(October 31, 2024) – Joan Joyce was already an elite softball, volleyball, and basketball player. Then she decided to play golf.
The legend of Joan Joyce began in “the circle.” The Waterbury native pitched all over the world throwing 150 no-hitters and 50 perfect games. In 1974 her team, the Raybestos Brakettes, became the first American team to win the world championship. In exhibition games at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury, she struck out Ted Williams and Hank Aaron.
In volleyball, she competed in national tournaments and was a player and coach for the United States Volleyball Association. On the basketball court, which was her favorite sport, she stared at Crosby High School, and in 1964 and 1965 she played on the U.S. Women’s National Team.
However, her greatest accomplishment might be what she accomplished on the golf course. When Joyce retired from playing softball in 1975 her friend and LPGA Tour Legends Hall of Fame inductee Jane Blalock suggested after years of leisurely playing the game that she should seriously pursue golf. Despite being 35 years-old at the time Joyce quickly excelled and 18 months later at the age of 37 she was a member of the LPGA Tour.
“Joan had the perfect temperament for golf, the perfect attitude,” Jane Blalock told Tony Renzoni, the author of three books and the writer of a musical about Joan Joyce. “She had a mechanically sound golf swing. And such great touch and finesse, a great feel.”
Born in Waterbury on August 18, 1940, Joan Joyce is widely considered one of the best women athletes of all time, and her accolades back that up. With her induction into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame Joyce, who passed away at the age of 81 in 2022, has now been inducted into a remarkable 23 hall of fames.
“She would love that she was inducted to the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame,” said Renzoni. “She was really excited about golf because she didn’t take up golf until she was 35 years-old. That’s the first time she ever really got into training, which is incredible because so many start when they are young. Joan never had that, but she had that natural ability.”
A member of the tour from 1977-1994, Joyce had three career sixth-place finishes. However, one round of golf stands out amongst the rest.
It was May 16, 1982, and on that day Joyce was set to compete in the final round of the Michelob Classic in Atlanta. It was a less than ideal day for golf. The wind was howling and there was a looming threat of thunderstorms. Early in her round Joyce realized something special was happening on the greens. She was making everything and she was chipping in from all over the place.
“After the 14th hole, I told one of the officials that I was going to break the putting record,” Joyce told Renzoni. “She turned to me and said, ‘You must be crazy!’ So, I told her, well maybe, but I am going to break the record. I just knew it!”
And break it she did. At the age of 42 and just seven years after committing to the game Joyce only needed 17 putts to complete her round.
Remarkably, as successful as Joyce’s playing careers were she was nearly as successful as a coach. In 1976 Joyce co-founded the Women’s Professional Softball League alongside Billie Jean King and others. In addition, to being a co-founder Joyce also served as the coach and part-owner of the Connecticut Falcons leading the franchise to all four of the league’s championships.
Her success as a coach continued after her retirement from golf and in 1995 she assumed the role of head coach for the Florida Atlantic University softball team amassing 1,000 career wins. During that same time period, from 1996-2014, Joyce also served as the head coach of the Florida Atlantic women’s golf team.
When you step back and take a bird’s eye view of the life and career of Joan Joyce it is almost impossible to comprehend. Simply put she was great at anything she put her mind to. Golf might have come later in her career journey but that makes her accomplishments all the more impressive.
“She’s always amazed at everything,” Renzoni said. “But being inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame is unique because it’s not about softball or basketball. She grew to love golf, so for her, this would be really cool.”
Photo Credit: Joan Chandler
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut State Golf Association functions as an extension of the USGA and provides stewardship for amateur golf in Connecticut. Founded in 1899, it is the country’s oldest state golf association and conducts over 60 Championships, Qualifiers, and One Day Tournaments throughout the year.
