Vancouver Island golf legend Margaret Todd, known as a player and builder, has died at the age of 101.
Todd, who died this week, represented sa国际传媒 on the first women鈥檚 national golf team in 1951, which played an invitational series against the U.S. Curtis Cup team in Toronto. She also played for sa国际传媒 in the 1953 Commonwealth championship in England and captained sa国际传媒 in the 1963 Commonwealth championship in Australia.
Todd won three sa国际传媒 women鈥檚 amateur championships, was runner-up five times, and represented sa国际传媒 on eight inter-provincial teams. She was the sa国际传媒 senior women鈥檚 champion in 1975-76 and Canadian senior women鈥檚 champion in 1976-77. Todd captained the sa国际传媒 women鈥檚 and sa国际传媒 senior women鈥檚 teams a total of 16 times.
She was Victoria and District champion 10 times and her name is etched forever at her home course as 14-time women鈥檚 champion at Victoria Golf Club.
Her stature off the course was as impressive as on it. Todd served numerous positions with the Canadian Ladies鈥� Golf Association (now part of Golf sa国际传媒) in player development as national teams director, and also as national course rating director and national director of rules.
Golf sa国际传媒 issued a statement, through director of heritage services Meggan Gardner: 鈥淥n behalf of the entire golf community, we are saddened by the passing of Margaret Todd. Margaret鈥檚 accomplishments on the golf course and her contributions to the game were outstanding. Her tremendous legacy will live on and continue to be celebrated.鈥�
The journey began in 1936 as a junior golfer at Uplands.
Todd made a huge impact on the future of the University of Victoria Vikes golf program with the creation in 2010 of the $100,000 Jack and Margaret Todd Women鈥檚 Golf Scholarship which annually pays for the tuition, books and fees for a Vikes female varsity golfer.
鈥淢argaret wanted to support the growth of women鈥檚 golf. The scholarship has allowed us to recruit top women鈥檚 golfers to UVic,鈥� said UVic athletic director Clint Hamilton.
鈥淚t is very meaningful and one of our largest sports gifts, and a benchmark for support of women鈥檚 golf. Margaret was a humble and kind person. She was an accomplished player and leader in the sport. She was a first-class individual, but never talked about her own accomplishments. It was all about giving support to a sport she felt had given so much to her.鈥�
Todd was a student at Victoria College, which was the precursor to UVic, and felt the scholarship was an ideal legacy.
鈥淚鈥檝e had a wonderful life in golf and wanted to give something back,鈥� she said at the time.
In 1973, Todd became the first female golfer to be inducted into the sa国际传媒 Sports Hall of Fame.
鈥淕olf has given me so much. I feel I鈥檝e been very fortunate,鈥� she said, in her induction address that night.
鈥淚鈥檓 the lucky one.鈥�
Todd was inducted into the Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. She is also enshrined in both the Canadian and sa国际传媒 Golf Halls of Fame.
The Pacific Northwest Golf Association super senior women鈥檚 amateur champion is annually awarded the Margaret Todd Trophy.
Todd was unable to play in her later years but lunched at Victoria Golf Club into her 90s.
鈥淚 used to love to get out and walk the courses before my osteoporosis 鈥� I don鈥檛 find carts too enjoyable,鈥� she said in 2010.
Todd was predeceased by Jack Todd, her husband of 65 years. She is survived by sons John, Rick and David and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
