One of the things I now do (as well as play golf), is to volunteer with the Heritage Group of our golf club.

I was fascinated with its history which I recounted in this video below. I talked about a novel I accidentally stumbled on some time back that recounted the history of the people who lived on the grounds of our golf club in the late 1800s. (Check out the video as I show a bit around the golf course I play)….

When I shot the video, I was asked by the Women’s Committee to write an article for the newsletter and soon afterwards, was also invited by the Heritage Group to join them.

As I love history and love to help out, I accepted.

My first job with the Heritage Group I was asked to do was to create Video Stories of our Honorary Life Members for our display room.

Although I don’t interview the members, I prepare the camera and lighting and then shoot and edit the videos. It’s quite enjoyable and one benefit of the task is that I have gotten to know all the staff there.

It’s nice to go somewhere where people know your name.

It’s also been fascinating to listen to the stories of members who have been playing from over 50 years ago.

Some of them have recounted their parents playing golf and also about how life and the grounds as well as the old club house was.

For the women, all I would say is thankfully, the sport has progressed so that women don’t have to wave the men through while playing!

The video stories are shown as part of a rotating loop on a display tv and life members have provided us with various memorabilia that our group has put on display.

I’m all for keeping historical records for the club and our group is well organised thanks to JS who chairs the group. It’s so important to keep the stories alive and to see just how far the game – but also societal norms and values – have changed the game and the club house.

As I create these videos, I’m left wondering about my own story.

I can see myself playing this wonderful sport (albeit frustrating), for many years to come. I count myself lucky to have entered through the club’s Women into Golf Program a couple of years ago which now, in hindsight, I would say that it’s changed my life for the better.

My story is how this sport and in particularly, this club made me feel welcome at a time in a woman’s life where she feels lost after work, where she feels a need to connect with others and learn something new as part of a social group. I would say that this was a life saver for me. It gave me some purpose as well as making new friends for life.

For that, I’m thankful to the club so it’s only right to give back in some way and offer my services to create these videos.