The year 1955 was a year of firsts: The Perry Como Show, Captain Kangaroo and Lawrence Welk all debuted on television; Ford introduced the first Thunderbird, Lee Merriweather was crowned Miss America and the Bethpage Women's Golf Club (BWGC) was born.

Earlier this month, 30 women, including some charter members, gathered together for their 45th reunion at the Boca Greens Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla. The "gals," known for their competitive spirit, continued to compare handicaps and longest drives ­ unmindful that most had reached the experienced age of 70 plus.

The Bethpage Women's Golf Club was one of the first women's golf associations to hit the links. Every woman had to shoot a 110 or better to qualify as a member. They rotated play on the five Bethpage courses, including the "Black Course" which will host the US Open in 2002.

"The Bethpage women, playing from the men's tees (ladies tees had not been installed yet) never took the easy lay-up," reported Anne Sonet of Roslyn, one of the members who attended the reunion from Long Island. "We always went for the shot. No one would ever dream of anything else, not even the topic of their children, their husbands or recipes."

Members of the club ranged in age from their 20s to their 40s and met before dawn.

According to Charter Member May Link, "We left husbands and children still asleep to arrive at the tees, breathless and eager. The competition was keen, no 'gimmys' and no 'improved lyes." We had spirit...Bethpage spirit." Besides Ms. Sonet, other Roslyn natives included are: Marian Pasnak, Lore Aufhauser, Maje Wasch, Doris Schuman and Mollie Kallen-Liebeskind.