In the Swing of Things: Meet One Senior Who’s Built an Active Lifestyle On and Off the Green
Did somebody yell “Fore?” The Village at Germantown is home to many folks who love the camaraderie and competition of golf. Some even polish their putters to compete in the annual Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce (GACC) Golf Classic, held in June. We caught up with one of our resident golfers, Sue W., and asked her to chat about the sport she loves, as well as life in our family-like community.
At The Village, A Warm Welcome Is Par for the Course
Sue, a retired school librarian, says there was never any doubt which senior living community would suit her best. “I grew up in Germantown, so I was already familiar with The Village and the people who live here,” she explains. “When I toured the grounds, I was impressed with the atmosphere and décor, and how friendly the residents and staff were. I just felt comfortable here.”
After her big move in early 2024, it didn’t take long for Sue to feel like part of The Village family. “The day I moved in, the lady downstairs knocked on my apartment door and welcomed me. I felt I had made an immediate friend, and we’re still good friends today.”
The seeds of friendship are also sown at mealtimes. “I’ll often eat dinner with my exercise class buddies. Other times, I walk into the dining room and ask if anyone has room at their table, and someone always says ‘yes.’ There aren’t any cliques here, and it feels like one big family,” Sue says.
For Sue, one delightful surprise has been connecting (or should we say re-connecting) with some of her former students’ parents who now reside at The Village. “It’s exciting to hear how my ‘kids’ are doing,” she beams, “and when they visit their parents, I get to see them too.”
Tees, Trophies and Togetherness
Folks in our Germantown retirement community know that if they’re looking for Sue, they’ll likely find her on The Village putting green or at the Windyke Country Club golf course down the road.
Sue’s passion for golf began nearly half a century ago. “It was actually my late husband’s idea,” she explains. “We both went to a golfing school at Lake of the Ozarks, and before long, I was hooked. After we came back, I joined a ladies’ group at Windyke, and I’m still playing today.”
Every Tuesday, The Village holds a putting contest where folks with the lowest scores can also score a free drink ticket. And we’ll give you one guess as to who usually ends up in the winners’ circle. “I win a ticket almost every week,” Sue laughs. “But for us, the fun and camaraderie are more important than the prizes.”
When this year’s Germantown Golf Classic rolled around, Sue was one of the residents who jumped at the chance to show off their skills. Scoring was based on a “best hole” structure, in which the lowest score among the team members is recorded as the team's score for that hole. “It’s all very friendly, and everyone has a chance to contribute,” Sue says. “I made a few putts for a birdie and had great fun driving the golf cart,” she adds with pride.
An Active Senior Lifestyle That Would Challenge Folks Half Her Age
On days Sue doesn’t play golf, she attends strength and mobility classes at our state-of-the-art fitness center, followed by a brisk walk while listening to an audiobook. Sue also doesn’t mind telling you she’s no fan of elevators. “I always take the stairs to my apartment, unless I’m carrying packages. Yesterday I went up and down five times. It’s great exercise.” No wonder she consistently scores above average on her semi-annual fitness evaluations.
Later in the day, Sue enjoys her pick of clubs, cultural events and activities at our community. Her favorites include games like Rummikub and dominoes, as well as art classes, although she jokes that she’s a better golfer than a painter. She also makes time to attend some of the many religious services and Bible studies scheduled throughout the week and loves connecting with neighbors of all faiths. “Prayer and Bible study really do enrich my life, but I’m not sure how much they’ve helped my golf game,” she laughs.
How does Sue find time for all these engaging senior living activities? It helps that she doesn’t have to worry about housekeeping, maintenance or other chores. Even the small things are taken care of. “When the rod for my Venetian blinds broke, Chris from maintenance had it fixed in no time,” Sue explains. “Back in my former house, I had to ask my son to do those kinds of chores for me, but when he comes to visit now, we can simply visit together with no ‘to-do’ list.”
Golfers and Non-Golfers Alike Are All Family at the Village
Whether your passion is acting, drawing, Zumba or, yes, golf, the folks who live and work at our Germantown Senior Living Community are ready to welcome you with open arms.
To schedule your tour of our vibrant community, call us today at 901-737-4242.