SWINGIN' SENIOR

Terry MacDonald with some of her trophies

Many people in Scugog are blessed with specific talents most of which go unnoticed, but every now and then someone comes along that stands out from the crowd and must be shared with everyone.

One such person is Terry MacDonald, a woman who lives a quiet, peaceful existence, yet has accomplished something many of us simply dream about.

Last year, Terry played a round of golf at Summerlea Golf course and when she tee’d off on the 18th hole her ball went in the cup on the first stroke.

Now, a hole-in-one as fantastic as it may be, is not that newsworthy, as it does happen from time to time. What makes this unique is this was Terry’s fourth hole-in-one.
By the way, did I mention this energetic, bright-eyed, white-haired grandmother is 86 years old.

Terry was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and like most people in the 1920s and 30s golf was not on the agenda. In fact, Terry, aside from playing baseball when she was young, was busy raising a family of two girls and a boy.

Terry moved from Prince Albert to The Pas, Manitoba (about as far north as you would want to go), where she worked as a furrier. “I still have one of the original coats I made,” Terry said, with a smile on her face.

Terry set to swing.

In 1953 Terry and her family moved to Utica, where her husband Raymond drove truck. When she was in her mid fifties Raymond passed away and Terry found herself with very little to keep her occupied.

Her kids, grown up by this time, were after Terry to take up some activity to fill her time. Her son Ken, an avid golfer, insisted she try the game.

“I used to always wonder how they could sit in front of the television set and watch that ridiculous nonsense,” Terry said, shaking her head.

Well, she tried a round and never looked back. Her first game was at Summerlea Golf Course, just south of Port Perry, nearly 30 years ago and she still plays there today.
Not only does Terry play four times a week, but she also walks the hilly course. “Golf just came naturally to me. I’m not an athlete and never have been, but I enjoy the game.”

Terry has won the ‘lowest handicap’ award three years and the ‘low gross’ award six times. Along with her four, hole-in-one trophies, she has also won the Ladies League Championship.

Last year Terry shot a 63, but that was not her lowest score.“ A number of years ago (she could not remember exactly how many) I shot a 59, one over par.”

She said it so matter-of-factly that I found myself chuckling at her great sense of humour.

Terry now lives in Port Perry and still cuts her own lawn. She walks regularly in the winter and last March 17 played a round of golf. “It was tough to find the ball in the snow, but we had fun.”

Chatting with Terry MacDonald makes you realize how much she enjoys her life. At eighty-six, she has accomplished more than most of us half her age.

By Jonathan van Bilsen
Focus on Scugog