Nancy Black of Cohasset looked for perfection on the golf course her entire life.
Mrs. Black, who passed away at the age of 89 after a short illness on Thursday, September 23, never found the perfect round of golf, but she came close.
During her life-long quest for perfection she made a mark on the game that may never be duplicated. She won the Massachusetts Amateur championship in 1946 and 1947 as a young woman. After taking time away from the game to raise her children Debby and Paul, she returned to the game and became the most dominate woman golfer in Massachusetts for over 50 years. She won the state Senior title 13 times, Cohasset Golf Club’s championship six times, and dozens of other state and national titles during her career. Prior to joing Cohasset Golf Club, Mrs. Black was a member of Marshfield Country Club.
Her ability to remain at a high level of performance was due to her never ending quest to improve.
“I enjoy the challenge of the game as much now as I did in my 20s.’’Nancy said in a 1989 interview. “To this day I am looking for the perfect round of golf although it may never come. I am always trying to improve.”
Mrs. Black was always keeping up with the changes in the game. When the big headed graphite drivers first came out, she was one of the first to add one to her bag. She never resisted the changes in technology that have been so prevalent in the game of golf.
Nancy was taught the game by her dad and never forgot his basic credo.
“My father told me when I got started that the brain will only pass on one thought at a time.” she once said. “So go out and just hit the ball. He told me if you’re going to miss it, at least miss it quickly. That’s why I play 18 holes in three hours.”
Mrs. Black gave back to golf in a number of ways. She served as president of the Women’s Golf Association of Massachusetts from 1968-1971 and was vice present before that. She was president of the Women’s South Shore Golf League and served as a member of Cohasset Golf Club’s executive committee. Nancy also served as a member of the USGA’s Women’s Committee and as treasurer of the New England Women’s Golf Association.
Mrs. Black was a mentor to many younger golfers over the years. Her intense desire to win never dissipated and her respect for the game and its rules was legendary. A few years ago she was playing in a major two-ball tournament with a younger partner. The twosome was among the leaders in the event after their first round. Nancy was reviewing the round with her partner when she noticed she had put a wrong score on the card on one of the holes. It was a higher score than they actually made. Nevertheless, she realized she had signed an inaccurate score card and immediately went to the scoring committee to disqualify her team.
“Golf being an individual sport teaches patience, honestly, humility and good sportsmanship---all important qualities in developing one’s character.” Nancy once said. “Golf, I believe made me a better person.”
Mrs. Black leaves her daughter Debby Drain and her husband David of Duxbury, and son Paul Black, Jr. and his wife Monica of Hingham. She also leaves four grandchildren; Geoff and Tim Drain, and Ian and Hannah Black. Her beloved husband Paul Black Sr. predeceased her in 1990, as did her dear sister, Priscilla Bailey in 2003. Mrs. Black grew up in Boston and summered in Halifax. She graduated from LaSalle Junior College and lived in Hingham and Scituate before settling in Cohasset. A “Celebration of Life” will be held on Friday, October 15, 2010, at 1:30pm at the Hingham Congregational Church, 366 Main St., Hingham, MA 02043. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The First Tee of Massachusetts, c/o Joseph McCabe, Executive Director, 300 West Main St., Norton, MA 02766.