93yr Old Still Swinging a Golf Club

8 February 2012

93yr Old Still Swinging a Golf Club

The oldest competitor at the New Zealand Masters Games is 93 year old Ivan Elder. Competing in Golf, Ivan put in a very respectable round today at the St Clair Golf Course. In very blustery conditions he went round in 106, which on his 34 handicap gave him a net 72 for the par 71 course.

Ivan, who says his mother lived to 99, says he is grateful to be active enough to still be able to play golf.

“I have been very fortunate to continue playing as the years have added up. A highlight was in the Christmas Hamper at Gore in 2007 when I shot an 86, three under my age at the time. In the next couple of weeks I shot an 88 and 89. I was told then that it should get an easier target each year! But I was surprised about four months ago to put in a score of 93, equal to my age. I think this might have encouraged me to again come again to the Masters.”

This is the fifth time that Ivan has competed at the Games in Dunedin and he has also competed at four Games held in Wanganui. He says he really enjoys the company and the competition.

Ivan’s first round of golf was at Knaresborough in Yorkshire, England in 1942 during the war. He had never touched a gold club before and went round in 134. He briefly took up the game in the 1950’s but played more regularly from the mid sixties when he joined the Gore Golf Club. He won two Junior Championships at Gore in the 1980s.

During his golfing career he’s had four holes in one. Three of these were on at Kelvin Heights in Queenstown. His lowest handicap has been 11 and lasted for only three weeks. He says he spent a good number of years in the region on a 13 to 18 handicap.

Playing in Ivan’s four was John Giles (82) from England. John went the round the course in 103. John and his wife Pam are both regulars at the Masters Games.
“We come because we enjoy the Games, the country and especially the people who make us so welcome I believe this is the 8th time we have taken part in the Masters Games.

NZ MASTERS GAMES 2012

Dunedin
February 4 – 12
www.nzmg.com

ENDS

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