A round on the fairways keeps you young at heart

A round on the fairways keeps you young at heart

8 March 2017

RECOVERING from life-threatening illness, overcoming devastating bereavement, defying age and keeping up with the boys — lady golfers have a myriad of reasons for taking up the game.

The ladies of St Patrick’s Golf Club, Downpatrick, no exception, forming a tightly knit group, bonded as much by life’s tribulations as they are by their love for the sport.

With the club boasting the first female president in its 87-year history — former PE teacher Geraldine Gray — the ladies’ section is encouraging others to come on board.

Describing her election as “ground-breaking”, Geraldine says the club was the second in Ulster to elect a lady president, showing its foresight in what is often a male dominated sport.

A member of the club since 1965 and former president of the Ulster Women’s Hockey Union, she says she is honoured to be Ulster’s only lady president this year.

A former Down High School teacher, Geraldine says she followed her husband into the local club taking the view that “if you can’t beat him, join him.” Competitive by nature, she says she enjoyed putting her skill to the test, quickly reducing her handicap from 36 to 12.

With more women joining the club in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Geraldine became juvenile convenor for many of their children, a position she maintained for 25 years.

Her own daughter was one of her first protégées and she said she believes one of the lovely benefits of the sport was the cross-generational friendships forged on the course.

With 10 girls now availing of junior membership and over 60 female members overall, Geraldine says the club is keen to get more ladies of all ages to discover such benefits.

“What we find is that those with a family history of golf seem more likely to join, but we are planning taster sessions after Easter that we hope will encourage others to give it a try,” she said.

“We would love to introduce them to a really good game.”

Accepting that full-time workers with young families and busy schedules may have difficulties finding four hours for a round of golf, she says the sacrifice of time is worthwhile.

“There are so many more full-time working women now than when I started out and so many other pressures women face,” she said.

“But it is worth it. I love golf and if I play a bad shot I can’t wait to get back to the ball to play again. In fact, I would love to have two shots at my ball.”

The club’s outgoing lady captain, retired midwife Assunta Morgan, admits juggling the care of her four children with the demands of a busy career was often difficult.

“I was a working mother but I set aside Thursday as a day for myself when my youngest was six years old,” she said.

“Most Thursdays I would rush to the golf course with just a minute to spare but once I was there I would relax and forget anything bothering me.

“If you have good support at home it can be done. Golf can add years to your life, preventing chronic illness and the exposure to sunshine and fresh air is a benefit.

“It is a wonderful game for life and the earlier you start the better it is.”

Two members demonstrating the golf’s health benefits are octogenarians Joan Carson and Maud Bailie.

Maud, who continues to play in weekly competitions, says she is convinced the sport “keeps her fit and young at heart”, while Joan believes one of the advantages for her has been meeting people she would never otherwise have met.

For incoming lady captain Anne Roden, golf was an important part of her recuperation after battling potentially deadly meningitis at the turn of the millennium.

Joking that she is a “fair-weather golfer”, she said her gradual return to her pastime the summer after she was sick helped her rebuild her strength.

“There was great support at the club and great friends,” she said.

“I was very weak for several months and it took me a long time to feel normal again, but being in touch with the girls, and eventually returning to the course, was great.”

Anne Teggart has also discovered the therapeutic benefits of the game since the tragic loss of her 18 month-old granddaughter Olivia Cullen.

To honour Olivia, her family established an annual fundraising golf day in her memory and have raised over £50,000 for charity.

“Members were unbelievable through prizes and sponsorship,” she said. “The sport helped without a doubt. It gave the whole family a focus.”

Taster sessions for ladies will be held at St Patrick’s Golf Club after Easter. Everyone is welcome.