Matchless: Joyce Wethered, Glenna Collett and the Rise of Women’s Golf

Matchless tells the story of women's golf against the backdrop of the intense rivalry between two players who set a new standard for performance American Glenna Collet and England's Joyce Wethered. That head-to-head competition spanned a decade, from their first meeting at Troon in 1925 through to Wethered's tour of the US in 1935. The key moment, and the dramatic focal point for this unique account, is their match at St Andrews in 1929 in the final of the Ladies Amateur Championship. It is widely considered to be the defining moment in women's golf. Stephen Proctor delves deep into the story of that golden period and the colourful history of the women's golf up to that point and beyond, charting the remarkable characters who graced the fairways and blazed a trail for today's superstars of the sport. Through the achievements and tribulations of Isette Pearson, Cecil Leitch, Alexa Stirling and a cast of key protagonists the reader is transported back to a pivotal time in the development of the game.

About the Author :
Stephen Proctorhas served as a senior editor atThe Baltimore Sun,The San Francisco ChronicleandThe Houston Chronicle. He is an avid golfer and has spent the past decade studying the history of the royal and ancient game. He is the author of Monarch of the GreenandThe Long Golden Afternoon, andlives in Malabar, Florida.

Review :
'Finally — a book that truly captures the inspiring and uniquely gifted women from a largely forgotten golfing age. A wonderful read from start to finish' 'a generational "life and times" of women's golf. What we have here is not mere game narrative of major championships, but sportswriting embedded in a larger cultural contest' 'Brings the wonderful characters of the early days of women's golf to life in a way that makes you want to travel back in time to Turnberry in 1921 to watch the redoubtable Cecil Leitch take on the dashing young American Alexa Stirling. A must read for all golfers and history lovers' 'Matchless brings to life the fierce rivalry and enduring legacy of two titans of women's golf whose brilliance helped shape the game’s golden age . . . Essential reading for anyone who cherishes the history of golf' 'Another peerless gem from the best writer of our times. The lives of these golfing luminaries and the excitement they could instil is vividly captured. A triumph from start to finish!' 'The story of trailblazers and disrupters on both sides of the Atlantic. Women's golf, amateur and professional, would be in a far different place without their courage, passion and prowess' 'An eye-opening treatment of the world's greatest women golfers, of their early struggles for equal treatment and of the truly matchless golf they played. Impressive, humbling and a joy to read' 'Stephen’s work as an author is exceptional — meticulously researched and told with a compelling narrative thread. Matchless is no exception' 'Matchless is an exceptional read but it will also serve as a superb reference work that will grace any library of those with an interest in golfing history... the level of scholarly research is exceptional' 'Matchless is a stunning piece of work . . .  Elegantly written and painstakingly researched, it deserves every award it will surely win'