Beryl Tobin started playing golf at Waratah in the 1950s to get in her father's good books.
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"I figured if I went up and played nine holes of golf, I could get the Buick to go wherever I wanted to go," Tobin said with a laugh.
On Monday, the 90-year was awarded an Order of Australian Medal for her services to golf.
"It was very exciting to receive the letter about the OAM," Tobin said. "You aren't aware of it until you get a notice to say you have been nominated and accepted a couple of weeks before the ceremony.
"I felt very humbled. You don't do things for a specific result, you do it because you enjoy it and because you want to be a part of it. I have been a part of golf for such a long, long, long time."
Tobin is the longest-serving member at Waratah and although her game is restricted to "chipping and putting" due to a wrist injury sustained in the garden a year ago, she remains an active member.
"My family have been involved at Waratah Golf Club since its inception," Tobin said. "I went when I was 17 to get on the right side of my father. When I married, I played constantly. I represented the district and then did committee work for years and years. I have been at Waratah over 70 years."
Tobin has won 19 Waratah ladies club championships and been district champion 14 times.
Her grandfather, TC Frith, was a founding member at Waratah, and her mother and father both served as presidents.
Tobin has also served on the committee and is a five time NHDLGA president. Her late husband, Frank, had many terms as president of the Newcastle District association.
"I have seen many changes over the years," she said. "In some ways it has gotten better. The beauty about golf is that it doesn't matter how good or how bad you are, you can play together. It is so individual. You can't put a good tennis player and a bad one together, they both end up miserable."
* Merewether's Stacie McDonald and Holly Ibbotson carded a seven-over 79 to win the District Women's Foursomes at Waratah on Friday. Deirdre Brander and Jill Blenkey (Newcastle) were three strokes back in second.
