Marlene Streit - Part 3 (Winning 3 U.S. Senior Women's Amateurs)

Mike Gonzalez  00:15

Let's continue on. Coming out of 1965 and that first Wonderful World of Golf match that you had in Oslo against Marilyn Smith, in 1966 and 1967, you had a couple of opportunities. I think it's 1966 it might have been the first time you played representing Canada in the Espirito Santo Trophy where the Canadian team finished second, you were the medalist that was in Mexico City. Do you remember that? 

Streit, Marlene  00:45

That's right. I do. I do. Because I after I played my way off the first team, I was really happy to be on that one. And, yeah, it was in Mexico City. Yeah, that was a great team and JoAnne should have been there too but she elected not to go. And I think did Pat Hurst go? Somebody took her place. Anyway. Yeah, I was. I was lucky there too. I played quite well, there. I can't remember what I shot. But I was low individual and Canada, I think was second maybe.

Mike Gonzalez  01:25

That's right. Yeah, I think if I remember correctly, and then you correct me, but I think 1964 was the inaugural playing of this event. Of course this was the Women's World Team amateur event, which corresponded with the one we talked about that Bruce participated in at the Old Course in 1958. That being the Eisenhower Trophy. And then in 1967, the Commonwealth team came to Canada to Ancaster were the team finished second as well. 

Streit, Marlene  01:57

Right. Yep. I don't know if we ever won the Commonwealth, I can't remember. Oh, yeah, we did. You haven't come to it yet. We finally did, but it took a while

Mike Gonzalez  02:12

It know where it was too

Streit, Marlene  02:13

I know where it was too

Mike Gonzalez  02:15

I know where it was. It was done in Bruce's old neck of the woods. 

Streit, Marlene  02:18

Yeah, Lake Karrinyup.  Yeah. Yeah. Well, we'll come to that. So we're now in the late 1960's of course an interesting decade socially in North America with all the stuff going on, but you continue to rack up victory after victory.  1968, 1969, 1970 you get a chance to play again in Madrid at the Espirito Santo where you finish team fourth, you were individually second. And then you know, we get to 1970 to another Espirito Santo down in Buenos Aires. This time you tied second by one shot. So you came close with the team finishing fifth. And in 1973 you're winning your 11th Canadian Ladies Golf Association Amateur championship. I can't even remember. But whatever.

Devlin, Bruce  03:10

How about that?

Mike Gonzalez  03:21

I mentioned your 11th Canadian Ladies Golf Association Amateur Championship and 1973. You fast forward to 1977 It was your 11th Ontario Ladies Amateur Championship.

Devlin, Bruce  03:34

You are good with that 11 Number huh?

Mike Gonzalez  03:39

As you get in the late 70s, early 80s, quite a bit of team stuff in between individual titles because I think you went from 1977 to 1985 and in the middle of that, you captain the Espirito Santo team in Fiji. You were with the Commonwealth team. And that was your first victory in 1979 at Lake Karrinyup as the playing Captain, no less.

Streit, Marlene  04:03

Well you know, my greatest thrill as an amateur, pretty much, was representing Canada on international teams. That's my biggest thrill I think.

Mike Gonzalez  04:18

And to win it there. Bruce, what was your experience with Lake Karrinyup? You had a connection there as well?

Devlin, Bruce  04:24

Yeah. 1960. I was there 19 years before you had that victory there. And I was fortunate enough as an amateur to win the Australian Open at Lake Karrinyup

Streit, Marlene  04:39

Yeah, yeah, I played I was the playing Captain. So. So I played that year ahead. I had a sore leg but it got better as we played, and we had, you know, a couple of good young players there, which I got to be my partner And, but it was fun to win because it was a hard tournament to win. Yeah, New Zealand ,Australia.

Mike Gonzalez  05:10

You also captained that team in the U.S. in 1980 The Commonwealth team went to Glendale where you were playing Captain and the team finished fourth in 1983. You then go to Hong Kong for the Espirito Santo in 1984. So quite a bit of world travel during your amateur career I would say.

Streit, Marlene  05:32

And you know, and I have to thank the Canadian Ladies Golf Association for sending me to all these places, except for Norway. We did that on our own.

Mike Gonzalez  05:43

So what are some of your favorite non-golf memories of traveling the world as you have?

Streit, Marlene  05:50

Non-golf memories. Practice.  I used to tell the kids you know making the team is just the beginning. Now you've got to get your game in shape because so many of them Oh, they'd make the team and all they could think of was the travel they were gonna have you know, ol' dummy here I want to win. And I saw lots of places and you know what? Just met lots of lots of nice people. And you know, as I told you, yesterday Mike, you know golf to me really is the friends you make along the way. And yeah, I made a lot of them all over the world.

Mike Gonzalez  06:43

Yeah, I'm sure you have. Did you have a favorite venue? Favorite country to visit?

Streit, Marlene  06:48

I pretty much liked them all. Except for Argentina. They had a suitcase bomb in the hotel. I didn't think much of that. No, I pretty much liked them all. I don't know if I've got a favorite one. Yeah. I liked Canada and U.S. pretty much. Yeah, I loved Australia. Australia is great. I never did get to New Zealand.

Mike Gonzalez  07:26

I think Bruce had an interesting experience in Argentina didn't you Bruce in 1960 with David Graham?

Devlin, Bruce  07:32

1970 with David Graham. Yeah, he and I were fortunate enough to win the Canada Cup. 

Streit, Marlene  07:42

Ah, great.

Devlin, Bruce  07:44

 Which I think, you know, back in those days, that was quite a feat because the Argentinian team had a guy by the name of guess who? Roberto, Roberto DiVincenzo and his partner and we were fortunate enough to beat them. So that was great.

Streit, Marlene  08:07

Yeah no kidding. That's it right win

Mike Gonzalez  08:10

What he left out and you talked about the suitcase bomb in the hotel. They go off the first tee and one of them can't find their ball. Somebody had already kicked it into the rough. 

Streit, Marlene  08:20

Oh,

Devlin, Bruce  08:22

Yeah, hit, hit, hit my ball, the last day hit my ball down the right center of the fairway and I get down there looking for my golf ball. And all of a sudden I see it over next to a tree in the rough. 

Streit, Marlene  08:36

Oh, no. 

Devlin, Bruce  08:37

I could hit it. But I mean. So our caddies were always out in front from there on during the day.

Streit, Marlene  08:46

Yeah I guess. Gosh.

Mike Gonzalez  08:49

So Marlene, we're coming to that time now in your career where you're ready to launch career number two, which is your senior career.  That's been fun.  Was that like getting new life again?

Streit, Marlene  09:05

Well, when I turned 50 in 1985 or 1984, I really wasn't that interested in playing senior golf. I thought senior golf. Forget it. So I didn't go when I was first eligible, or when I was 50. And then after that, I thought some of my friends were playing. Okay, I'll go 

Devlin, Bruce  09:31

Might as well. 

Streit, Marlene  09:32

Yeah. And so I did and that was good, but took me 10 years between each one of them. That's okay. I had some good runner ups too. So it was alright. Played alright.

Mike Gonzalez  09:44

Yeah. Bruce. Marlene comes to my neck of the woods in 1985. For that first one, she played in.

Devlin, Bruce  09:51

Yeah down at the Sheraton Savannah Resort there where you beat Louise Wilson by three shots in the U.S. Senior Women's. Yeah, that's was fun. It was fun.

Streit, Marlene  10:03

Yeah, that was stroke a play then and now it's match play. I forget when they started it at match play. But I won it at stroke play. And...

Mike Gonzalez  10:16

So that was the that was the first one you played in. You were T2 the following year, six shots behind Constance Guthrie. 

Streit, Marlene  10:25

Right. 

Mike Gonzalez  10:26

You were also second, several other times. 1988 when Lois Hodge won. 1990 when Anne Quast Sander won. 1995 when Jean Smith won in then in 1996, when Gail Borthwick won, so you had several seconds to go along with what we're going to talk about being three victories in that event.

Devlin, Bruce  10:50

in 1985 you also won the Canadian Ladies. Senior Women's Amateur Championship too. So pretty good year? 

Streit, Marlene  10:57

Yeah. I didn't plan in any senior stuff in 1984 when I was 50.

Mike Gonzalez  11:10

But you certainly got the hang of it. Because you know, you go through 1988,1989, 1990. And you're winning, you're still winning championships. And a lot of those are senior women's championships. You still had a chance to captain the Espirito Santo award for Canada in 1992. And then 1994 comes along. So it's not a three year. But it is age what you're about 60 years old, and you win the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur for a second time again, in my neck of the woods at Sea Island, Georgia.

Streit, Marlene  11:44

Yeah, I love Sea Island. Is that where you live?

Mike Gonzalez  11:50

Isn't that a beautiful place

Streit, Marlene  11:51

Oh, I love it there.

Mike Gonzalez  11:51

Well I'm in Beaufort, South Carolina so I'm kind of close to Savannah and Sea Island. That was in a playoff with Nancy Fitzgerald.

Streit, Marlene  12:02

Right. Right. And then we played again, 10 years later.

Mike Gonzalez  12:08

Is that right? Yeah. That's when you beat her on the fifth extra hole. Yeah. Not that day. They had the semifinals and the finals in the same day. 18 holes each. So I played this gal in the morning. I can't remember her name now, she's from California, a good player. And we went six extra holes. 

Devlin, Bruce  12:31

Oh, my goodness. 

Streit, Marlene  12:32

I know. And it was in Austin, Texas. 

Mike Gonzalez  12:34

Well you were pretty fit then. Yeah, you're talking about 2003. So at Barton Creek Resort and Golf Club when you won your third U.S. Senior Women's Amateur over Nancy Fitzgerald. You're telling us that you went six extra holes in round one that day and the second round, you went five extra holes? Is that right?

Streit, Marlene  12:58

Right. That was the semifinals and the finals. And then I went five extra holes

Devlin, Bruce  13:03

At age 69.

Streit, Marlene  13:06

Well, I hate to lose. I told you that.

Mike Gonzalez  13:12

When I grow up I want to be like you

Streit, Marlene  13:17

When I grow up, I want to be like Carol Semple Thompson

Mike Gonzalez  13:23

Holy smokes that's a lot of golf in one day.

Streit, Marlene  13:27

It is and it was Austin and it was like 110 degrees. But I was in a cart all day long. And then Carol caddied for me in the final round. 

Mike Gonzalez  13:39

Is that right? 

Streit, Marlene  13:39

But she had to walk. I guess she lost to Fitzy in the in the morning. Yeah.

Mike Gonzalez  13:51

Well, I guess if there's an American counterpart to Marlene Streit, it's Carol Semple Thompson.

Streit, Marlene  13:57

No kidding. Like you say, I want to be just like her when I grow up. She's got to be nicest friend and I've known her since she's maybe 16. Yeah, we've been good friends for a long time. 

Devlin, Bruce  14:10

Isn't that amazing. Like you said, friends you make playing golf.

Mike Gonzalez  14:17

At age 69, you become the oldest USGA champion. How did that feel?

Streit, Marlene  14:24

Fine. Good. I guess. It's fun to still be there. Right?

Mike Gonzalez  14:35

Well, it's just quite a feat when you think about it because you had 18 years between those first and final victory in the senior championship and you know, you've probably got 50 year old’s out there knocking it 80 yards by you too, don't you?

Streit, Marlene  14:51

Oh, yeah. But I hit it straight. I wasn't in very much trouble and I can chip and putt. Yeah,

Mike Gonzalez  15:02

I'm finding you to be the master of the understatement

Devlin, Bruce  15:07

She hates to lose.

Mike Gonzalez  15:11

I guess that's what you chalk it up to. So another thing I want to ask you about, because we're kind of getting through all of your individual and team accomplishments over a long period of time, but in 2006, you and JoAnne Carner had a chance to play a reunion match at Meridian Hills 50 years after your battle at the Women's Amateur. Tell us a little bit about that.

Streit, Marlene  15:34

Well, that was really, really fun. And I started on JoAnne in about 1953. I said to her, you know, what, would be really fun if we went to we're pretty good friends. If we went up to Meridian hills, just call the pro and make a starting time and go and play you and I? And she says oh no and of course JoAnne's favorite answer is no. I said, well, you know, just think about it. Well, okay, anyway, we go on. And of course, I keep after her and after, because I thought it'd be a fun thing to do. We're both good friends. We play. And then finally, she said to me one day well, that that's not any good, because then she said, everybody, everybody will want will want me to go and do that with them where I played and were they my right feet on the hook. Whatever. I should remember I beat you. Oh, yeah, right. And so. And I said, besides, nobody wants to play with you except me anyway. All the other people you'd be. They don't want to play with you. So anyway, she finally agreed, and my sister came and hurt her brother came with her wept Indianapolis, and then I met her friend, she was on the U.S. Senior committee, and I knew she was from Indianapolis. And I said, what courts? Do you play in Indianapolis, Meridian Hills, I said, Oh, really? When I said, JoAnne and I are thinking about going there. We're going to call the pro and get a starting time, and  just play a round on September, whatever it was 25th or something. And so anyway, long story short, we get there. And before we even get there, they've made a huge weekend of it. And I know it was really, really fun. So they called me and said, Well, you're there. Do you have some clippings? Well, now I'm getting really embarrassed because I'm thinking, you know, I wasn't. And so I called JoAnne. I said, Oh, my God, I got a problem. I said, they've just called me and wanted me to send them some clippings. And I said, you know, I won. She said Marlene, it was only a practice round for the next five. We had a great weekend and Meridian Hills couldn't have been nicer. They had a dinner or cocktail party or something the night before. And then quite a few people came out and watched.  I think we halved, I think we halved 

Devlin, Bruce  18:21

Who won the match? Oh good, okay. 

Streit, Marlene  18:25

Yeah. We played the whole 18 holes. And then now the one there's a par three, there's par three, I think it may be at 17. And JoAnne hit first and hit up it looks like it's about you know, a foot away or two feet away, like close. So I'm thinking, oh my god, I gotta hit enough club here. I don't want to be in the water. Front of the green. So I don't know when I hit but anyway, I hit a shot and it goes about two or three inches from the hole. We get up to the grade and she's ahead of me. She grabs my ball and throws it in the pond. All the people watching go oh I'm killing myself laughing. We've had fun, weird fun. That was the most fun doing that though. I mean, when do you ever get to do something like that? You don't ever go back again to your tip. Bruce, right.

Mike Gonzalez  19:33

As we kind of wrap up your story, Marlene, one of the things that again stand out is your incredible list of accomplishments now, I saw a list published somewhere that probably went three pages but I'm sure Bruce and I will try to hit some of the more important highlights Bruce it's quite a list isn't it?

Devlin, Bruce  19:53

Amazing. The Bobbie Rosenfeld Award in 1952, 1953,  1956, and 1963 and that is awarded to Canada's top female athlete. So four times you had that honor. 1962 Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. You were inducted into that.1967 you became an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Streit, Marlene  20:23

I did. That's pretty nice. Yeah. I was also named outstanding Canadian Athlete of the Year male or female, which is pretty hard to do? 

Mike Gonzalez  20:37

That was the Lou March Award.

Streit, Marlene  20:38

The Low Marsh Award. Oh, you said that?

Mike Gonzalez  20:42

No, we didn't. But that's 1951 and 1956. That's a big deal!

Streit, Marlene  20:47

That's a huge deal. Because you know how many great hockey players we have in Canada? And, that was male or female. That was pretty special.

Mike Gonzalez  20:59

Yeah, five-time Canadian women Athlete of the Year as well in addition to that Bobby Rosenfeld award, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1971. Of course she went into your own schools Hall of Fame in 1977. Right. I think the big one, which you're probably as proud of as anything was the induction of the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004, becoming the first Canadian to enter that Golf Hall of Fame. You were presented by JoAnne Carner. I took an opportunity to listen to both her intro speech and your acceptance speech. And you went in with Aoki You went in with Tom Kite. And you went in with Charlie Sifford.

Streit, Marlene  21:42

Yeah, pretty International, isn't it? 

Devlin, Bruce  21:45

Boy, isn't it?

Mike Gonzalez  21:48

Tell us about your memories of that day? Well, first of all, when you got the call to the hall, how did you first find out? 

Streit, Marlene  21:54

Well, I guess Jack Peters was trying to call me or I don't know, I was either on the phone or something. And then Stephen Ross from the RCGA called me and said Marlene get off the phone. Jack Peters is trying to call you. I said who Jack Peters, I don't know? He said just get off the phone. He wants to talk to you. So anyway, I'm off the phone and Jack called. And that was pretty special. I mean, I never ever in my wildest dreams. thought that would happen for me. Really didn't, we have too many great players in Canada. But anyway, it did. And I'm so honored, thrilled and proud to be a Canadian.

Mike Gonzalez  22:48

Well, one thing I pulled out of your speech, which was a fine speech, among other comments, I mean, you mentioned early in the program here that much like our program title FORE the Good of the Game. You played for the love of love.

Streit, Marlene  23:04

I did and that's what I meant to say when I first came on with you. I love the title of your show for the love of the game. Isn't that true? Isn't that why we all play really? For the love of the game?

Mike Gonzalez  23:15

It sure is and as I reflect back on your Hall of Fame acceptance speech, you know, one thing you said and we've talked about it off the air is it's all about the journey, not the destination. As you said earlier, it's about the friends you meet along the way isn't it.

Streit, Marlene  23:33

The friends you meet along the way and if you miss out on that part, you've really missed it.

Devlin, Bruce  23:38

Yeah, yeah, you're lost out, didn't you?

Mike Gonzalez  23:41

And Bruce those words sort of reminded me of some song lyrics I remember when I was in college. There was a singer by the name of Harry Chapin. And Harry did a song called "Greyhound". It was about traveling the country in a Greyhound bus which you can relate to Bruce.

Devlin, Bruce  23:59

I can relate to that? Yeah, my wife and two children and I traveled in a Greyhound bus for about six months I guess it was, crazy.

Mike Gonzalez  24:08

In that song "Greyhound", Harry Chapin's lyrics are, it's got to be the goin' not to gettin' there that's good!

Streit, Marlene  24:19

I love it. That's great.

Mike Gonzalez  24:22

And that's exactly the point you were making about it's not about the destination. It's about the journey.

Streit, Marlene  24:28

Yeah, exactly. It is the journey. Bruce. Bruce knows that.

Mike Gonzalez  24:36

Part of your journey was being named in 2015 to be an honorary member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, along with the Judy Bell.

Streit, Marlene  24:47

I know. Can you imagine that? And Judy, and I didn't even know we couldn't tell anybody. We couldn't say so anyway, after it was finally announced that the two of us were there and we talked to each other. We're not very nice to each other sometimes. But she's a dear friend. No, but that was a huge honor.

Mike Gonzalez  25:13

Before we ask you our three final questions that we ask everybody, it's probably good to just bring our listeners up to date on what you're up to these days, because I know you play golf still occasionally, and what occupies your time these days?

Streit, Marlene  25:28

Well, I play golf once a week with three really nice friends. I don't keep score. I cheat a lot. And I have a really good time doing it and JoAnne made me do this last winter. She said, just go and play on the front tee, I'm gonna get ready for a tournament. And I'm going to play back. And you just hit your driver and then tee it up and hit it again and hit it again until you can get close to the green hit your iron. Because we'd been playing a scramble. She said, This is no fun. We get close to the green. Then you chip it. And then you putt it I'm not having any fun. So I've just been doing that. And it made me a little bit stronger actually just hit my driver all the time. It was good. Yeah. And so I do it now people don't care. And hey, 70 years since I won the British, I think I can play however I want to now.

Devlin, Bruce  26:36

Do whatever you want to do.

Mike Gonzalez  26:37

That's exactly right.

Streit, Marlene  26:39

I think there's we've been told all about the rules our whole life, right, Bruce? Yep. And it's a good idea to follow them. 

Devlin, Bruce  26:47

Yes, it is.

Streit, Marlene  26:48

Unless you're you and me.

Devlin, Bruce  26:49

Until you get to 86 and 89. Then you can do whatever you want to do.

Streit, Marlene  26:57

I hope so. I hope so.

Mike Gonzalez  27:00

Alright, so, I'm going to defer to my partner, Bruce Devlin, who will ask you the first of our three questions.

Devlin, Bruce  27:08

Okay, you ready? Sort of. Okay. If you knew when you were 20 years old, what you know today about the game and life, what would you have done differently?

Streit, Marlene  27:27

Well, you know I might have turned pro because they were playing for a lot more money now. They weren't playing for very much money way back. I might of. I might of, I don't know. You know, if I hadn't been in that airplane crash, who knows? You know life changes. I have no regrets, believe me.

Mike Gonzalez  27:55

Well, we're going to give you one career mulligan. Where do you take it?

Streit, Marlene  28:02

Career Mulligan. What would I have done other than golf?

Devlin, Bruce  28:06

A career mulligan, playing golf.

Mike Gonzalez  28:11

Yeah, one shot to do over any time in your career where would you have taken a shot over?

Streit, Marlene  28:15

When I defended the British at Ganton and I missed that short putt. I think I could have won the final day. And I missed that short putt, and we played five extra holes Bunty Smith, Bunty Stevens I guess her name was and I had waited and waited, well she's a deliberate player. And I have this maybe foot and a half putt, two feet. And she putted herself about seven inches. And normally I would give the putt I mean, I give lots of putts. Because it makes me feel like okay, I gave her hers, I'm gonna make mine. And I didn't, as I stood over my putt, I'm thinking I should have given her that putt. Duh. I never even hit the hole. And that's the only shot I think that it comes back every once in a while, I think about it. Dog gone it. Too bad. But anyway, that's the only shot I can think of. 

Devlin, Bruce  29:20

That's it.

Mike Gonzalez  29:21

I think we had an inkling that might have been the one you'd come up with.

Devlin, Bruce  29:26

So last question. The last question for you. Is how would you like Marlene Streit to be remembered?

Streit, Marlene  29:36

Well, I hope that I've been a kind person. Some people will tell you I'm not maybe but I'd like to be remembered that I've been a kind person and that's all.

Devlin, Bruce  29:57

That all. 

Streit, Marlene  29:58

I think so. 

Devlin, Bruce  29:59

Well Marlene, it's been a pleasure having you today, my dear lady, that was a it was quite an experience to go through such a wonderful career. And I know Mike and I are really happy that you joined us.

Streit, Marlene  30:13

Oh, I can't tell you how thrilled I am that you even included me in this fabulous group of interviews that you've done. You've got a great program. I've been listening to them. It's been fun. Thank you. Thank you for including me. It was great fun.

Mike Gonzalez  30:33

Well, thank you so much for joining us. And I know one of the things you're going to be remembered for Marlene, and that's being a fabulous, amateur golfer. Thanks again. 

Devlin, Bruce  30:42

Absolutely

Streit, Marlene  30:44

Thank you. Thank you, It's been a great pleasure. Thank you.

Mike Gonzalez  30:50

Thank you for listening to another episode of FORE the Good of the Game. And please, wherever you listen to your podcast on Apple and Spotify, if you like what you hear, please subscribe, spread the word and tell your friends. Until we tee it up again, FORE the Good of the Game., so long everybody.

Music playing  31:09