Bobbi Lancaster facts for kids

Bobbi Lancaster, born on June 23, 1950, is a talented family doctor, a champion golfer, an author, and a speaker who works for human rights. She became well-known around the world in 2013. This happened when she tried to join the LPGA Tour as a transgender woman.

Early Life and Interests

Bobbi Lancaster was born in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Her father, Douglas Lorne Lancaster, was a World War II U.S. paratrooper. Her mother, Rosalie Clara Lancaster, grew up on a farm. Bobbi was the first of four children. The family lived in Chatham until 1956. Then they moved to Ridgetown, a small town in Ontario.

Young Bobbi was a great student and loved all sports. She delivered newspapers and studied butterflies. She also learned to play the piano. Her father, who was a very good golfer, taught her the game. In 1960, her family moved to Hamilton, Ontario. There, Bobbi continued her piano lessons. She also worked as a caddy at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club. At 14, she became the caddy champion there. She went to Cathedral Boys High School. Bobbi dreamed of becoming a professional golfer, a biologist, or a pianist.

Medical Career and Helping Others

Bobbi Lancaster was a top student and earned a scholarship to McMaster University. She studied Biology from 1969 to 1972. She was a captain of the men's golf team. The team won two championships in 1972 and 1974. She then went to McMaster Medical School in 1972. She earned her M.D. degree in 1978.

After medical school, she finished her family medicine training in 1980. She was chosen as the Chief Resident during this time. Bobbi practiced medicine in Hamilton until 1991. She cared for patients of all ages. She also taught medical students and residents. In 1986, she was nominated as the Canadian Family Practice Teacher of the Year. She also volunteered in her community. She was on the Board of Directors for the Hamilton Catholic Children's Aid Society. She became its president in 1984.

In 1991, Lancaster moved to Phoenix, Arizona. She started a family practice there. She also continued to teach new doctors at St. Joseph's Hospital. In 2001, she took a break from her work. During this time, she volunteered at the Phoenix Art Museum and the Phoenix Zoo. Later, she returned to her medical career. She became a medical director at Advanced Healthcare of Mesa and Scottsdale. She also worked as a medical director with Hospice of the Valley.

In 2012, Bobbi Lancaster lost these jobs. She then worked supervising medical studies until 2016. She also kept her small family practice in Gold Canyon, Arizona. Many of her former patients still admire her work.

Golf Achievements

Bobbi Lancaster was excellent at golf from a young age. At 11, she won a caddy tournament. She beat older players who were in their late teens. She also qualified for the Ontario Caddy Championship. In high school, she led her team to many wins. She also won junior tournaments. She was part of the CANUSA Games golf team.

In her late teens and twenties, Lancaster won many club championships. She also played in Canadian and Ontario Amateur Championships. She even competed in the Ontario Open, a professional event. She led the McMaster University Men's Varsity Golf Team to two championships.

When she started her medical career in 1980, she joined Hamilton Golf and Country Club. She quickly became the club champion. She also won the Sclater Bowl three times. After moving to Phoenix, she won a professional event in 1997. In 2008, she became the Senior Club Champion at Superstition Mountain Golf Club.

After 2012, Bobbi Lancaster played golf with new energy. She got permission from the USGA to play as a female. She quickly won the Papago Club Championship. Some people complained that her past as a male gave her an unfair advantage. So, Lancaster became a professional golfer in 2013. She played on the Cactus Tour against much younger players. She helped change the Cactus Tour's rules about gender. Then, she tried to qualify for the LPGA Tour in 2013. She did not succeed but gained status on the Symetra Tour. She later regained her amateur status in 2016. Bobbi Lancaster still plays golf sometimes. She is also once again the club champion at Papago Golf Course.

Media Attention

When Bobbi Lancaster became a professional golfer in 2013, her story became famous worldwide. She was 63 years old when she tried to join the LPGA Tour. A sports writer for the Arizona Republic wrote a big story about her. This story was picked up by many news outlets. These included the Huffington Post, USA Today, and Good Morning America.

Lancaster also gave interviews to TMZ Sports and Channel 12 News. The Golf Channel made a documentary about her life. Jimmy Roberts, a famous reporter, interviewed her for it. Other documentaries were made by Cronkite News and Sports Illustrated.

Advocacy and Human Rights Work

Because of all the media attention, Bobbi Lancaster became a minor celebrity. She has been asked to give speeches to many groups. She has spoken to students at various universities. She also spoke at the Arizona Women Lawyers Convention.

Lancaster's work to raise awareness about transgender issues caught the attention of the Human Rights Campaign. She received their 2015 Equality Award. She was elected to their national Board of Directors in 2016. She has worked very hard for them. She has talked to lawmakers in Washington D.C. and Arizona. She has also taken part in a White House Summit. She has worked with groups like One Community to support acceptance and equality. In 2015, Lancaster was also added to Echo Magazine's Hall of Fame.

See also

• Lana Lawless, transgender former police officer who sued the LPGA for the right to compete on the woman's circuits in 2010, leading to the change in regulations