It was the debut event in the Inverell Golf Club’s program, Seniors on the Green, made possible from funding secured earlier this year through the NSW Sport and Recreation Participation program. 

The men and women who arrived are all participants in the Inverell HACC social program. 

Their bus pulled up and visitors were welcomed to the club with a morning tea. Afterwards, they were offered a chauffeured tour of the course in golf carts or a try on the putting green. 

Soon, pairs of seniors were whispering off in carts to see the undulating landscape. 

Grace McGufficke first took up a putter and joined HACC volunteer Colleen Makim on the green. 

Though she claimed never to have golfed before, Grace seemed like a golf-shark with a putter, and was soon sinking ball after ball to the delight of onlookers

They were soon joined by local resident Rae Morris who gamely aimed at the hole. Other residents came around to have a look or chat in the sun.

“It’s lovely and green. I wouldn’t like to have to do all the mowing,” quipped visitor Betty Strong.

When the carts came back, a roast-beef luncheon was put on for the group. Golf club member Jan O’Neill was busy in the kitchen getting the tea and meal ready for the guests. 

She felt extremely gratified they could host the group.

“This grant affords us the opportunity of giving something back to the town. We’re forever going hat in hand to all the business houses and everybody for sponsorship, and for trophies and all that sort of thing, now, this is going to let us do something for the community,” she said.

“We are just so proud to do it.”