Mrs. Dewey (Ruth) Busch
Three-time Championship 1933, 1934, 1935
Ruth Busch photo gallery

On a refreshing Monday morning, August 21, 1933, seventy-four women teed off at Allenmore in the 18-hole qualifying round of the first tournament held by the newly-organized Washington State Women’s Public Links Association.

They were members of thirteen clubs throughout the state: Allenmore, Meadow Park, Parkland and Steilacoom in the Tacoma area; Jackson, Jefferson, Lakewood and Maplewood in the Seattle area; Mountain View of Olympia; Highlands of Aberdeen; Lakeway of Bellingham; Juanita of Kirkland; Down River of Spokane.

Alex Rose, prominent golfing figure of Seattle, served as starter and Jimmy Johnson, Allenmore Pro, assisted.

Ruth Busch, Tacoma city champion, was first to sign up for the tournament and was first to tee off. In the qualifying round she was medallist, finishing two strokes under Madonna Haubner, who then was Allenmore champion. In the 36-hole final on Friday, Ruth defeated Madonna, 6 and 5.

Mayor Melvin G. Tennent, president of the Allenmore Men’s Club, assisted Mrs. L. L. Johnston, first president of the state association, in presenting trophies to the winners.

Eda Squire, founder of the state association, was among the participants. She wrote “Fair of the Fairways,” a column devoted to women’s golf, for The Tacoma Times. this column was recognized as the first of its kind in the country. Eda also wrote for the Pacific Coast Golfer, a monthly magazine. Previously she had been a reporter for The Tacoma News-Tribune and later she was a Washington, D.C. correspondent for The Tacoma Times and The Seattle Star. With her departure for the national capital, Ruth Busch conducted the “Fair of the Fairway’s” column.

Eda was a dynamic person, imaginative and very friendly. She enjoyed golf thoroughly and she wanted others to share the pleasures this sport affords. Since women who played the private courses had opportunity to enter a state tournament, why shouldn’t the public links’ gals enjoy a like privilege? Eda persuaded a close friend, Jane Bradley, who was very prominent in golf activities, to help form as association.

On Monday, May 29, 1933, thirty women met at Allenmore and elected as first president of the association, Mrs. L. L. Johnston, who then was president of Allenmore’s Women’s Club. Among many others who assisted in arranging for that initial tournament in 1933 were Mr. and Mrs. Sam Allen, congenial hosts at Allenmore.