Historical information

Mrs Sloan Morpeth, née Claire “Susie” Tolhurst

From her trilby with golf tee sensibly tucked in the brim, to her hand knitted socks and fringed brogues, Susie looks the golf champion she was.

Susie (1905-1999) won the Victorian Ladies' Amateur Championship five times between 1919 and 1936. She was defeated in the 1935 Women’s Golf Championship final by Mrs J B Walker of Britain.

In 2012, Golf Victoria introduced the Women’s Champions Trophy, renamed in 2016 to the Susie Tolhurst Trophy. Her husband, Mr Sloan Morpeth, designed the Commonwealth, Peninsula Kingswood Country Club and Portsea Golf Clubs.

Photographer notations on slide: "Vic Women's Golf Ch'ship B98"
Description: Golfer Susie Tolhurst putting. She wears a hat, tie, skirt, cardigan, handknitted socks and brogues. She also has a golf tee tucked into her hatband.

Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer:
Mrs Sloan Morpeth née Claire Helene Susie Tolhurst (known as Susie)

Susie Tolhurst (1905-1999) was a champion Victorian golfer. Susie was the winner of the Ladies Amateur Championships five times between 1915 and 1936. She held the Australian title in 1930, 1931.

Susie competed in the Australian Women’s Golf Championship at Royal Melbourne in 1935 against the British Women’s Team. She made the final but was defeated by Mrs J B Walker of Britain. The Golf Victoria competition for women held the Susie Tolhurst Trophy.

In 1934 Susie Tolhurst married NZ Open Championship golfer Mr Sloan Morpeth. He later designed Peninsula - Kingswood Country Golf Course, Portsea Golf Course and Commonwealth Golf Course. They had one daughter, Simone.

Physical description

Glass slide