Helen Hicks

Helen L. Hicks Harb (February 11, 1911 – December 16, 1974)^[1] was an American professional golfer and one of 13 founders of the LPGA in 1950.

Helen Hicks
Hicks in 1928
Personal information
Full name	Helen L. Hicks Harb
Born	(1911-02-11)February 11, 1911 Cedarhurst, New York, U.S.
Died	December 16, 1974(1974-12-16) (aged 63)
Sporting nationality	United States
Spouse	Whitney Harb ​ (m. 1938⁠–⁠1948)​
Career
Turned professional	1934
Former tour(s)	LPGA Tour (Founder)
Professional wins	2
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour	2
Best results in LPGA major championships (wins: 2)
Western Open	Won: 1937
Titleholders C'ship	Won: 1940
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame 2024 (member page)

Hicks and Elinor Smith c.1928 in Farmingdale, New York

Biography

Hicks was born in Cedarhurst, New York.^[1] She began playing golf at the age of 15, after being taught by her father. She attended Lawrence High School, where she played basketball for her school's team while simultaneously competing and winning such tournaments as the Junior Girls' Championship of the Metropolitan Women's Golf Association.^[2] She had a successful amateur career, reaching the finals of the U.S. Women's Amateur twice.^[3] She beat Glenna Collett Vare in 1931^[4] and lost to Virginia Van Wie in 1933.^[5] She won several other amateur tournaments and played on the first U.S. Curtis Cup team in 1932.

In 1934, Hicks became one of the first women to turned professional; signing with the Wilson Sporting Goods Company to promote their golf equipment.^[6]

Hicks won two tournaments as a professional that are now considered LPGA major championships: the 1937 Women's Western Open and the 1940 Titleholders Championship. From 1938 to 1948, she competed as Helen Hicks Harb after marrying Whitney Harb.

In 1950, Hicks was one of 13 women that founded the LPGA.^[7]

Hicks died of throat cancer in 1974.

Hicks is sometimes confused with contemporary Betty Hicks who won the 1941 U.S. Women's Amateur.

Tournament wins

this list is incomplete

• 1929 Canadian Women's Amateur
• 1930 New York State Women's Amateur
• 1931 U.S. Women's Amateur, Metropolitan Women's Amateur, Women's Eastern Championship, New York State Women's Amateur
• 1933 Metropolitan Women's Amateur, New York State Women's Amateur
• 1937 Women's Western Open
• 1940 Titleholders Championship

Major championships

Wins (2)

Year	Championship	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
1937	Women's Western Open	6 & 5		Bea Barrett (a)
1940	Titleholders Championship	[phone]=336)	1 stroke	Helen Dettweiler

Team appearances

Amateur

• Curtis Cup (representing the United States): 1932 (winners)

References

1. Elliott, Len; Kelly, Barbara (1976). Who's Who in Golf. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House. p. 90. ISBN 0-87000-225-2.
2. Rhonda, Glenn (December 26, 2010). "On The Early Road With Helen Hicks". USGA. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2017. Born into a jovial and athletic family on Feb. 11, 1911, in Cedarhurst, N.Y., Hicks, like many girls, was introduced to golf by her father. Young Helen began playing at the age of 15 and improved rapidly. She won the Metropolitan Women's Golf Association Junior Girls' Championship at the same time she was starring as a basketball player for Lawrence High School.
3. "U.S. Women's Amateur champions". uswamateur.org. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
4. "1931 U.S. Women's Amateur". uswamateur.org. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
5. "1933 U.S. Women's Amateur". uswamateur.org. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
6. Women's Eastern Golf Association Archived May 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine - past champions
7. "About the LPGA - Our Founders". LPGA. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2022.

External links

• Helen Hicks at the LPGA Tour official site at the Wayback Machine (archived 2012-05-31)
• LPGA founders' profiles^{[permanent dead link‍]}
• Helen Hicks at Flickr Commons via Boston Public Library