Louise “Bobbie” Rose passed away peacefully on Sunday December 20, 2020 at her home in Meadowbrook, PA. She was a month shy of her 105th birthday. She was an outstanding athlete from her earliest years, excelling in swimming, hockey, tennis and basketball at Cheltenham HS, where she was named the school’s top athlete 4 straight years. She attended Temple Univ,, majoring in Phys Ed. and for those 4 years, she dominated several sports, adding Badminton to her list of sports, qualifying for the nationals in New York. After college, Bobbie married Leon Rose and had two children, Bonnie and Michael. After Michael’s birth, the couple took up a new sport, golf and it became their passion, taking vacations at the Greenbriar and becoming great friends with Sam Snead over 25 years. Bobbie picked up the game quickly, and in her second year playing, she won the Club Championship at Ashbourne CC in 1947, the first of 13 consecutive titles, before joining Philmont CC, where she won the title in her first year there in 1960.
Bobbie played at a high level in WGAP and PA State Women’s tournaments over the next 50 years, winning the WGAP Griscom Cup with son Michael a record 11 times, also winning the WGAP Mater et Filia 4 times with daughter Bonnie. She seemed to get better with age. At age 90, Bobbie shot in the 80’s five times, also winning a tournament at Merion GC with Bonnie. That year, the Women’s GAP gave Bobbie its highest award, making her an honorary member,. At age 92, Bobbie shot a 92 to win the WGAP Class B Super Senior title, an event for ladies age 65 and up. At age 98, Bobbie was honored again, being inducted into the Phila. Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, joining her 2 children. On her 99th birthday, Bobbie, did it again, shooting better than her age, this time with a 96 at Ballen Isles in FL. She could still be seen hitting balls on the range at Philmont at age 103.
Also an outstanding artist in painting, pen and ink, sculpting, wood carving, clay molding and soldering, Bobbie’s house is like a museum of modern art. She was busy with several projects in the days before her death. She is survived by her children Bonnie George(Peter Scheid) and Michael(Sara) along with 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Donations in her memory can be sent to The First Tee of Phila, JW Platt Caddie Scholarships, Women Golfers Give Back, Maccabi USA, and The Phila Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.