Cecil Leitch

Cecil Leitch
Leitch in 1926
Personal information
Full nameCharlotte Cecilia Pitcairn Leitch
Born(1891-04-13)13 April 1891
Silloth, England
Died16 September 1977(1977-09-16) (aged 86)
London, England
Sporting nationality England
Career
StatusAmateur

Charlotte Cecilia Pitcairn Leitch (13 April 1891 – 16 September 1977) was an English amateur golfer and author. She won 12 national titles as well as five French Ladies Amateurs and one Canadian Women's Amateur.

Early life

In 1891, Leitch was born in Monimail, Silloth, Cumberland, England. She was the sixth of the seven children of Dr. John Leitch (1849–1896), a doctor and botanist, and Catherine Edith Redford (1858–1937). She was educated at home and at Carlisle Girls' High School.

She became proficient at golf at an early age, and played the Silloth course with her sisters who were also avid golfers.

Golf career

Leitch, with her sister, c. 1912

In 1914, she won the first of her four British Ladies Amateurs, taking the title from Muriel Dodd. Her opportunity to possibly win several more was interrupted for five years during World War I. When the Championship was restarted after the war, she won her second straight title then the following year made it three in a row. Leitch was able to reach the Championship finals on six occasions, and in 1926 won her fourth British title, a record she shares with Joyce Wethered. In 1921, she was the medalist in her first appearance at the Berthellyn Cup at the Huntingdon Valley Country Club in Philadelphia. She lost in the first round of match play to the eventual tournament winner Glenna Collett. Leitch returned to the event in 1922 but a ligament injury did not allow her to compete.

She received golf lessons from Thomas Renouf, the head professional at Silloth.

Leitch retired from competition in 1928 having won 12 UK national titles, plus five French Ladies Amateurs, and one Canadian Women's Amateur.

Leitch was a regular writer on golf for newspapers and magazines, and published three books on golf: Golf for Girls (1911), Golf (1922), and Golf Simplified (1924).

After retirement from competitive golf, Leitch worked in the antiques trade and later in cinema. She was a prominent member of many voluntary and campaigning organisations, including the National Playing Fields Association the Central Council of Physical Recreation, and the YMCA. She also played a key role in the foundation of the Women Golfers' Museum.

Personal life

In 1977, Leitch died at her home in London.

Amateur wins

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Millar, M S (2004). "Leitch, Charlotte Cecilia Pitcairn [Cecil]". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31347. (Subscription, Wikipedia Library access or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ↑ Henninger, George (2026). The Berthellyn Cup at the Huntingdon Valley Country Club 1911 to 1941 (1st ed.). Ohio: 48 Hour Books. ISBN 9798218802370.
  3. ↑ "Alderley Edge Golf Club -- T. G. "Tommy" Renouf". aegc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "Miss Cecil Leitch". The Times. No. 60111. London. 17 September 1977. p. 16. Retrieved 20 June 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  5. ↑ Leitch, Cecil (1911). Golf for Girls. George Newnes.
  6. ↑ Leitch, Cecil (1924). Golf. Thornton Butterworth.
  7. ↑ Leitch, Cecil (1924). Golf Simplified. Thornton Butterworth.
  8. ↑ "History of the Women Golfers' Museum". Women Golfers' Museum. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  9. ↑ "Find a will | GOV.UK".