GAMBIER — About 12 years ago, Marge and Bill Umstattd thought it would be fun to start a golf league for seniors such as themselves. It didn’t take long for the Young At Heart league to become popular at the Tomahawk Hollow Golf Course near Gambier, and although membership has changed over the years, as many as 20 couples at a time have participated.
Robin Hren, who owns and operates the course with her husband, Bob, said the group — which plays every Monday — has an average age of 77. For fun, the members tabulated their cumulative age at 2,002. The youngest is Ron Bruce, 60; the oldest is Ed Ayers, 91, who missed Monday’s play because he was having a stress test. Ayers also volunteers at the Knox County Veterans Service Office, driving veterans to medical appointments.
From all over the county, the YAH members arrive at 8:30 a.m., pay their $1 fee, then set out to have some fun. Couples take turns inventing new games for each season, such as Monday’s “Women draw for partners individual scoring.”
“Over the years, the games list has been given to a different couple at the end of the year,” said Betty Graziani. “If you don’t like it, change it and come up with different games.”
More than half of the members are widowed, and those golfers partner with other widows or widowers. Hren said no remarriages have resulted from those pairings ... yet.
“Widows pair up with another widow, and keep the league going,” said Jan Edgar, clubhouse manager.
“We change golf partners each week,” said Bill Williams. “Sometimes we play with our spouses. Sometimes we draw for partners.”
“Anybody’s welcome,” said Dick Rumbarger.
Many of the golfers took up the sport when they retired.
“The kids are gone, you finally have a little money, and you want to do the things you enjoy,” said Rae Mercier-Bruce, who plays at Tomahawk three times a week with her husband, Ron. “We have a wonderful time.”
The golfers enjoy an annual year-end party in the clubhouse, and a festive picnic at the Williams’ home each summer. They said they enjoy the Tomahawk course and its many amenities.
“This is a great golf course,” said Bruce. “For a small course, it would rank at the very top.”
“And people really care about each other,” said Graziani.
Seniors interested in joining the Young At Heart golf league should call Bill Williams at 501-4745.
