Residents at Lincoln Grove Retirement Village can now enjoy a new on-site mini golf course, which helps foster vitality, connection and community – and features a clever design to reduce back strain.
Chocolate and coveted bragging rights are on offer each week for a regular roster of 10–12 residents, who play nine holes of mini golf before stopping for a tea break and playing the course all over again.
Lincoln Grove’s mini golf course has been designed with residents’ health in mind, including adding suction cups to putters to make it easy for them to pick up balls without straining their backs or knees.
Village Maintenance Manager Bernie Mundy single-handedly installed the course after an idea from Dianne Ottery-Bizewski, Lincoln Grove’s Village Manager.
“I googled a few plans,” Mr Mundy said. “We started off with six holes and, as more people responded, we made it nine holes. It’s now locked in the activities calendar every Wednesday. The laughs and giggles you hear coming down the corridor are unbelievable!”
The stakes of the competition are high, with chocolates on offer to each week’s winner.
“The bragging rights are even higher,” said Harish Bastian, Regional Operations and Sales Manager for South Australia. “A bit of friendly competition is always good for the mind and body.”
Lincoln Grove is Port Lincoln’s premier retirement living, occupying an elevated position that offers sweeping views of Boston Bay. It is located just minutes from town and only 500 metres from Port Lincoln Health and Hospital Service.
“One of the most important things we can do is create an environment where our residents are empowered to live full and vibrant lives,” said Simon Fawssett, Chief Operating Officer at RetireAustralia.
“When they have something new and interesting to discover, such as the ups and downs of mini golf, residents are more engaged with each other, with their community and with the RetireAustralia family.”
Mr Bastian agreed: “What I like about this is that Bernie has ventured out of his lane and thought about how we can better engage our residents. It’s definitely a hole in one in our books!”
As well as cultivating a sense of fun and community, the golf games can be unpredictable. “I try to mix it up every week. I put a lump underneath, so it catches them unaware,” Mr Mundy said.
“Lincoln Grove is a great community. We have great people, a good working team, and you know a lot of people here. It’s friendly and easy going and also comes with a spectacular million-dollar view.
“It’s satisfying to look after people you care about. You aren’t just the maintenance person – you feel part of the community.”
Lincoln Grove has its own restaurant, hairdressing salon and library. It also offers a range of other regular activities for residents, including billiards, darts, carpet bowls and numerous social events such as dinners and happy hours.
Spacious two and three-bedroom independent living villas are currently available, as well as one-bedroom serviced apartments, which provide chef-prepared meals and help with household chores.
For more information on Lincoln Grove, click here.
