Regina Beach resident celebrates centennial out on the links

Eva Eckert became a centenarian doing what she loves — playing a round of golf, surrounded by those she loves.

The 100-year-old first started golfing at the Regina Beach Golf Club when she was 72.

“I didn’t really know anything about (the game) until I came out here, joined the ladies club and I golfed there until I was 95,” Eckert said Thursday.

For more than 20 years after moving to Regina Beach, Eckert spent time each week at the golf course building friendships that have lasted for a quarter of a century.

On Thursday, members of the club, as well as Eckert’s friends and family, gathered to surprise her at the clubhouse before she played a short round of golf on her birthday.

Eva Eckert and her son, Murray, at the Regina Beach Golf Club on Eckert’s 100th birthday. (Libby Giesbrecht/980 CJME)

“It was lovely to see them, except that my eyesight is not too good,” Eckert said with a laugh. “I heard them.”

Janet Barber is one of the ladies Eckert golfed with at the club for years.

“Eva is just so much fun and she always has a sense of humour about golfing,” Barber said. “(She) never takes it too seriously, which is just perfect. It’s just fun and camaraderie with all the ladies over the years.”

Eckert’s son, Murray, said his mom didn’t sleep much on the night before her 100th birthday.

“She was a little nervous,” Murray said. “I think she knew something was up.

“It’s just amazing. She’s absolutely amazing.”

Murray said the club isn’t one to celebrate just any member.

“This is a milestone; it’s a biggie,” he said. “They did have a super big (party) for her on her 95th (birthday) and she was still playing then, so there was the women’s club and a party after and, of course, she had a rum and Coke at the time.

“She has since switched to Caesars; that’s her favourite drink now.”

Eva said she was planning on enjoying a Caesar or two to celebrate her milestone birthday after her round of golf, which she played with her son, niece and nephew.

“I’m looking forward to see if I can hit a wall!” Eckert said with a chuckle.

The centenarian was born on July 16, 1920 in the middle of a cyclone.

“I always blamed that on having red hair and freckles,” she said.

She grew up on a small farm south of Carlyle and spent time living with her husband in Regina before moving to Regina Beach in 1991.

Now white-haired, small and as feisty as ever, Eckert said 100 doesn’t feel much different.

Eva Eckert rides in style to her surprise 100th birthday celebration at the Regina Beach Golf Course on July 16, 2020. (Libby Giesbrecht/980 CJME)

“Same as when I was 81,” she said, smiling. “Not an awful lot of difference. I’m lucky to be healthy.”

Though the great-grandmother said she isn’t much for giving advice, she said she attributes her long life to taking care of herself.

“Keep your health good …,” she said. “I’m only on one prescription and so I think that is the thing: Look after yourself.”

As for advice out on the links?

“Go straight!” she said. “They called me a boring golfer because I quite often would hit straight.”