GK Sitio Ruby Senior Citizens’ visit to Marikina City

By: CHONA C. SANTOS
Sitio Ruby Phase 1
Caretaker Team

Last January 11, I brought a group of ten senior citizens, with ages ranging from 60 – 81 years old, of Sitio Ruby to the Marikina Sports Complex to be introduced to ground golf through the invitation of Nadia Sartre. We were met by the Senior Citizens Association of Marikina after we paid a courtesy call to Mayor Maridez Fernando. She graciously received us at the Shoe Hall of the Marikina City Hall which was quite impressive. We were received like VIP’s to the delight of our senior citizens. The mayor was responsible for introducing the sport to Marikina’s senior citizens which she got from one of her visits to Japan.

Ground golf is played using a wooden mallet with standees made of metal with a ring that serves as the hole where the golf ball is to be holed in, to score. Just like golf, there are supposed to be 18 standees placed 10 meters apart. These standees are portable and can be sited in any terrain or even on a wide lawn. It can also be played with 9 standees only. The balls used are used golf balls, each player is provider his own ball.

The wonderful part here was I saw our GK senior citizens having fun, witnessing them concentrating on the game and walking with sprightly steps toward every hole, making hi fives laughing and giggling. It was a transformation from their long faces and quiet presence in corners unobtrusively listening in their homes or gatherings we had. It was a joy seeing them conversing with our hosts, making new friends as they were trying to play the sport. The best part was they can play this sport at their own pace and they can play the sport at Ecopark which is just walking distance from their homes. Even the former Vice Mayor of Marikina on a wheel chair due to a stroke plays this sport. The game takes only an hour per flight. Once we raise the funds for the equipment, we hope to make this a family sport so that the young kids can play with their grannies and bond. A mallet only costs about P200. The standees can be made out of scrap metal.

By the way, the Japanese senior citizens from Yachimata, Japan are coming to Marikina to play for a friendly tournament of ground golf this August with a contingent of 300 men & women players. We hope that our senior citizens would be able to compete this August. This might catch on to our other GK sites and we hope that this will open doors of great possibilities in all aspects. They say life now begins at 60 (from 40 before) because of longer expectancy. We heard wonderful stories of how this game has changed the lives of senior citizens in Marikina and Yachimata. As long as there is life there is hope and age should not be a hindrance to one’s search for fulfillment and happiness.