Driving Force Women’s Golf Club – 10th Anniversary
Remembering the 10 years - By Founder, Essie McGhee
It is 2017 and the 10th Anniversary of Driving Force Women’s Golf Club. I am very proud of the Driving Force Women’s Golf Club. Since this is the 10th anniversary, I can’t help but think of how the Club started. In 2006, I played in the President’s Tournament at Robert Trent Jones with Margie Lee and Dr. Joe Lee, president of Alabama State University. Margie enjoyed the tournament and talked about her vision for a Women Golf Club in Montgomery, Alabama. Margie scheduled golf Social at her home and sent out invitations to women interested in learning to play golf. In attendance at Margie’s home, were more than 80 women interested in learning to play the game of golf. In an attempt to make Margie’s vision a reality, Sandy Osborne planned a 5 day Retreat to St Augustine, Florida for four ladies, namely Margie Lee, Essie McGhee, Hattie Robinson and Sandy Osborne. The major goal for the Retreat was to develop By- Laws, Rules and Guidelines to be used for a Montgomery Women’s Golf Club. During the Retreat, Sandy kept us focused and told each of us the position we would hold for the new Women’s Golf Club. Margie Lee would be president, Essie McGhee would be vice- president, Hattie Robinson would be secretary and Sandy Osborne would be treasurer. The Retreat was successful because we accomplished all of our goals. In January 2007, all the women in Montgomery who were interested in playing golf met at Arrowhead Country Club and voted on a Mission Statement and a name for the Club. The women voted to name the Club -- Driving Force Women’s Golf Club. The women also voted on the Mission for Driving Force Women’s Golf Club. The Mission is to Enhance women's knowledge about the game of golf, Improve women's golf skills, Provide opportunities for women to enjoy camaraderie with other members, Enter into competition with other clubs or groups, and encourage women to expose and mentor youth golfers to all aspects of the game.
With a clear mission, Driving Force Women’s Golf Club began League Play in April, 2007 at Gateway Golf Course with a 2-women team format. The league started with 22 teams for a total of 44 women participating in League Play. Using the 2-women team format, the women played 9 holes of golf and winners were recognized at the Annual Awards Banquet in November. The League has continued to grow and now has League Play for 9 holes at Gateway and 18 holes of golf at Lagoon. In addition to League Play, Driving Force sponsors special golf events during the season and an annual competition between Alabama and Georgia women. Driving Force Women’s Golf Club won the competition in 2015 and we were very very happy. The Cup was housed at our home golf course, Lagoon.
Driving Force Women’s Golf Club is stronger today because of strong leadership, dedicated members and scheduled activities which include golf lessons from USGA Teaching Professionals Thomas McGhee & Rob Thomas. Sandy Osborne did an excellent job of recruiting women for the Driving Force Women’s Golf Club/League. Sandy was the president for 3 years and did an excellent job of maintaining tradition and creating new norms for the Club.
Special thanks to the past presidents, Margie Lee, Essie McGhee, Sandy Osborne, Valerie Smedley, Kim Davis and Olivia Gibson for their strong leadership. Olivia is the present president and doing an excellent job of holding on to traditions, creating new norms and higher heights for Driving Force. Because of strong leadership and visions, Driving Force sponsors the Annual Margie L. Lee Mars & Venus Tournament.
Driving Force Women’s Golf Club has accomplished every part of the Mission Statement and does an excellent job of recognizing women for success in golf such as mentoring, sponsoring and tournaments. I won the Montgomery City Championship in 2016 and Driving Force recognized me at the Awards Banquet with a dozen red roses, a proclamation from Mayor Todd Strange and a nomination for an Award at the Montgomery, Tuskegee Times Black History Awards Banquet at the RSA Activity Center. Special thanks to Cubie Rae Hayes for nominating me for the Montgomery Tuskegee Times Black History Award. I was presented the Trail Blazer Award and it is beautiful. Special thanks to Montgomery Tuskegee Times and Driving Force.
Again, I am so proud and thankful for Driving Force Women’s Golf Club. This year, 2017, we are celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Driving Force Women’s Golf Club. One of the founders, Sandy Osborne, went home to be with her Heavenly Father in 2016. Sandy was very helpful to Driving Force and anyone who needed help. I remember her praying with me and comforting me when my son was killed in a car accident. She was always on a mission for God and I believe Driving Force Women’s Golf Club was her second love. We will continue to miss Sandy Osborne.
Founder Margie Lee, served as the first president for Driving Force and did an excellent job. Margie moved to Jupiter, Florida in 2008. She continued to support Driving Force by participating and making monetary donations for the Margie L. Lee Spirit Award which is given to the serving president at the end of her term. Because of Margie’s vision, participation and donations, Driving Force honored her by naming our annual tournament the Margie L. Lee Mars & Venus Tournament.
Founder Hattie Robinson served as our first secretary in 2007 & 2008 and served as vice president in 2014 & 2015 and as tournament coordinator for the annual 9/18 holes Season Opener Scramble for Driving Force Women’s Golf Club and the Alabama/Georgia Shootout Women competition. For the past 10 years, Hattie has been actively involved in all of Driving Force League Play activities.
Founder Essie McGhee served as first vice president and served as president after Margie moved to Jupiter, Florida. I have and will continue to work with Driving Force on organizing and planning for the Annual competition between the Alabama and Georgia Women. I am also serving as chairperson for the By Laws Committee. The Founders, Margie Lee, Hattie Robinson and Essie McGhee have and will continue to work with the president, executive board and the membership in any way we can to keeping Driving Force Women’s Golf Club moving forward while being an exciting and vibrant golf league for women.
Remembering the 10 years - By Founder, Essie McGhee
It is 2017 and the 10th Anniversary of Driving Force Women’s Golf Club. I am very proud of the Driving Force Women’s Golf Club. Since this is the 10th anniversary, I can’t help but think of how the Club started. In 2006, I played in the President’s Tournament at Robert Trent Jones with Margie Lee and Dr. Joe Lee, president of Alabama State University. Margie enjoyed the tournament and talked about her vision for a Women Golf Club in Montgomery, Alabama. Margie scheduled golf Social at her home and sent out invitations to women interested in learning to play golf. In attendance at Margie’s home, were more than 80 women interested in learning to play the game of golf. In an attempt to make Margie’s vision a reality, Sandy Osborne planned a 5 day Retreat to St Augustine, Florida for four ladies, namely Margie Lee, Essie McGhee, Hattie Robinson and Sandy Osborne. The major goal for the Retreat was to develop By- Laws, Rules and Guidelines to be used for a Montgomery Women’s Golf Club. During the Retreat, Sandy kept us focused and told each of us the position we would hold for the new Women’s Golf Club. Margie Lee would be president, Essie McGhee would be vice- president, Hattie Robinson would be secretary and Sandy Osborne would be treasurer. The Retreat was successful because we accomplished all of our goals. In January 2007, all the women in Montgomery who were interested in playing golf met at Arrowhead Country Club and voted on a Mission Statement and a name for the Club. The women voted to name the Club -- Driving Force Women’s Golf Club. The women also voted on the Mission for Driving Force Women’s Golf Club. The Mission is to Enhance women's knowledge about the game of golf, Improve women's golf skills, Provide opportunities for women to enjoy camaraderie with other members, Enter into competition with other clubs or groups, and encourage women to expose and mentor youth golfers to all aspects of the game.
With a clear mission, Driving Force Women’s Golf Club began League Play in April, 2007 at Gateway Golf Course with a 2-women team format. The league started with 22 teams for a total of 44 women participating in League Play. Using the 2-women team format, the women played 9 holes of golf and winners were recognized at the Annual Awards Banquet in November. The League has continued to grow and now has League Play for 9 holes at Gateway and 18 holes of golf at Lagoon. In addition to League Play, Driving Force sponsors special golf events during the season and an annual competition between Alabama and Georgia women. Driving Force Women’s Golf Club won the competition in 2015 and we were very very happy. The Cup was housed at our home golf course, Lagoon.
Driving Force Women’s Golf Club is stronger today because of strong leadership, dedicated members and scheduled activities which include golf lessons from USGA Teaching Professionals Thomas McGhee & Rob Thomas. Sandy Osborne did an excellent job of recruiting women for the Driving Force Women’s Golf Club/League. Sandy was the president for 3 years and did an excellent job of maintaining tradition and creating new norms for the Club.
Special thanks to the past presidents, Margie Lee, Essie McGhee, Sandy Osborne, Valerie Smedley, Kim Davis and Olivia Gibson for their strong leadership. Olivia is the present president and doing an excellent job of holding on to traditions, creating new norms and higher heights for Driving Force. Because of strong leadership and visions, Driving Force sponsors the Annual Margie L. Lee Mars & Venus Tournament.
Driving Force Women’s Golf Club has accomplished every part of the Mission Statement and does an excellent job of recognizing women for success in golf such as mentoring, sponsoring and tournaments. I won the Montgomery City Championship in 2016 and Driving Force recognized me at the Awards Banquet with a dozen red roses, a proclamation from Mayor Todd Strange and a nomination for an Award at the Montgomery, Tuskegee Times Black History Awards Banquet at the RSA Activity Center. Special thanks to Cubie Rae Hayes for nominating me for the Montgomery Tuskegee Times Black History Award. I was presented the Trail Blazer Award and it is beautiful. Special thanks to Montgomery Tuskegee Times and Driving Force.
Again, I am so proud and thankful for Driving Force Women’s Golf Club. This year, 2017, we are celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Driving Force Women’s Golf Club. One of the founders, Sandy Osborne, went home to be with her Heavenly Father in 2016. Sandy was very helpful to Driving Force and anyone who needed help. I remember her praying with me and comforting me when my son was killed in a car accident. She was always on a mission for God and I believe Driving Force Women’s Golf Club was her second love. We will continue to miss Sandy Osborne.
Founder Margie Lee, served as the first president for Driving Force and did an excellent job. Margie moved to Jupiter, Florida in 2008. She continued to support Driving Force by participating and making monetary donations for the Margie L. Lee Spirit Award which is given to the serving president at the end of her term. Because of Margie’s vision, participation and donations, Driving Force honored her by naming our annual tournament the Margie L. Lee Mars & Venus Tournament.
Founder Hattie Robinson served as our first secretary in 2007 & 2008 and served as vice president in 2014 & 2015 and as tournament coordinator for the annual 9/18 holes Season Opener Scramble for Driving Force Women’s Golf Club and the Alabama/Georgia Shootout Women competition. For the past 10 years, Hattie has been actively involved in all of Driving Force League Play activities.
Founder Essie McGhee served as first vice president and served as president after Margie moved to Jupiter, Florida. I have and will continue to work with Driving Force on organizing and planning for the Annual competition between the Alabama and Georgia Women. I am also serving as chairperson for the By Laws Committee. The Founders, Margie Lee, Hattie Robinson and Essie McGhee have and will continue to work with the president, executive board and the membership in any way we can to keeping Driving Force Women’s Golf Club moving forward while being an exciting and vibrant golf league for women.
