For almost as long as Suffolk Golf Course has run along Holland Road, the Suffolk Women’s Golf Association has called the course its home.

Wednesday, while dodging thunderstorms for part of the afternoon, about 40 ladies were out on the course for the Association’s annual Member-Guest Tournament and All-American Picnic.

The tournament comes around the midway point of the SWGA’s schedule. The ladies have Ladies Day each Wednesday, usually at Suffolk Golf Course, but sometimes at another course in the area.

The SWGA has 31 members, says SWGA president Cora Ann Johnson, or better known as Coe. The Member-Guest is mainly a fun event as well as competitive. It’s also a way for the group to continue on.

“This event really helps us because just today we’ve got two of the guests planning on joining and becoming new members,” Johnson said.

The Member-Guest was interrupted, with the groups having a few holes left to play, by thunderstorms. The event’s schedule was simply rearranged to have lunch and some prize giveaways on the patio at Suffolk Golf Course during the delay. A new putter and a 50-50 raffle for $41 were the big draws.

“Jane Womack and Jean Hobbs have been members with us for 25 or more years,” Johnson said.

The SWGA has golfers from Franklin, Smithfield and Portsmouth as well as Suffolk. A few Wednesdays each season, Ladies Day travels to Cedar Point, Nansemond River, Cypress Creek or some of the other courses members belong to.

“We always play a different format each week,” Johnson said. The SWGA goes back to previous years’ calendars to keep the same lineup of events each year.

“Low net, low gross, foursomes, best-ball and other formats. We’ll all chip in a few pennies and the best score for the day wins,” Johnson said.

“It’s a great group outing here each week. We usually have 15 or 20 ladies most weeks,” Johnson said.

The SWGA also has events to support Suffolk Golf Course during the year. After all, the course has been a good host for many decades now.

Anyone interested in joining the Suffolk Women’s Golf Association can come out as a guest and play a round on a Ladies Day or they can contact the Suffolk Golf Course pro shop to get more information.