Each issue, we’ve celebrated some of the incredible male amateurs who have shaped golf in our region. This time, we wanted to pause and reflect on someone who stands as the finest female amateur our game has ever known, and without question, one of the most accomplished amateurs the sport has ever seen.
Carol Semple Thompson’s story is one of legacy, excellence, and grace. Some call her the Queen of Amateur Golf, but for more than 20 years I’ve had my own nickname for her: the female version of Bobby Jones. And honestly, it feels more fitting.
Carol never turned professional, yet her name stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the game’s immortals. Born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, into a family where golf was more than a pastime, it was a way of life and Carol grew up surrounded by the game’s rhythm. Her father, Harton “Bud” Semple, served as president of the USGA in the mid-1970s. Her mother, Phyllis, played competitive golf, served on USGA committees, and helped fuel Carol’s competitive fire.
That fire ignited at just 16, when Carol captured her first major title at the Western Pennsylvania Women’s Championship. The opponent across from her that day? Her own mother. Carol’s journey could have ended right there with a great family story, but instead it became the opening chapter to one of golf’s most decorated amateur careers.
Over the decades, Semple Thompson piled up victories with a steady grace. Fifteen Women’s Golf Association of Western Pennsylvania (WGAWP) Championships. Twenty-two Pennsylvania State Amateurs spanning nearly 40 years. And seven USGA championships, including the 1973 U.S. Women’s Amateur, two U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs, and an astonishing four straight U.S. Senior Women’s Amateurs from 1999–2002. Add to that the 1974 Ladies British Amateur, 32 U.S. Women’s Open appearances, and a staggering 121 career USGA championship starts (the most in history) and you begin to understand why her legacy stretches beyond numbers.
Still, if you ask around Western Pennsylvania, one moment shines brighter than the rest: the 2002 Curtis Cup at Fox Chapel Golf Club. That week brought the world’s best female amateurs together, but the spotlight inevitably found Carol. With the match against Vikki Laing coming down to the final hole, Carol faced a daunting 27-foot uphill putt. She studied it, stroked it, and as the ball dropped into the cup, the roar from the gallery confirmed it, Team USA had won, and Sewickley’s own had delivered the exclamation point.
Carol went on to captain the Curtis Cup team in 2006, guiding the Americans to another decisive victory at Bandon Dunes. In total, she represented her country a record 12 times in the event and scored more points than anyone in history.
Despite all the accolades, her 2003 Bob Jones Award, the PGA’s 2005 “First Lady of Golf” honor, her 2008 World Golf Hall of Fame induction, and too many local and national hall-of-fame nods to count and what’s most remarkable is Carol’s humility.
I had the privilege of experiencing it firsthand. Back in 2002, the group I represented was running a statewide golf initiative. After Arnold Palmer served as our first ambassador, I knew immediately who should follow him in year two: Carol. When I met with her, she couldn’t have been more gracious. I remember showing her how we presented Mr. Palmer, and without hesitation she said, “I’d be honored to be a part of this.” What stuck with me even more was how fondly she spoke of her parents.
“My father’s rule about playing golf was that I had to play until I broke 90, and after that, I could go do whatever I wanted,” she laughed. “Mom was the ambitious one who gave me all the direction and desire. And once Dad knew I was hooked, he encouraged me to keep going.”
That balance of fire and humility is the essence of Carol Semple Thompson. She dominated for decades, yet today she gives back to the game quietly, without seeking the spotlight. Eleven holes-in-one. Four straight decades as the WGAWP Player of the Decade. One of only 11 players ever to hold both the U.S. Women’s Amateur and Ladies British Amateur titles. And yet, when you meet her, you don’t meet a champion who craves attention, you meet a woman who still just loves the game.
Carol Semple Thompson’s story isn’t just about golf; it’s about grace, family, and a lifetime dedicated to something greater than herself. Today’s generation of players would be lucky to spend an afternoon walking the fairways with her, not just to learn how to hit a shot under pressure, but to understand what it means to truly honor the game.
Golfer’s Lifestyle Magazine is published quarterly, bringing you the latest stories, features, and insights from the world of golf. To view and read the current issue, [click here].
