Champions for the ages

By Jarrod Potter
AGE, like a golfer’s handicap, is only a number … made evident by the age difference between two of Pakenham Golf Club’s lady champions.
Elly Briggs, 18, took out the club championship, and Marg Andrews, 81, won the C grade championship.
On her performance in the club championship, Briggs, the youngest winner, humbly admitted to not playing her best golf in the frigid conditions.
“Not the best I’ve played, but it was good enough on the day. Wasn’t the best weather either; first week was raining, then the next couple of weeks it was freezing and windy,” Briggs said.
Briggs took up the sport as a child, following her father around the links at Pakenham.
“Been playing since I was 12,” Briggs said.
“My dad played a lot and I kind of followed him into the sport.
“When I started, I played netball and tennis as well, but once I stopped playing the other sports, I found I enjoyed golf the most.”
Briggs plays golf in her spare time, having started her first year at university, studying a double degree with a Bachelor of Business Commerce/ Bachelor of Sport and Outdoor Recreation at Monash’s Peninsula campus.
Andrews was similarly surprised with her win in the C grade championship.
“Didn’t think I played all that good, but good enough to scrape through,” Andrews said. “The course was very wet and it was hard going.
“It’s a big bonus for me at my age to win many trophies. Did win the captain’s knockout a few weeks earlier, but I’ve won that four times as well.”
Andrews has been playing at Pakenham for nearly three decades, since the club opened in 1983.
“I’ve been playing there since the club opened 28 years ago,” Andrews said.
“Played sport all my life and used to play tennis, but my husband wasn’t too keen on me continuing with that, so he bought me some clubs. Because I love my sport, I couldn’t help but get hooked on golf.
“Used to be involved in netball; was an A grade umpire for 20 years and before I got married. I was also into athletics, and would run at Royal Park every Saturday.”
Andrews and Briggs agree there is no age divide in golf and everyone gets along and benefits from the wide array of player experience.
“The young players are great to play with,” Andrews said.
“They don’t worry you at all and just play along, have a bit of fun and enjoy the game.”
Briggs said what made “golf great” was that you can play at any age.
“It’s a lifelong sport because you can play until you’re 90 or older,” she added.