At 86, golfer Bill Gundersen is more active than most people his age and seems to just keep getting better. On April 11, he won both the Club and Senior Club Championship at Desert Hills Golf Club for the second straight year.
But Gundersen's not one to grandstand.
"I was surprised," he said. "We didn't have a few of the players this year that should have played in it, and that's too bad because two or three better players that could have have played in it, didn't play in it this year."
Traditionally, the club's senior members play from tees positioned closer to the hole than the blue tees, which Gundersen played from with the younger competitors. This allowed him to win both tournaments this year.
"These guys were probably in their 60s, early 70s," Gundersen said.
Jim Nodurft is the head professional and general manager at Desert Hills. He says Bill is the best golfer at the club.
"Everybody respects Bill," Nodurft said. "They just know he's the best golfer out here and they respect what he does and how he plays. He just won our club championship. He jumped back to the blue tees without even questioning it. So, he's one of our most respected golfers out here for sure."
Gundersen practices at least three times a week and estimates he's won about 50 club championships over the years. He even qualified for the 2001 U.S. Senior Open in Massachusetts after winning the Washington State Amateur Championship at his home course at the time.
While he's played every course in the area, he has been a member at Desert Hills for three years and previously held memberships at San Ignacio Golf Club and Country Club of Green Valley. He's won several club tournaments in Green Valley along the way.
Bill Gundersen still makes it to the course to practice at least three times a week.
Kevin Murphy Green Valley News
He credits genetics, staying active and eating healthy for helping him stay on top of his game.
"It must be in the genes," he said. "I walk a lot. I walk every day with the dog and just try to keep moving. That's the big thing. Just keep moving and eat right."
Life and golf
When Gundersen was in first grade, he and two brothers moved into a boys home in Everett, Washington. They lived there for about four years while their father served in the Merchant Marines during World War II.
"Mom left, and dad had to put us somewhere because grandma couldn't take us all. There were four of us. It didn't affect me too much because we had 150 kids to play with."
After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, Gundersen returned to Washington and became an apprentice for a bricklayer. About 15 years later, he set out on his own and opened Gundy's Masonry.
He regularly played golf with friends after work and eventually participated in several state and nationwide United States Golf Association tournaments.
Gundersen moved to Green Valley in 2002 with his partner of 27 years, Barbara Blake.
"She's just absolutely the best I could have found," he said.
One parallel between golf and life Gundersen sees is that both require dedication and joy to succeed.
"I guess it's kind of like it would be work," he said. "You've just got to keep working at it all the time. You just can't let up on it. It's just like doing what you want to do; it's easier if you like doing it."
Nowadays, he's is a three-handicap golfer. He's had to adjust his swing over the years. An upright stance allows him to make better contact with his irons.
Gundersen says he'll know when it's time to hang up the clubs — just don't expect him to lose his dedication and joy for the sport anytime soon.
"Probably when my legs don't hold up," he said with a laugh.Â
Bill Gundersen has won several club tournaments at different courses since moving to Green Valley in 2002.
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