Judy Crafter Vale & Photo Tribute

It is with a very heavy heart that we reflect on the passing of Life Member, Mrs Judy Crafter who sadly passed away on 16 September 2023. Aged 96, Judy was a cherished and respected member of Kooyonga and will be remembered for her friendship and warmth, golfing success and dedication to the Club.

Judy was a member of Kooyonga for 77 years, having joined the Club on 17 September 1946. She was both past Women’s Captain and Women’s President of Kooyonga, serving her captaincy term from 1976 to 1977 and then as President in 1978. She was awarded Life Membership in 2007 in recognition of her significant contribution to the Club and golf industry. Her contribution to Kooyonga was further recognised in 2012, when the Judy Crafter Trophy was named after and presented by Judy in honour of her golfing success and membership of the Club. This is an annual event which will be continued to be played in memory of Judy.

Judy’s family connections hold a strong line at Kooyonga. She was married twice and with her first husband, Dick Moore, had three children; Harry, Tim and Sally, all members of Kooyonga. She went on to marry her second husband, past member Brian Crafter who sadly passed away in 1994 and was father of two; Course Architect and member Neil Crafter and Honorary Member Jane Crafter.

Judy won the Club Championship five times and was runner-up several times. She won the Ross Sawers Foursomes ten times. She also won the Putting Competition twice, the Vice Captain Foursomes once, the Mother & Daughter Competition three times, the Family Foursomes once and the Mother & Son twice.

Judy represented Kooyonga’s A1 Pennant Team (now named Sanderson Cup) for an extraordinary 48 years in 1948 to 1996 playing 145 matches over 34 seasons. She won 103 of her matches with a winning percentage of 62% and played in the winning team of 18 pennants. 

Outside of Kooyonga, Judy had much success at a state and national level. She qualified five times for the Australian Championship and won a very prestigious St George Spoon.

In 1994 she won silver at the Silver World Masters Games held in Brisbane. She was selected in the South Australian teams from 1966 to 1973 and was State Vice Captain. She was invited to be a State selector but declined because she had a young family at the time.

Judy was runner-up in the State Championship four times and won in 1976. In 1974 she won the Champion of Champions Title (between the champions of all SA clubs). She was nominated for the News and Caltex State Sports Star of the Year in 1976 and from 1985 to 1992 she won the State Veteran Championships.

Judy participated in many state events, was runner-up in the Rene Erichson and won a Vardon Competition. She has also won various Masters Games medals.

In 1995 she was a member of the winning National Holden Teams Event in Victoria and represented South Australia in the Spalding Teams Event four times. She has won the LM Gordon Bowl at RAGC.

During her active golfing years at Kooyonga, her approach made her an excellent role model for any young golfers. She was a great student of the game and literature frequently refers to her “sweet swing”. Her lowest handicap was 4 and for fifty years she maintained a handicap under 10, spending many hours on the practice fairway to sharpen her game. Many members commented on what a pleasure it was to play with her and how encouraging and supportive she was to all members. She always had a reputation for being very willing to use her excellent knowledge of the game to help fellow golfers if asked, and caddied and refereed at both Club and State level.

During her extraordinary career Judy proved herself to be a dedicated student of the game, a fierce competitor and a generous and patient mentor to less accomplished golfers. She made many lifelong friends at Kooyonga, in particular, her Pennant teammates and those with whom she served on the Committee

According to her children, Tim and Harry Moore and Sally Hammer, Judy lived for golf. “She absolutely adored this golf club, she lived for it,” they say. Judy continued to play golf at Kooyonga until she was in her 90s. In 2022, aged 95, and with her health declining, she declared to her daughter, Sally, “What I’d really love to do is stand up on the first tee and hit a ball over the mound on the first fairway!”.

The Committee, management and staff of Kooyonga would like to pass on our condolences to Judy’s family and friends. Judy will be fondly remembered and missed by all.

Please click through the below photo gallery to view some of Judy’s special moments as a member of Kooyonga.