Stronger with age: defending provincial senior champ playing her best golf

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This article was published 30/07/2019 (2584 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rhonda Orr is living proof that age is but a number.

The Southwood Golf & Country Club member is 57 years old, but playing the best golf of her life.

This week, she’s working on defending her run of three-straight Provincial Senior Golf Championships, an impressive feat considering Orr only started playing golf in her 40’s. As the years have gone on, she says her competitive drive has only gotten stronger. On Day 2 of the tournament, Orr is in first place with a 10-shot lead.

“I’m probably more (competitive), because my son got older and I was able to get out a little bit more. I’ve loved having the opportunity to go play away and compete, it’s fun. You compete against a lot of the same people and you get to know them, it’s good competition and all in good sportsmanship.”

When asked, Orr said she genuinely feels as though she’s hitting her stride. The time spent golfing in her 40s taught her a lot about herself and who she is as a golfer.

“I was definitely wilder then. I didn’t really compete then. I work a little different at it now, as you grow in the game and practice and prepare for things,” she said.

On the men’s side, 63 year-old Bruce North is back to defend his 2018 Senior Men’s title. He’s got some work to do: after two rounds, he’s three shots out of first place in a tie for second.

North, like Orr, is still very much dialed into his competitive nature, but said he’s learned that it’s okay to not take himself as seriously as he used to.

“Well we’re a competitive bunch of old goats, but the reality is we’re not as serious about it as when we were younger. We’re at the stage where we basically play for fun. When you get in a competition like this you try and play your best, but I don’t think we were serious as we once were,” North said.

Nowadays, North’s favourite thing about the sport is the time he gets to spend with his grandchildren because of it.

“I think at this point in time my favourite thing is watching my grandchildren hold their finish, so that’s a lot of fun. I got a four year-old that hits it and a little two year-old that’ll hold the finish even though she doesn’t play yet really.”

North said he jumps at the chance to take his grandchildren Frederic (4) and Livia (2) out to the driving range or to play some golf in the back yard. While his other two grandchildren, Yannick and Arlo, aren’t old enough to play just yet, North plans on getting them trained up and out on the course as soon as they’re able.

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Mike Berney, 64, was yet another golfer out on the course who still has that competitive itch. Berney said championships such as these are great competitive outlets for people of all ages.

“We wouldn’t be here if we weren’t competitive. I mean, me and Bruce have travelled all over Canada to play with the national team and that sort of thing. I think we’ve gone on three trips from Newfoundland all the way to B.C.,” Berney said.

“I love the people you play with. They’re some of the nicest people you’ll meet anywhere in the world. I love meeting people from different provinces, that sort of thing. It’s just fun.”

devon.shewchuk@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @devonshewchuk