A Wish Come True: 103-Year-Old Golfer Returns to the Links
When 103-year-old Patricia Hirzel shared her wish to play golf again, her Compassus hospice team in West Plains, MO, knew they had to make it happen.
A lifelong athlete and former professional golfer and tennis player, Ms. Hirzel hadn’t been on the course in years. But her care team — including Medical Director Dr. Robert Martin, Social Worker Michelle Holloway, Registered Nurse Austin Peck and volunteer Heather Gabriel — came together to bring her wish to life.
Working with the West Plains Country Club, the team planned a special day for Ms. Hirzel to return to the sport she loves. Dr. Martin picked her up from her assisted living facility and brought her to the course, where the group practiced putting together. True to her competitive spirit, Ms. Hirzel offered a few pointers of her own — showing she still had her golfer’s touch.
“Being outside and touching the grass was amazing,” Ms. Hirzel said. “You guys made my day and gave me so many good memories.”
Dr. Martin called the experience unforgettable. “What a privilege it was to take this wonderful lady out on the golf course. She was a five handicap in her prime, which is amazing! She was continually trying to teach and coach us to improve our game.”
The next day, Heather delivered printed photos from the outing. As Ms. Hirzel looked through them, she smiled through tears, remembering the joy of the day and the compassion of her care team.
At Compassus, these moments are what define our mission — helping patients live fully, honoring who they are and finding joy in every stage of life.
At Compassus, our value is in the compassion and expertise of our teams, which act as an extension of patients’ existing care teams. We believe everyone who interacts with us should experience our individualized Care for who I am philosophy, from the care services we provide to patients and families to how we interact with our partners and one another.
