As the long-time Lynbrook member rounded the corner to pick up a golf cart, there was her daughter Yvonne waiting for her to arrive. Thing is, Yvonne doesn’t live in Moose Jaw, and her being at the course was something special.
Turns out, when you’re turning 90 years old a day after your regular league round, folks want to do something special.
Members of the club descended on Ortley’s Lounge shortly after their round for a surprise party for Elsie, complete with a giant sign celebrating her birthday, a special birthday cake, and of course, rousing rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’.
“It was lovely, and people have been so gracious. I’m not used to this kind of thing and it kind of gets me right there,” Sapach said, pointing to her heart.
Thing is, Elsie isn’t your normal run-of-the-mill senior player. She carded a 97 in her round on Tuesday and with a few breaks could have even shot her age. And that’s not even the best part of it -- two months ago, on June 29, she used her driver to ace the Lynbrook’s fifth hole. The feat was part of the birthday celebration as the Ladies League presented her with a trophy commemorating her achievement.
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t realize it had gone in,” Sapach said of the momentous occasion. “I heard the ping when it hit the pin and I was thinking about what usually happens: it hits the pin and flies off somewhere. So I get up there and I’m looking for the ball, and there it is in the hole.”
The ace was the second of her golfing career, the first coming “20 or so years ago.”
Sapach’s proficiency at the game comes from her dedication to the sport -- she hits the Lynbrook two to three times a week -- and a simple desire to be out enjoying the game with friends.
“Oh, it’s for my sanity, especially with COVID,” Sapach said. “I keep saying I’d be in the looney bin if I didn’t have golf and my friends to carry me through… golf had been my relaxation and my social life.
“It’s like anything else, you just keep on going. I still have a house, I still have a yard, the more you do, the more you can do.”
With that in mind, Sapach plans to keep on keeping on as long as she can.
“I’m just surprised I can hit still hit it as far as I can, but I’m losing distance every year,” she said. “As long as I feel well enough that I’m not hindering everybody else, I’ll keep it up.”
