A friend of mine, who resides in Florida, told me about a woman who played on the college team in my previous home town of Miami Shores, Florida. She played for the Buccaneers at Barry University, a Division II team.

“Ok,” I said, “that’s very nice…” My friend continued, “She was 61.” My mouth dropped five miles. “What? Are you kidding me!”

Judy Ellers Street is the oldest NCAA collegiate player…ever! But her golfing legacy didn’t start in Miami. After enrolling as a non-scholarship athlete at UM in 1958, Eller soon became a dominant force throughout the intercollegiate scene.

In May 1959, she won the first of two consecutive Southern Amateur Championships and in June, 1958, became the first Hurricane female athlete to win an individual championship, capturing the National intercollegiate Championship. In May 1960, Eller Street joined future LPGA Hall of Earner JoAnne Carner and future USGA president Judy Bell on the American team that won the Curtis Cup.

Judy’s golf legacy begins even earlier at home in Old Hickory, Tennessee with her family. In fact, the Eller family is recognized as the first family of golf for the state of Tennessee!

In a delightful southern accent, Judy shares her story.

Judy: I grew up in Old Hickory, Tennessee. I lived and breathed golf my entire life. Our family was all about golf to the point that the Eller family became known as the first family of golf for the state of Tennessee. In 1993, we were honored by the National Golf Foundation with the Jack Nicklaus Golf Family of the Year for our contribution to the game.

I played my first tournament in the women’s division touring the state with my mom, Ruth, and my older sister, Beverly (Eller) Pearce, playing what we called the “Tennessee fried-chicken circuit.” Because there were no junior tournaments for girls then, we’d compete in one-day invitationals against older women, stopping midway through their 18 holes for a fried-chicken lunch. We were the only girls playing at that time.

My father Harold Eller, was the golf professional and green superintendent at Old Hickory Country Club for 34 Years, and retired in 1979. My mother Ruth Eller, considered one of the pioneers of Tennessee junior golf, initiated the Tennessee Junior Golf Championship in 1967, which served as the first true statewide junior-golf activity. She continued to work with the USGA Junior Golf Committee for twenty years.

My two older brothers also dedicated their lives to the game; Richard, a golf professional and a course designer, and Mike, who had a lifelong career in golf-course ownership.

My sister Beverly, also quite a player, and inducted—as I am with my Dad—into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame in 2009, currently resides in The Villages outside of Orlando. The Villages is one of the largest golf communities in the world with over 75,000, 55+ senior residents, 36 executive-style courses and ten 18-hole regulation courses. Everyone in this community owns a golf cart.

MP: So I would imagine, it’s the go-to spot for golf enthusiasts over the age of 55!

Sister Rivalry

Beverly and Judy behaved as any two normal sisters behave with heavy rivalry throughout their youth, especially with the game of golf. They played their first competition, the Nashville City Tournament, against each other—Judy 12, her sister 16. Judy was a fierce competitor and knew what it took to win, especially against her older sister…a competitive mind-set and lots of practice. Consequently, Beverly never won against her sister.

MP: Your sister never won against you, but she was certainly a force in the game.

Judy: Yes, of course. In fact, Beverly significantly influenced Tennessee golf on and off the course, playing in more State Women’s Amateurs than any other person.  She won five Tennessee Women’s Senior Amateur Championships (1987, 88, 91, 92 & 94) and was a semifinalist in the Women’s State Amateur twice.

“It was a shock to learn I will be included among only thirty-three in the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame,” Beverly said. “This is a tremendous honor. Having played in our State Amateur for over 50 years, I have had the pleasure of competing with all of our great players, from Marguerite Gaut and Margaret Lee to Betty Probasco, Connie Day, and my sister, Judy Street.” -Beverly Eller Pearce

MP: Competing against your sister and always winning…that must have caused friction between the two of you?

Judy: There were tears shed, yes. It wasn’t easy competing against your sister. And I certainly didn’t make it any easier. During rounds, I would lie down on the ground to see who was away. If our balls were even close to the fairway or the rough, I would lie down to get a straight look at it to see who had to hit first. And Beverly did not like to practice as much as I did, and I think that was the main difference. She was the oldest, and I think probably there was a lot of pressure on being the oldest.

MP: So you believe practice played a role in your success?

Judy: I loved to practice and Bev had no interest in it. There were no driving ranges back when we played, so we would save all of our old balls in an old leather bag and with the help of a caddy—which I paid 50 cents an hour—would collect the balls as I hit to him as the target. It was the only time I could use a caddy, so I really enjoyed my practice time. So yes, I guess that did play a major role that lead me to win 7 State Amateur title victories.

MP: Did you have aspirations of continuing on as a professional player?

Judy: I gave up the game at 30 to raise a family and be a loving wife. Unfortunately, in 1996, we divorced, and I moved to Miami from Tennessee. However, in 2001, I was back in the game carrying my own bag—as an amateur—and very much by accident!

continued on next page »