THE FOUNDERS

“We were all of one mind: we wanted a place for women to do something they loved and make a living at it,” says retired pro golfer Marlene Bauer Vossler. THE FOUNDERS is a riveting, well-crafted documentary about the 13 founding members of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). These trailblazers (including Olympic phenom Babe Didrikson Zaharias) dealt with sexism, grueling promotional schedules, and skepticism about their athleticism. But they pressed forward anyway due to their love of the game and belief in their skills. This determination and passion still shine through in new interviews with four of the founding members: golfing prodigy Vossler, who joined the tour at age 15; straightforward and smart Shirley Spork; easygoing and generous Marilynn Smith; and Louise Suggs, a tough-as-nails competitor and phenomenal (if underrated) player. THE FOUNDERS illuminates the tenacity and talents of a group of women who haven’t necessarily received their proper due and incisively makes the case for their status as women’s rights pioneers. —A.Z.