Queens on the Greens: These Myrtle Beach area women trade crowns for golf clubs
Inside the club house at the Wild Wing Golf Course in Conway, Queens have taken shelter from the rain outside.
The women, donning royal purple shirts instead of crowns, are buzzing from table to table, talking and socializing, as they wait for their tee time, which was delayed by the storm that began about 30 minutes before.
They are all members of the Queens on the Greens, a national organization that empowers women of color to learn and play golf.
Because the Grand Strand is known as a golf destination, it made sense that Myrtle Beach had a Queens on the Greens chapter, according to Celisse Lundy, one of the founders of the local chapter.
The Conway resident said golf still remains a white, male-dominated sport, which for women is a “little intimidating, but for women of color it’s very intimidating.”
So Lundy formed the Myrtle Beach chapter, along with Rose Johnson, who lives in Maryland but has a second home in Myrtle Beach, a year ago.
Johnson is a member of the inaugural chapter in Prince George’s, Maryland. There are now nine chapters, all located throughout the United States.
After moving to the area more than two years ago, Lundy had been playing golf with another group of women. But until she met Johnson, Lundy was the only woman of color at many of the golf meetups, she said.
Now, Lundy can play with women who look like her, providing a safe place for the female golfers to learn the game and just be themselves, she said.
“We’re not PGA tour people,” Lundy said. “There’s no judgment. Just fellowship and playing golf.”
How to nine and dine
As the sun began to peak through the clouds and the rain tapered off, the Queens checked in and went outside with their clubs.
After settling into their golf carts, the 12 women who showed up on Aug. 12 headed out onto the course.
There are about 30 members of the group who play four times a week at courses all over the Grand Strand, Lundy said.
Dubbing it “Nine and Dine,” they only play nine holes and then go out to eat afterward.
“I’m totally addicted,” Linda Skillman of Conway said. Skillman, who is retired, now plays golf three times a week, she said.
Many of the members are new to the area and the group allows them to find fellowship, Skillman said.
It’s also a way for women to get off the couch, get outside and stay active.
The group allows women to “feel comfortable and accepted,” Lundy said. “I have met some really great ladies.”
Encouraging other Queens
“Most of our Queens are still learning the sport,” Lundy said.
There are all levels of golfers in the chapter. In addition to taking lessons or attending the Golf Academy at Legends in Conway, those with more experience also coach other players while on the course.
And there’s no limit of encouragement, from “You go girl!” to “I see you Queen!”, while players travel from hole to hole.
Lundy encourages women to come out and play. “I just understood what the point of the organization was,” she said of starting the local chapter.
“We just really enjoy being here.”
This story was originally published August 28, 2025 at 10:41 AM.
