New Zealand's oldest golfer retires

Margaret Stephens, the oldest golf member in New Zealand, has officially retired. Photo / Geoff Sloan.

Margaret Stephens, the oldest golf member in New Zealand, has officially retired.

Stephens, who turned 96 yesterday and had been playing golf once a week until a recent heart attack, finally hung up her golf clubs, signalling the end of a playing era at the Rawhiti Golf Club in Canterbury where she played off a 23 handicap.

The veteran has played for 63 years as a member of the Rawhiti Golf Club. She has a newspaper article from three years ago which stated she was officially the oldest playing golfer at the time.

"I am officially retired now. I am too old and it's time. I think I have played for long enough. I wanted to get to 96 to retire but I came up a few days short at 95 and 11 months," said Stephens.

Stephens said being a member of the Rawhiti Golf Club and the regular exercise of playing golf has changed her life.

"I love the friendship and exercise that golf gives you. It is a funny story, before I got into golf I had chilblains, but when I started playing golf with the walking they disappeared and I don't have any more problems with chilblains now, which is a big relief."

Stephens and her longtime friend Zena O'Neill have forged a unique friendship that has spanned seven decades.

Stephens was hired by O'Neill (now 92) to work with her in the accounts department of Ballantynes a famous Christchurch Department store in 1948 where they worked together until retirement.

At the same time (1948) Margaret joined Rawhiti where Zena had become a member the year before.

Stephens lost her husband during the war and never had any children and neither did O'Neill.

Both husbands were passionately involved (as were their wives) in surf lifesaving. They currently live opposite each other in a street not far from the beach and the golf course.

"Zena and I have some wonderful memories of playing this course for many years and we share some great stories. We have won a number of foursomes titles together. It has been a lot of fun.

"I love the course, I guess it is not too hard but I like it and have loved playing there for a long time."

With it snowing heavily in Rawhiti, Stephens said the celebrations for her 96th birthday were "pretty quiet" with her angina "not too good in the cold" but according to former New Zealand Golf Board Member Liz Douglas she has left a special legacy.

"Both Margaret and Zena are passionate about Rawhiti - Margaret has gathered many old photos of club activities and created several albums, with all people named and occasions documented. They are both Life Members and very much treated like royalty and their opinions valued," said Douglas.

Stephens, who has a long past with the Rawhiti Golf Club, hopes the clubs has a secure future.

"Rawhiti has always been known as a friendly and social club. It has been hit hard by the earthquake. I hope that it remains a club people want to be part of.

"I will still be involved and a big part of the club. I'll come down on a Wednesday and a Sunday to catch up with the ladies for lunch and see how everyone is playing.

"Things change in life but I think it's important we keep clubs like Rawhiti going. I would love to see young people get involved and this club continuing for many more years to come."