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Mention the name Joan Gee in any Derbyshire golf clubhouse and men, as well as women, will wax lyrical about elegant swings, superb course manners and brilliant wins, writes Jane Goddard.

Derbyshire has had its fair share of outstanding lady golfers but few to compare with the amazingly talented Mrs Gee who dominated golf in the pre and post-war years.

Over four decades the Honourable Mrs Gee was the elegant and envied star player at Chevin Golf Club, Duffield. Her good looks enhanced the interest in her talent and kept non-golfers, as well as addicts, riveted whenever she was competing.

Champion golfer Joan Gee

She had taken up golf at the age of 17 with encouragement from her father, Lord Hives, the head of Rolls-Royce. By 1937, while still in her teens, she was already beating international players in the Derbyshire Women’s Championship. She went on to win the Derbyshire title three times in the 1930s and another 15 times after the war.

She represented the county 224 times, played for England and was invited to take part in the Curtis Cup (England v US) but declined because it would take her away from her family for too long.

In 1950, she became English Ladies Champion and was renowned for her elegant style and the strength of her swing. In 1939, she had married Adrian Gee, a member of the Derby firm of building contractors, Gee, Walker and Slater Ltd. Both were members of the Chevin Club. The couple had two daughters, Wendy and Jane.

Kedleston golfer Eileen Clark, herself a former Derbyshire champion, recalled playing with Joan Gee.

“But,” she laughed, “I was not in the same league. Joan Gee was quite outstanding.

“Anyone who can win the county championship 18 times and play in pre-war and post-war years at the highest level is very special. She had a natural swing and was a great player.”

Her daughter, Wendy, once commented: “She was a tigress of a player. I certainly would have hated to have played against her. She had the killer instinct and was very determined and steely.”

Joan died, aged 84, in June 2002.

• A golfing tigress

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County:  Derbyshire

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