In the fall of 1961 Marie Rauterberg of the Bradenton CC started thinking about a women’s golf organization. This idea became reality when in the spring representatives from various local clubs met under the leadership of Marie to form the Mid-Gulf Women’s Golf Association.

The association’s purpose as stated by Marie would be to bring together golfers in this area and to have the pleasure of playing various courses.

The nine founding clubs were Bradenton CC; Bobby Jones Golf & CC; Lake Venice Golf & CC; Longboat Key Golf and CC; Sarasota Bay CC; Sarasota Colony Golf Club; Desoto Lakes Golf & CC; Palm View Hills Golf Course and Sun City CC.

The first tournament was held at Sarasota Bay, now known as Sara Bay, on October 1, 1962. Membership dues were $10. Marie was the first president.

Mid-Gulf may be one of the longest running women’s golf associations in Florida. An article in the Sarasota Herald Tribune dated February 15, 1974 says it all: