Golf’s first female sex symbol inducted in Golf World Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame inductee Jan Stephenson learned to play on the Central Coast before becoming the pin-up girl of women’s professional golf.
Jan Stephenson was golf’s first female sex symbol who set the world alight on and off the links.
The 67-year-old was recently inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame at a star-studded ceremony in California where she joined compatriots Karrie Webb, Greg Norman, Peter Thompson, Kel Nagle, David Graham and Walter Travis.
But what a lot of people on the Central Coast don’t realise is her meteoric rise, which helped establish a then struggling LPGA tour as the world’s most elite competition for female golfers, began at Shelly Beach Golf Club.
Born in Sydney on December 22, 1951, Stephenson’s parents owned a “weekender” at Shelly Beach and when she was old enough to hold a club started lessons at what was then Tuggerah Lakes Golf Club.
She continued under the tutelage of the club’s then pro Colin Barnes and went on to win the first of her five NSW Schoolgirl Championships in 1964.
She turned professional in 1973 and joined the LPGA tour in 1974, which saw her named Rookie of the Year.
She told the Express Advocate her family, including brother Gregory Stephenson — who ran as an independent for Dobell at the last Federal Election — still live on the coast.
She finished her career with 16 LPGA tour victories, wins on the Ladies European Tour, LPGA of Japan and Asian Tour as well as three LPGA major championships including the 1983 US Women’s Open.
In 1975 the LPGA tour was on its knees with little prizemoney, few sponsorships and no televised tournaments.
The LPGA appointed its first Commissioner in former Madison Avenue advertising executive Ray Volpe who set about marketing the women’s game.
He turned Stephenson into the sexy face of professional lady’s golf complete with a Marylin Monroe inspired calendar shoot and another of her naked in a bathtub covered only in golf balls.
Stephenson briefly dated Donald Trump but ultimately chose golf and Trump later married his first wife Ivana in 1977.
She was viciously mugged in a car park in Miami in 1990 and left hand and ring finger were broken in five places and her right shoulder was dislocated.
Her husband stayed in the car, prompting Stephenson to file for divorce and the injuries plagued her for the rest of her career.
These days she owns a golf course in Tampa, which she turned into a home for a home for military veterans, first responders and the disabled.
Stephenson also has her Jan Stephenson line of wines and a new line of flavoured rums which she is extremely passionate about.
“As I look back on my career, more than the wins and the fame, what stands out most to me is the remarkable women I’ve had the opportunity to compete with, get to know and call my friends,” she said.
“I consider myself lucky to have played in some of the most amazing times.
“I even got to witness the birth of career women’s golf and got to play with fellow Aussie and friend Karrie Webb in her very first professional event in Australia.”
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