I played golf up in Sydney recently and was paired up in a lovely group, one of whom was a chap called Brian. He was a life member of the local golf club, had served on the committee for 23 years, and was more than 80 years of age. He was very friendly and welcoming to me as a guest visiting from Melbourne. He had clearly been a fine golfer in his younger days because he played some very  nice shots. But with his ageing body, he was barely able to nudge the ball more than 75 metres.

He used a cart to get from shot to shot and he moved very slowly with extreme care. He reminded me of my grandfather who played the great game till he was 85 and literally lived for his golf. Papa as we called him, prided himself on his special trousers that were stitched specially for golf with half a dozen pockets for the various things us golfers carry with us- markers, tees, marking pen, extra ball etc!

And at the end of the game, Brian and his mates, mostly 70 and above, convened in the clubhouse to share a drink, exchange betting monies, and to have a chat about their game. Though the saying goes, “that golf is a great way to spoil a good walk”, it’s a wonderful pastime that is outdoors, active and social. As long as it’s not taken too seriously, it’s great for one’s health!

I loved Brian’s cheeky youthful spirit and how mindfully he respected his body. A great model for ageing well!

I hope you have a hobby that enthuses you like golf does for me. If not, it’s never too late to start.

In Health and Wellness

Ranjit