AGE is no barrier for 92-year-old Rowan Hickson and 91-year-old Maggie Oliver who love playing golf at Bellingen Golf Club.

Maggie has been playing for 54 years and attributes her passion for golf as a key ingredient to her physical and mental fitness.

“Golf is a great way to keep fit and get exercise through walking.

“Even when you have a cart you do a lot of walking and it also helps you keep your marbles!,” she laughed.

The fresh air and beautiful scenery of the Bellingen countryside also helps.

“The Bellingen Golf Course is so picturesque and so well maintained that it’s a pleasure to play a round, even when you’re not playing too well.”

Maggie has many highlights spanning five decades but at the age of 91 she is still setting goals.

“I was a member of the Bellingen Ladies Pennant team that won the Mid North Coast competition in 2019 and was playing club competition golf until the end of 2022.

I won the individual District Seniors Competition nearly 20 years ago but now I’m limited to social games.

“I have many great memories – my favourite ones are two holes-in-one, I’m still hopeful for a third,” she quipped.

92-year-old Rowan Hickson has been playing golf for a staggering seven decades and only started getting serious after he gave up the day job.

“I’ve been playing golf since the 1950s but joined Bellingen and started to take it seriously in 1998 after retirement,” he said.

“I practice almost every day and play competitions as often as I can on Thursdays and Saturdays.

“Thanks to the handicap system, seniors can compete on equal terms with all the other members – age is no barrier to enjoying the benefits of playing golf.”

In addition to the exercise and beautiful scenery, the social side of golf remains a big drawcard.

“It helps me keep fit.

“Bellingen is a well-balanced and challenging course; very beautifully maintained and very enjoyable to play, the club members are all incredibly friendly.

“I still remember my best round ever – about fifteen years ago when I played the back nine in two over par!

“Very keen to be awarded a free game on my 100th birthday, and must have a word with the President about that,” he chuckled.

By David WIGLEY