice
as she was in a tournament. By
now she had attracted a fan basethat loved her. She always had apleasant grin for the crowd andnever became angry. If she wasfrustrated or disappointed after
hitting a bad shot, she would
shout, “Patricia!” and never use
inappropriate language.

Tough Times

At age 20, on her fourth attempt and witha record score, Patty won the coveted
United States Women’s Amateur trophy at
Westmoreland Country Club, Willamette,
Illinois. She won ten titles during that same
year, 1938.

childhood, people continued to lovethe blue-eyed, curly-haired redhead.
She was quite popular in school.
Thanks to many hours ofpractice, in 1939 Patty won six
tournaments, including her third

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Later that year, Patty was facedwith a series of unexpected
hardships. A month before the 1939
U.S. Women’s Amateur, she had herappendix removed. Since she could
not play in the championship, she
was unable to defend her title.
On Christmas day, Patty’s motherpassed away. Like her father,
Patty’s mother had been a sourceof support and encouragement
throughout her life. Although thesewere difficult challenges, Patty
was able to face and overcome
them, knowing her mother would
have wanted her to keep playing.
Patty won only
two tournaments
in 1940, the last
she would win
before turning
professional.
Patty is the one
getting a ride during
heavy rainfall at theTrans-Mississippi
Women’s Amateur
The rain certainly did
not seem to dampen
her spirits.

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“The mental side of golf is just as important as the physicalside. It’s very important that we swing within ourselves, playwithin ourselves and think within ourselves.”– Patty Berg

Golfing to HelpAs an amateur, Patty won 28
tournaments. Equally remarkable
is that during her eight years
as an amateur, Patty played
every Saturday and Sunday in ahometown charity exhibition at
her father’s request. She neverforgot her father’s concern for

Patty takes time out on the practice tee
to read a Happy Birthday telegram.

humankind, and helping charities
was something that remained withher for the rest of her life. Patty
once said, “Like my mother, my
dad was super and terrific. He, too,helped and encouraged me. In fact,
my whole family was a tremendous
support to me — as were myfriends, the golfing public, and thegolf news media.”

you find the scores missing from the empty boxes on the scorecard? What are theScorecard Math Can
total scores?* Were the scores above or below par? Which player won the match?

* The scores are subtotaled in the “OUT” and “IN” columns. Do not add these numbers to the totals.

TI MELI NE: 1 93 7- 19 40
1937: Won Titleholders, Helen
Lee Doherty, Palm
Beach Championship,
Aiken Invitational
1938: Won Titleholders,
Helen Lee Doherty,
South Atlantic,
Mid-South, TransMississippi, Minnesota
Women’s Amateur, U.S.
Women’s Amateur
Championships,
Western Derby,
Women’s Western
Amateur; Member of
USA Curtis Cup Team;
Woman Athlete of theYear
1939: Won Titleholders, 3rd
Helen Lee Doherty,
South Atlantic, Florida
East Coast, Mid-South,
Trans-Mississippi
Championships
1940: Won Helen Lee
Doherty, Mid-Florida
Championships

Let’s Talk It Over
While Patty was a confident person,
she sometimes got nervous. She also
did not win every tournament. Yet she
did not give up.
Do you think champions win every
time they compete?
Have you ever messed up or lost in a
game? How did you feel?
With concentration and determination, Patty checks the surface of the green before lining up a putt at
the Trans-Mississippi Women’s Amateur in San Antonio, Texas.

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What do you think Patty would say
to you?

Character of a Champion: Patty Berg

7

4/21/08 12:41:44 PM

How To Be A

Comic Book Hero By 1945, Patty Berg was a national hero and an inspirational role model for children to follow. She wa
PAGE 1: LT. PATRICIA BERG, USMCR — A NEW
TITLE FOR A COURAGEOUS, SPORTS-LOVINGPATTY BERG WHO HAS MADE GOLF HISTORY.
AT THIRTEEN, PATTY COULD BE FOUNDALMOST ANY AFTERNOON IN A MINNEAPOLISPLAYGROUND.
“Got it … oops!”“I have to go home now fellows. See you tomorrow.”“Okay, Patty.”“What a tomboy she is!”
PAGE 2: FIVE MINUTES LATER …

8 Character of a Champion: Patty Berg
USGApattybergTAB.indd 8“Son, here’s your membership card for the golf club.”“Hi, everybody!”“Patricia Berg! You’ve torn your clothes again playing
football! What am I going to do with you?”“I’ve a suggestion, Mom …
“Tell dad to get me a golf club membership and someclubs, and I’ll switch from football to golf.”“That’s an idea, Herman! Golf will be easier on her
clothes.”“All right, Patty. You win! I’ll get you a membership cardand clubs tomorrow!”
THREE YEARS LATER, IN 1935 …

“The Minnesota State Golf Championship Title was won
today by seventeen-year-old Patty Berg, who shows plentyof promise.”
LATER THAT YEAR, PATTY ENTERED THE
NATIONAL WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOURNAMENT.
THE FAMOUS GLENNA VARE DEFEATED HER.

“Im
Go

TW
AM

“M
and

“You didn’t win Patty, but you played a fine game.”“It’

PAGE 3: IN THE 1937 WOMEN’S NATIONAL, PATTY
PLAYED AGAINST ESTELLE LAWSON PAGE, AND
LOST AGAIN!

DE
PA“Patty, you dope!”“It’

IN 1938, WHEN PATTY AGAIN FACED MRS. PAGE …

“Pa

AS

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4/21/08 12:41:47 PM

A Champion“Patty Berg” wasoriginally publishedin the January/
February 1945 issueof True Comics.

. She was featured in a special-edition comic book telling her story. Read the text of the comic below.

nnty“Imagine … Twenty years old, and she’s National Women’s
Golf Champion!”TWO YEARS LATER, PATTY LEFT THE
AMATEUR RANKS.
“My firm will pay you a weekly salary to travel aroundand speak to schools about golf.”“It’s a deal!”

Y
D

DEC.. 8, 1941, ON THE ROAD TOPALESTINE, TEXAS ...
A SMASH-UP!
“It’s Patty Berg, the golf star!”…

“Patty you dope! Get hold of yourself!”

RE | Sponsored by Rolex

USGApattybergTAB.indd 9

PATTY CAME OUT OF THE ACCIDENT WITH A
LACERATED JAW, A BROKEN LEFT KNEE AND
GRIM PROSPECTS AS A CRIPPLED ATHLETE BUT
PATTY DID “GET HOLD!”
PAGE 4: SHE TRAINED AS A BOXER TRAINS. SHE
WALKED, BICYCLED, PUNCHED THE BAG FOR
TIMING, AND RESHAPED HER GOLF GAME.
IN JULY, 1943, PATTY MADE HER COMEBACK!
LIMPING, USING HER CLUBS AS WALKINGSTICKS, SHE WON THE WOMEN’S WESTERNTITLE.
SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, PATTY GAVE SPORTS
WRITERS SOME NEWS.

“No more golf for me for a while, boys! There’s more
important work to be done — from now on, I’m strictly amarine!”AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, ON
NOVEMBER 17, 1945 …
“You have been commissioned a second lieutenant in the
Marines. Congratulations!”“BE A MARINE — FREE A MARINE TO FIGHT!”
THAT’S THE SLOGAN OF THE WOMEN MARINESAND THAT’S WHY GOLF WILL HAVE TO TAKESECOND PLACE WITH PATTY BERG UNTIL THE
WAR IS WON.

Character of a Champion: Patty Berg

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4/21/08 12:41:51 PM

Turning Pro
C O U R A G E

H“The mental side ofgolf is so important:
Emotions, desire, attitude.
You must have control ofthem. You’ve got to play
one golf shot at a time
— just like you live one
day at a time.”

COURAGE
Patty Berg displayed courage during her
recovery from her automobile accident
and she inspired people with her hard
work to get herself back in shape toplay golf. When war was declared, sheenlisted, displaying the courage to serve
her country.
Newspapers have many examples ofcourage — from soldiers serving theircountry to individuals helping one
another. Find an article about a person
you think displays courage. Summarize
the article in a paragraph and present it
to your class as an oral report.

aving won virtually
Harbor, Patty was
every amateur
faced with another lifetournament available
changing hardship. Whileat the time, Patty was
driving with a friend fromapproached by the
Texas to Memphis, Tenn.,
Wilson Sporting Goods
to play in a British War
Company to turn
Relief exhibition, she
professional. Whenwas involved in a serious
Wilson first offeredhead-on car accident.
her a contract,
Patty was thrown into the
Patty was notwindshield and fractured
interested in the
her left knee in threeamountplaces. At first, Pattyof money she
thought this would be
could earn, but
the end of her golfing
rather how
career, but because of her
much sheindomitable courage, shewould be ablemustered the will to do
to contribute towhatever it might take tothe improvement ofovercome this challenge.
women’s golf. Upon
When her cast was
accepting the company’s
finally removed, sheoffer and turning
professional, Patty joined
was unable to bend her
Wilson’s advisory staff
knee properly and would
and began hosting golf
ultimately regain only 75
clinics and exhibitions
percent of its use. After— something she woulda year of recuperation
do tirelessly for the rest of
and intensive therapy,
her life.
she went to Mobile, Ala.,
When not organizing
to work out with boxer
exhibitions, the 5-footTommy Littleton every
1 powerhouse entered
day at his gym. ThroughPatty called Babe Didrikson Zaharias her friend. They shared not
golf tournaments. At that
only their love of golf but also a great sense of humor. They
her tireless commitment,
made golf history by forming the LPGA—Ladies’ Professionaltime, there were only
Patty was able to return
Golf Association.
five female professional
to top physical condition.
golfers and only three
She bicycled to build strength andtournament, and donated her firsttournaments available to them:agility and punched a punching bag
prize money to charity. The
the Titleholders, theto regain timing. Patty did whatever
23-year-old
went
on
to
win
Women’s
it took to keep playing the game sheboth the Asheville OpenWestern
and
the
Lake
Champlain
loved so dearly, and she succeeded.
Open andInvitational.
“After working with Tommy for
the Ashevilleabout six months, I was back home
Invitational.
and coming along fine.”
In 1941,
Patty wonthe Women’s
Western
On Dec. 8, 1941, just
In July 1943 — after an 18Open, her first
one
day
after
Pearl
professional
month recovery — Patty made her

10 Character of a Champion: Patty Berg
USGApattybergTAB.indd 10

Automobile
Accident

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Patty’s Comeback

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“I never look backward or sideways.
I look straight ahead.”comeback in the Women’s Western
Open, shooting a 76, winning thequalifying medal and four matches
in a row! In the final match she
was three down on the 31st hole,
but before teeing off that morning,
the courageous Patty had said shewould never give up. She won thenext four holes and pulled ahead
with a birdie on the 35th hole to
win the tournament. That same year,
she won the Women’s All-American
Open as well. Honoring her comeback, Patty was voted the Woman
Athlete of the Year for the second
time by the Associated Press.

Service to Country

Patty was a great patriot and felt it her
duty to sign up and help the war effort.
She served as a recruiting officer.

Directions

Read about Patty in this booklet andthen answer the questions to complete
the crossword puzzle.

– Patty Berg

Across2.

4.

How many old clubs did her father
give Patty when she first started
to play?
________ CUP The name of thetrophy for which the American
women’s amateur team played
against the Great Britain and
Ireland amateur women’s team.
5. Patty would
make her fanslaugh at these
events.

SKATING
INTERLACHEN

War was declared in 1941. In
1943, Patty enlisted in the Marine
Corps Women’s Reserve and went to
Officers’ Training School. Because
she had always been a woman ofservice, it was only natural for her
to serve her country. Committed toher golf game, she still practiced
daily. In 1944, she won the ProLady Victory National Tournament
paired with Johnny Revolta, and in1945 First Lt. Patty Berg received
an honorable discharge from theMarines. She went on to win the
All-American Open for the second
time that same year.
8.

Most women wore thesewhen playing golf in theearlier days.

9.

At which country club did
Patty first play?

10. “Do your ______, no matter what.”
Fill in the missing word from Patty’squote.
11. When the Ladies Professional Golf
Association was formed, Patty was
the first one of these.
13. Tommy Littleton helped Patty
recover from a knee injury–what
was his job?

FOUR
MINNESOTA
CURTISSKIRTBUSINESSDREAMBESTWILSON
BOXER

Down
1.

What did Patty study at the
University of Minnesota?

3.

Patty won this state championshipwhen she was seventeen.

5.

Patty’s father believed in helping
others and at his request, Patty
played hometown ____ exhibitions
every Saturday and Sunday.

BABE
CLINICSPRESIDENTCHARITY

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Before golf, Patty was goodat this.

7.

Which sporting goods company
did Patty represent as aprofessional golfer?

10. This was the first name of
Patty’s friend.
12. Patty thought to do this was “oneof the greatest things in life.”

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TIMELINE: 1940-1945
1940: Turned professionaland joined the Wilson
Sporting Goods
women’s advisory
staff
1941: Won Western Open,
Asheville Open, Lake
Champlain InvitationalOpen
1943: Made her comeback
winning her second
Women’s Western Open,
All-American Open;
Voted Woman Athleteof the Year for thesecond time
1943: Enlisted in Marine
Corps Women’s Reserve
1944: Won Pro-Lady Victory
National Tournament,
paired with Johnny
Revolta
1945: Received honorable
discharge from Marine
Corps, rank of firstlieutenant
1945: Won second AllAmerican Open

Let’s Talk It OverHow did Patty demonstrate courage
after her automobile accident? What do
you think she did that inspired people?
What can we learn from her example?
Do you think it is possible to develop
courage without challenges?

Character of a Champion: Patty Berg 11
4/21/08 12:41:53 PM

Making HistoryO P T I M I S MA“Through these clinics
and exhibitions, I
feel I can give somethingback by helping other people
with their game of golf.
And we have humor in ourgolf show. So if I can getthem to play a little better,or if I can put a smile on
people’s faces and joy intheir hearts, that makes me
feel just super.”OPTIMISM
Patty Berg believed an optimistic
attitude was key to becoming achampion. Look through the newspaper
for a headline that you think is negative.
Using antonyms, rewrite the headline sothat it says something optimistic.

fter leaving the Marines, Patty
returned to golf. She was oneof the most popular golfers
alive at this time. Fans cheered heralong everywhere she played.
After years of a world
war, the country waseager for the
optimism
and inspiration Patty represented. In
1946, Patty won four tournaments,
including the very first UnitedStates Women’s Open.
Her positive thinking and skill
helped her win three tournaments
in 1947 and again in 1948, all thewhile touring the country, visiting
schools and speaking to young
people about golf. At the clinics,
her positive attitude provided
encouragement and her boisterous
humor provided laughs. “You’ve
heard Mark Twain’s definition ofgolf, haven’t you?” she’d ask. Whenno one answered, she’d respond, “He
called it ‘a good walk spoiled.’ ”
In 1948 she won her fourth
Titleholders Championship andher third Women’s Western Open.
Always wanting to encourage
women’s golf, she donated without
hesitation her $500 earnings fromthe Western Open to the Women’sProfessional Golf Association topromote junior golf among girls.

Changing Women’sProfessional Golf

Patty was determined to improveand strengthen
professionalgolf forwomen, andthrough her
optimistic
attitude sheachieved her
dream. In
January 1949,

12 Character of a Champion: Patty Berg
USGApattybergTAB.indd 12

While traveling the country for tournaments, Patty gave clinics and often talked to young
people about golf. “I enjoy these golf shows because I love people and I love golf. Even
when I played competitive golf … I always took some time out to put on golf shows.”

she would change professional
women’s golf forever. At the
Venetian Hotel in Miami, Fla.,
Patty met with good friend
and fellow professional
golfer Babe Zaharias, Babe’s
husband, George, and Babe’s
manager, Fred Corcoran.

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Together, with the financial backingof Wilson Sporting Goods, they
reorganized the pro tour for womenand renamed the group the Ladies’
Professional Golf Association(LPGA). Patty was elected its firstpresident, holding the title for four
years. With Patty’s perseverance and
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4/21/08 12:41:54 PM

“Don’t rush, and play one shot at a time just like you live one

day at a time. And don’t think beyond the ball. The minute you
think beyond the ball, that’s when you see all the trouble.”– Patty Berg

the help of her friends, women’s
professional golf quickly went froma mere three tournaments to nine.
In spite of the hard work andcommitment it took to organize theLPGA, Patty still found the time toplay in tournaments. That same year,
1949, at age 31, Patty opened her
tournament campaign by winning
the Tampa Open, then went on to
win two more competitions and took
the runner-up position in the WorldChampionship. Because of her
outstanding play, the Los Angeles
Times voted Patty the Woman
Golfer of the Year. The following
year she won four tournaments andwas elected into the U.S. Women’s
Golf Hall of Fame.
On April 26, 1952, during the Richmond Open, Patty set two world records for women,shooting a 30 for nine holes and 64 for 18: records that stood for 12 years.
In 1951, during the Weathervane
tournament, she beat her dear
Patty recognized that everyone
driver. Not everybody is going tofriend Babe Didrikson Zaharias inhad strengths, but knew it was
be the greatest bunker player, or thea 36-hole playoff
up to the individual to develop
greatest 2- or 3-iron player, or the
by one stroke,these talents and not begreatest putter,” Patty said. “Takefinishing with a
discouraged by what waswhat you have and make it better.”
146. By winninglacking. “Not everybody
Her winning attitude and optimismthat tournament,is going to be the longest
enabled her to make history,
she became
captain of the��������������������������������
Weathervane
International
women’s team,a team that
toured GreatBritain playing
teams of all-female or
all-male golfers.

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U.S. Women’s Open

The first U.S. Women’s Openin 1946 was started by Hope
Seignious, who founded the
Women’s Professional Golf
Association (WPGA) in 1944. Its
grueling format consisted of 36
holes of qualifying rounds, then18-hole matches with a 36-holesemifinal and a 36-hole final.
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TIMELINE: 1946-1952
1946: Won N. Calif. Medal
Tournament, N. Calif.,
Pebble Beach, & U.S.
Women’s Opens
1947: Won N. Calif. Women’s,& Pebble Beach
Opens, N. Calif. Medal
Tournament
1948: Won Titleholders,
Women’s Western, &Hardscrabble Opens
1949: Won Tampa, Women’s
Texas, & Hardscrabble
Opens
1950: Won Orlando Mixed
Two-Ball, Eastern,Sunset Hills, &Hardscrabble Opens
1951: Won two Weathervane
Women’s Opens,
Weathervane Women’sOpen Playoff, Sandhills& Women’s Western
Opens
1952: Won & set two world
records at RichmondOpen, won New
Orleans, & New York
Weathervane Opens

Let’s Talk It Over
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Sponsored by Rolex

What things did Patty say and do thatshow her optimism?
How do you think her optimistic
attitude made her so popular?
Are there some things in your lifethat seem negative? How could you
look at those things in a positive or
optimistic way?

Character of a Champion: Patty Berg 13
4/21/08 12:41:58 PM

Years of Accomplishment“Well into her senior years, Patty’s enthusiasm and achievements continued. She madenumerous public appearances. Many were to accept the awards she so richly deserved,
but others were to spread the word about the game she loved. Patty Berg died in 2006
at the age of 83. As a symbol of sportsmanship, athletic ability, faith and charity, sheleft a void that will never be filled.” –Rhonda Glenn, women’s golf historian

S

P

O

R T

S

M

A

N

S

H

I

P

Her Father Influenced a Lifetime of Giving: Patty’s father instilled in her the importance ofgiving back to the game of golf. She fondly recalled him telling her, “There’s one thing I want you to know. If
you’re going to play golf and travel and have everything great and wonderful, you must share it with other people. That
was the sentence … you must share. He said that the minute I forgot about sharing that he didn’t want me to play anymore.”

TIMELINE: 1953 — 2006

“I

think the greatest thing 1953: Won Jacksonville Open, 5th Titleholders, New
Orleans Open, Reno Open, 3rd All-American Open,in life is to be able
World Championship, tied for Phoenix Weathervane
to dream, to have great
aspirations. But I think it is
Won Vare Trophy, voted Most
Outstanding Woman Athlete of theequally important that you
Year by Minnesota Sports Writers
can have a will that canturn that dream into reality.” 1954: Won Orlando Mixed Two-Ballwith Pete Cooper, Triangle Round
Robin, 2nd World Championship,
Ardmore OpenSPORTSMANSHIP
Patty Berg was recognized for her
sportsmanship on and off the course.
Find 10 words in today’s newspaperthat describe Patty’s sportsmanship. Usethese words to write a paragraph about
sportsmanship.

Elected into Helms Foundation Hallof Fame1955: Won St. Petersburg Women’s Open, 6th

Titleholders, 5th Women’s Western Open, 3rd WorldChampionship, Clock Open, 4th All-American Open

14 Character of a Champion: Patty Berg
USGApattybergTAB.indd 14

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Won Vare Trophy, voted Woman Athlete of the Year by
the Associated Press, voted Woman Professional Golferof the Year by the Los Angeles Times

1956: Won Dallas Open, Arkansas Open;
Vare Trophy, Kappa Kappa Gamma
Alumnae achievement award

1957: Won Havana Open, 7th Titleholders,

6th Women’s Western Open, 5th AllAmerican Open, 4th World Championship

1958: Won 7th Women’s Western Open,American Open; First woman elected andinducted into Minnesota Sports Hall of
Fame

1959: Received William Richardson Award, Women’s

Golf Personality Award of the Year; Scored first everhole-in-one at U.S. Women’s Open Championship
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“I have the same spirit, the same drive, the same enthusiasm,
the same love for the game and for people that I’ve always
had. I’m very happy.”–Patty Berg

1960: Won 2nd American Open
1961: Elected and inducted into Florida Sports
Hall of Fame, made Honorary Life Memberof two more country clubs

1962: Won Muskegee Open; First woman togive golf clinics in Japan
Patty’s father, Herman, dies

1963: Conducted clinics and exhibitions
throughout Great Britain and Europe;
Received Bob Jones Award forsportsmanship from the USGA, Boston
Achievement Award

1966: Honorary chairman of1966 U.S. Women’s OpenChampionship; Honorary life
member of Hazeltine National
Golf Club in Minnesota

1969: Patty Berg Golf Classic(LPGA) established

1971: Cancer surgery
1972: American Golf Hall of Fame
1974: World Golf Hall of Fame; Madehonorary life member of two more clubs

1975: Received Frank Leahy Golf Award,
Joe Graffis Award, Ben Hogan Award;
Churchman’s Sports Hall of Fame, AllAmerican Collegiate Golf Hall of Fame;
St. Paul Jaycees Ladies Golf Tournament
renamed “Patty Berg Golf Classic”

1979: Received City of Hope Special Victor
Award; LPGA created the Patty Berg Award

1980: Hip replacement surgery
Elected and inducted into the Women’sSports Hall of Fame

1983: Selected as one of the five mostinfluential women in golf by Golf Digest;
Received Role Model Award from the Older
Women’s League, Courage Award from the
St. Paul-Minneapolis Minute Men

1984: Outstanding Professional AthleteAward of Sports Society; Presented on
Honor Roll of Distinguished
Good Neighbors

1985: Established the Patty Berg
Charity Golf Classic

1986: Received Old Tom MorrisAward, the highest honor Golf Course
Superintendents Association of America
offered1988: Selected as one of the 100 Golf Heroes
by Golf Magazine

1989: First recipient of Spirit of Golf Award
1990: Received Patty Berg Award from LPGA;
Marked her 50th year as a golf professionaland representative of Wilson Sporting Goods
Co.

2006: Professional and representative ofWilson Sporting Goods Co.

1976: First woman to receive humanitariansportsman’s award of the United Cerebral
Palsy Association of Westchester County
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Died September 10 from complicationsof Alzheimer’s
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Comedic Routines

Patty’s dedication to golf went far beyond
playing tournaments. She hosted clinics andexhibitions worldwide and was known for hersolid golf knowledge as well as comedic routinesand silly costumes. She discovered humor was ahealthy addition to her clinics in 1921 when she
accidentally stumbled over some clubs during
an exhibition that prompted a huge laugh fromthe crowd. Patty was ever-enthusiastic and filledwith boundless energy. She maintained a quick
wit and a genuine warmth for others. These
were her trademarks, and she was repeatedly
recognized for them throughout her storied
career. But in 1963 one award topped all theothers. In that year, Patty received the USGA’s
highest honor recognizing the golfer who
embodied distinguished sportsmanship and good
will: the Bob Jones Award.

Let’s Talk It Over
When she lost, Patty made a point of congratulating her
opponent. She became good friends with many of hercompetitors. Why do you think she is admired for that? Is
being a champion just about winning?

Character of a Champion: Patty Berg 15
4/21/08 12:42:13 PM

The Make-Up of A Champion
by Patty BergI

have found that
there are certain
basic qualities andcharacteristics you
absolutely must have to
become a winner and achampion, and here iswhat I sincerely believe:
I believe you’ve got
to have the will to win
and not merely thewish to win.
And while this will to win is
so important in all aspects of life
and our American lifestyles, it is
the most important ingredient thatmust prevail in the thinking of
every athlete.
I think the greatest thing in life
is to be able to dream, to havegreat aspirations. But I think it
is equally important that you canhave a will that can turn that dreaminto reality.
I also believe if you are going
to be great in sports — or life
in general — you must havesomething else. You’ve got to haveinspiration. You show me someone
who has no inspiration and I’ll
show you someone as

good as dead. Show me someone
with no challenges, no goals, nogreat inspiration, and I’ll show you
someone who won’t make anythingin life.
You’ve got to be inspired. Let
some great thing pull you up. In
living, let some goal, some great
ideal: a great coach, some closefriend, a minister or a priest … let
almighty God inspire you up to theheights to “catch a vision of what
you can be.”I don’t think you really win
until you live up to that high ideal
within you that tells you “Do yourbest, no matter what.” That is so
important … “Do your best” …
do your very best. Because theessential thing in life is notconquering but fighting
well. This does not meanthat you won’t conquer.
It doesn’t mean that you
won’t find victory. It simply
means that when you doyour best … your very best
… you find the deepest
kind of triumph, the deepest
kind of victory.
And it is positively vitalthat you never give up. A
champion never gives up,
he refuses to give up no matter
what the circumstances may be.
A champion has a heart that
refuses to falter, refuses to skipa beat. The quality of spirit thatcannot be beaten, no matter
what happens, the soul to carry
him through.
It’s that top-class quality thatmakes a champion in athletics,
it’s that refusal to let down, that
refusal to give up.
It’s that resolve in the mind to
go on, no matter what may
happen. I’ve come to believe that
it is necessary in life, too. I don’tcare what avenue of life you’re
walking, you’ve got to have thismental attitude.

are portions of photos found inside this special booklet. Find the page where
Picture This Beloweach photo appears and write the page number in the correct circle.

Patty Berg Swing Parade History:
United States Women’s OpenThe Patty Berg Swing Parade, a clinicfeaturing great champions, was reinstituted
at the 1995 U.S. Women’s Open on the50th anniversary of the championship andhas been a popular feature ever since.
The Swing Parade began in the early
1950s. Patty Berg, the consummate
performer and the first U.S. Women’sOpen champion, hosted the clinics. Patty
would enlist about a dozen players to hit
golf shots in a clinic in which she would
serve as the moderator. While the players
amazed spectators with their golf shots,
Berg’s great showmanship and comedic
talents carried the day.
Berg continued these performances
until she retired from competition in the
mid-1960s.
When the USGA celebrated the 50th
anniversary of the U.S. Women’s Openin 1995 at the Broadmoor Golf Club inColorado Springs, Patty Berg was asked toagain host her Swing Parade. She agreed
and it was a great hit, attracting nearly
1,000 people. Patty told jokes and hit a
few balls while all of the past champions
hit shots.
The Swing Parade was such a successthat it has been staged at every Women’sOpen since. After Patty’s death in 2006,
it was determined that the event would becalled The Patty Berg Swing Parade in her
memory. Kathy Whitworth, who has won
84 official LPGA tournaments, serves as
the moderator. Participating players haveincluded pioneers of women’s golf Peggy
Kirk Bell and Marilynn Smith as well as
modern champions Pat Bradley, Sandra
Haynie and Betsy King.

ANS: Top left to right: 10, 6, 15.

Text Credits:
Page 2: PATTY! The Sports Career of Patricia
Berg. Hahn, James and Lynn. Crestwood House,
Inc. c. 1981
Page 3: PATTY BERG – AN EXCLUSIVEINTERVIEW, GFW Golf for Women, Jan/Feb.
1989
Page 4: PATTY! The Sports Career of Patricia
Berg. Hahn, James and Lynn. Crestwood House,
Inc. c. 1981
Page 5: “Patty Berg – An Exclusive Interview.”
GFW Golf for Women. Jan/Feb. 1989

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USGApattybergTAB.indd 16

Page 6: The Golf Journal. People In Golf:“Patty Berg, One of a Kind” by Otis Dypwick.
October 1971
Page 7: PATTY! The Sports Career of Patricia
Berg. Hahn, James and Lynn. Crestwood House,
Inc. c. 1981
Page 10: “A Winner With Will.” Golf Course
Management, Official Publication of the Golf
Course Superintendents Assoc. of America. By
Clay Lloyd. December 1985.
Fairway, “Interview: Patty Berg.” Official
Publication of the LPGA, 1989

Page 11: The Golf Journal. People In Golf:“Patty Berg, One of a Kind” by Otis Dypwick.
October 1971
Page 12: “Patty Berg – An Exclusive Interview.”
GFW Golf for Women. Jan/Feb. 1989
Page 13: “Patty Berg – An Exclusive Interview.”
GFW Golf for Women. Jan/Feb. 1989
Page 14: “Patty Berg – An Exclusive Interview.”
GFW Golf for Women. Jan/Feb. 1989
“Patty Berg’s Clinic” Country Club Golfer.
February, 1980

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Page 15: “Patty Berg – An Exclusive Interview.”
GFW Golf for Women. Jan/Feb. 1989
Page 16: Her speech, “The Make-Up of aChampion.”

Picture Credits:
The pictures in this supplement are all bycourtesy of the USGA Museum.

Character of a Champion: Patty Berg 16
4/21/08 12:42:18 PM