The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Golf Federation is mourning the loss of yet another one of its long time executive members. Yvonne Shaw, who would have celebrated her 80th birthday on Christmas Day, passed away on Sunday December 23 at the Princess Margaret Hospital after an extended illness.

Shaw, the eldest member of the BGF’s Central Ladies Division of which she served as a past president, left to mourn two daughters Renee Deveaux and Marie (Vernon) Deveaux-Sands-Smith and son Neil (Stephanie) Deveaux and eight grandchildren.

Her son Neil, who is active in the US Military Service, has confirmed to the BGF that his mother’s funeral service will take place at 10am on Saturday, January 12 at St Barnabas Anglican Church.

Her body is expected to be cremated and her remains are being planned to be scattered at the BGF’s Driving Range.

Prior to taking ill, Shaw spent considerable time in the office at the BGF’s Driving Range where she assisted in the many of the activities that took place there, especially on the weekend with the junior development programme.

Agatha Delancy, the president of the Central Ladies Division and this year’s recipient of the National Sports Hall of Fame induction, recalled that after Shaw spent four decades in the airline industry, she became intriguingly interested in golf and accepted an invitation to join The BGF Ladies’ Golf Weekly Clinics, at which time was being hosted at the South Resort and Golf Course.

“To hear Yvonne tell the story, it was after her very first encounter with striking the ball, hard, long and straight that she realised she was hooked,” Delancy said. “At any given opportunity Yvonne embraced the chance to tell her mesmerising story of love and passion for the game of golf. (Over time she became the consummate advocate and ambassador for Ladies’ Golf).”

Delancy revealed that Shaw went on to become one of the division’s pioneering members and her commitment to the development and growth of the game, complimented by her administrative wherewithal that qualified her as suitable choice to become the second individual to hold the position of Division Chairman from 2007-2015.

“In 2015 she had to make a conscientious decision to wholly focus on the recovery from a physical challenging stroke,” Delancy stated.

“Up until that time she executed the obligations, duties and responsibilities of both the Divisional Chairman and the Administrator at the Golf Driving Range and Teaching Facilities.

“Historically, she was another of the ground-breaking pioneers in the venture of securing property to be used for the harnessing of youthful golf talents.”

In all of her undertakings, Delancy revealed that because of Shaw’s commitment, dedication, stellar performance, passion, love and personal interests, the BGF honoured her with its ‘highest recognition,’ that of a lifetime membership.

Delancy, the founding president of the Ladies’ Division, having served from 2000 to 2006, said the sport was in good hands when she left to live in the Turks and Cacios Islands.

On her return home, Shaw was still in office, but after she suffered a stroke in 2014, Delancy said she assumed the responsibility and was re-elected to the post in 2015.