THE WORD ‘legend’ is probably used way too often in golfing circles.
Yet at Gundagai Golf Club in the state’s south-west, it has been well-earned . . . three times over.
That’s because there’s a healthy trio of golfers treading their fairways with almost 170 years of competitive golf between them.
At the head of this ‘fearsome threesome’ is 96-year-old Nancy Smith.
And right there beside her on the timesheets is 90-year-old Mavis Turner as well as Marie Cooper, who admits to being in her ‘late 80s’.
Cooper was quick to put things into perspective when she remarked: “That’s a lot of golf and a lot of bad shots in there too.”
Not only do this hardy trio actively play golf twice a week, they are still winning events and playing in tournaments in the area representing Gundagai.
By all reports, all three are wonderful golfers who have given so much to the game as well as to women’s golf and to the Gundagai Services Golf Club.
Nancy, Mavis and Marie have won many club championship events, represented the South-West Division and even played at state level.
Amazingly, Nancy competed in the State Medal Championships for the South-West region in her early 90’s and won the C grade Country medal, coming third overall in C grade, which was quite a feat for this enthusiastic veteran.
In the early days, the Gundagai girls played in many tournaments away and the memories have not faded on some of their momentous trips.
One such excursion was a trip to Walcha to play in the Sand Greens Championships.
GUNDAGAI’S LEGENDARY TRIO: (left to right) Nancy Smith, Marie Cooper and Mavis Turner.
Mavis pointed out it was a week to remember with the only hiccup being one disastrous dinner out when the wine was warm and the steak was cold.
Yet still they look back and laugh about it.
On another trip the girls were heading to Barraba and the first night they stopped at Forbes only to find the river was flooding the roads.
It was Mavis’s first trip towing a trailer and she had trouble backing it so had to unhook it and then put the trailer back on to get out of a sticky situation.
The fun and games continued the next day when they had to get the owner of the hotel to back the trailer out for them in the morning.
The CB radio was on in the car and ensured they copped plenty of good-natured abuse from the truckies on the road.
The girls played at Berridale one year, staying at Coolamatong Station, they went horse riding, played tennis, jumped into the sauna and spa and such was the fun that some of them never even make it to the golf course.
Marie, Mavis and Nancy have all been great mentors to new players, giving great advice and wonderful support to many golfers. They have all served time of Gundagai’s Ladies Golf Committee over the years.
Mavis’s cooking is legendary and many come to the club’s open charity day just to get a taste of Mavis’s trifle (“no sherry you just use port,” she says) as well as her Ambrosia salad.
“We are so incredibly lucky to have Nancy, Mavis and Marie in our Gundagai Ladies Golf group,” Gundagai Services GC’s ladies sub-committee president Sally Keatinge told Inside Golf.
“They inspire us all with their amazing golf and we absolutely treasure them.
“We just hope they keep playing golf here at Gundagai for many more years.”
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