I was thinking about Bea Gottlieb this morning. Playing at Lake Worth Municipal Golf Course as about age 13, I’d show up and ask to be paired with someone. Sometimes the starter would pair me with “Miss Gottlieb,” a tiny, wizened lady with a New York accent. We trudged down the fairways, dragging our carts. We never talked. I was too shy and she was too into her game. Just, “Good shot,” or, “You’re away.” I do recall that she sold small items of golf jewelry. She was a very short hitter, but nearly every shot was struck with authority and her putting was true. She had short, reddish-blonde hair on which was perched a battered old porkpie hat. While she almost never smiled, her eyes darted around like those of a little bird. She could have been in her 70s, or 80s, or even 90s. It was hard to tell. Sometimes we were paired with Becky Dickey, but that’s another story. In researching women’s golf, I’ve run across Miss Gottlieb’s name several times. I gather she was a pretty good player at one time. She’s listed here and there in big amateur tournaments, although she never won. Later, when there were only about a dozen women professionals, her name appears in professional events. There wasn’t much future for women professionals then. Some gave lessons, if they were lucky. Others sold jewelry and played municipal golf with little girls. Funny, the people we meet in golf. – Rhonda Glenn