London, England: Beverly Lewis, a PGA Master Professional and the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland’s first female captain, has passed away at the age of 71 following a long and brave battle against leukaemia.

One of just two women to attain PGA Master Professional status, Lewis became a master of the many facets of the golfing world she tackled after taking up the game at the age of 18.

“Beverly showed what could be achieved by PGA Professionals. In doing so, she was a credit to the Association and the world of golf. She was unfailingly courteous, friendly, willing to pass on her extensive knowledge of the game and always generous with her time,” said Robert Maxfield, Chief Executive of The PGA, an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation. 

“We have lost a friend as well as a valued and distinguished PGA Member and it’s fitting the award for the foremost female PGA Assistant of the Year, the Beverly Lewis Trophy, bears her name. On behalf of The PGA I extend our heartfelt and sincere condolences to her husband, wonderful family and legion of friends,” added Maxfield.

Having learned golf’s rudiments on a pitch-and-putt course in her native Essex, Lewis was the county’s ladies amateur champion within four years. She joined Thorndon Park Golf Club 12 months later and remained a member for the rest of her life.

Lewis turned professional in 1978, and was a founder member of the Women’s PGA, an organisation she chaired between 1979 and 1981, and in 1986, four years after becoming a PGA Professional. She won two WPGA events during her eight years on Tour, before turning her attention to coaching – for the English Ladies’ Golf Association, county teams and players of all abilities, from aspiring young professionals to club members.

Her extensive knowledge of the game and the effortless and easy-to-understand way she imparted it resulted in her broadcasting for the BBC, Australia’s Channel 7 and ESPN. She also contributed to golf magazines, wrote 10 books on the game’s technique, was an accomplished after-dinner speaker and, more recently, became a qualified R&A referee.

In addition, Lewis was a PGA Professional at four clubs in Essex: JJB Golf Centre, Romford; Langdon Hills Golf Club, Bulphan; Garon Park Golf Complex, Southend-on-Sea; and Brentwood Park Golf Club, Brentwood. 

This wealth of experience and the respect with which she was held in the game made her a natural choice to become the PGA’s first female captain in 2005. The appointment followed a discussion between the then PGA chairman Dr Phil Weaver and Chief Executive Sandy Jones during the 2002 US Masters.

“It was customary for us to put forward candidates to be captain to the PGA Board,” Dr Weaver recalled. “The pair of us were sitting by the 16th green at Augusta watching Chris di Marco when the topic as to who would succeed John Yeo in 2005 was raised. As the role had been undertaken by a man for more than a century since the Association was formed, we felt it was time a woman was considered, especially given the increasing number becoming PGA Professionals and the rise of the women’s game.

“In that respect, Beverly was the obvious choice. She was highly respected in the Association and the game, had a wealth of experience and when we put her name forward the Board was unanimous in its agreement. It was a ground-breaking move at the time and Beverly was stunned. Initially she thought it was a wind-up! But, as we expected, she proved to be an outstanding Captain.”

Lewis was preceded in the role by Yeo, Dave Thomas and Alan Walker, a friend and colleague for more than 40 years. Paying tribute to her, Walker said: “Beverly was one of the most charming, considerate and passionate people I have ever had the privilege to meet in my life as a PGA Professional. Her passing is one of the saddest days I can remember. Her zest for life with her husband, Ken, and her love of golf was unparalleled.

“Beverly accomplished so much in her life as a tournament professional, respected coach, TV pundit, author of numerous golf books, committee person and, of course, the first lady in the history of the Professional Golfers’ Association to be elected its Captain. I cannot think of any area of professional golf in which Bev didn’t have an interest.  

“In the past months she had made good progress and was once again playing regular golf at her beloved Thorndon Park. But just a couple of weeks ago we received the heart-breaking news the leukaemia had returned – we were so shocked. I will remember Beverly as a beacon for all that is good in a person – someone who always did the right thing, acted with courtesy, humility and professionalism and her enthusiasm for golf and life was overwhelming. We have lost a beautiful person.”