11FEBRUARY
2004.
Age no barrier on the golf course
When you get a little older, a bit of improvisation
helps to carry clubs on hill courses. David Dale
shows how. |
11.02.2005
By David Ogilvie
GOLF: Three hundred and forty-four golfers over the age of 50 set out to belie
their age around Castlecliff and Belmont yesterday.
It appeared that golf would be the winner most of the time in the ACC Thinksafe-sponsored
New Zealand Masters Games sport, but that didn’t stop everyone having a
ball. We didn’t see any club throwing anyway.
It gets pretty hilly and bumpy out the back of Belmont, and Castlecliff stalwart
David Dale was having a few problems – but he was helping conserve energy
with his own motor-cycle powered bag carrier . "Anyway, I’m the junior
of this group," Dale (77) said of his playing partners John Donald
(Wanganui),
Tom
Sole (Urenui) and the tournament’s oldest player – who suitably goes
by the name, Ivan Elder.
"
I’m from Gore," says Ivan, and emphasises the gggrrrrr, as people
from that area seem to do.
A spritely former accountant, he’s been in that area – "give
or take a move or two" almost all his life, but these days takes the opportunity
of sneaking into the North Island to try its golf courses.
Taranaki man Tom Sole isn’t having a good day – "makes you think
I’m playing the first round of my life," he said, and carried on anyway.
But Elder seemed to be the one in form. He tells why.
"
I don’t feel like the youngest man in the field exactly, but I feel pretty
good for my age. I’m pretty happy with my health."
Elder played the sister Dunedin Masters last year but he is playing the Wanganui
version for the first time. Why?
"
I got a gold medal last year," he said. "Why not a repeat?"
Elder started the day well, got into a bit of trouble on the fourth, but gained
his two stablefords on the fifth. He looked in pretty handy touch for a man of
86.
"
I’ve played about 40 years – with gaps – probably 35 years
all in. I’ve never got to a very low handicap, and I’ve persisted
with golf as a form of exercise. And I’ve enjoyed it."
Elder was a harrier and badminton player in his younger years – "too
busier a life otherwise to play anything else." Elder, a true southerner,
says – when pressed – that he was "modestly good" at badminton
and harriers.
Gore has remained his home: "I was a chartered accountant, I had a good
practice, and it kept me anchored. Plenty of time for golf now, though. I even
come to the North Island for it."
The Gore visitor has a handicap of 23.8 at the age of 86 – "and I’m
proud of it."
And he stepped up and knocked the next ball down the middle of the fairway at
Belmont.
Donald, a Wanganui Golf Club member, was a starter yesterday and again today
at the age of 83.
"
I’m the oldest player to be going the 18 holes on both days. I said that
was worth a medal – but they wouldn’t hear of it."
There are overseas visitors for the golf – regular visitors Pam and John
Giles from Daventry in the United Kingdom, John Alderson and Anne Cummins from
the Greetham Valley Golf Club in the UK, and around 10 Australians.
Altogether a busy two days for all.
There were 14 starters in the over-75 group. They were loving their game. |
|
