Who knows how far Judy Eller Street might have gone as a professional golfer? One thing is for certain, she could not have gone much farther as an amateur. A native of Old Hickory, Street is perhaps the greatest female amateur golfer ever from Tennessee. She won more women’s state amateur golf tournaments than anyone in history. The daughter of popular Old Hickory Golf and Country Club pro Harold Eller, Street won the state tournament every year from 1956 through 1960. Remarkably, her first title came when she was only fifteen years old, making her the youngest person to ever win the prestigious event. Her last title was won in 1966 and she has not played in the tournament since 1969, opting instead to concentrate on her family. “I would hate to make a career of traveling the professional circuit,” Street once said. “There’s just no home life in that sort of thing.” She twice won the prestigious USGA girls junior title and was a member of the 1962 Curtis Cup squad. She won the women’s NCAA title in 1962 while attending the University of Miami and also captured the Women’s Southern tournament. The proud mother of three girls and one boy, Street takes great pride in her involvement with her community. Truly, Judy Eller Street exemplifies through her past accomplishments and her continuing activities the membership criteria of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
