Marsha Mathews has been playing golf for practically all of her 59 years.

She has no plans to hang up the clubs.

“It’s the greatest game on Earth,” she says of her passion and her pastime. And she says golf helps her stay physically and mentally fit.

“Some people don’t see golf as exercise. I tend to disagree with them,” says the Bedford resident. “I still walk and carry my clubs. If you’re doing that, it’s great exercise.”

That’s particularly true on her home course, Otis Park, known for its challenging hills.

As a big bonus to the workout, golf also improves and maintains a person’s flexibility, according to Mathews.

She should know, she’s been golfing for five decades.

Photo gallery of Mathews

Hit the Links: Where to play

She doesn’t rely on her golf rounds for all of her exercise. She still walks for fitness. But she’s found golf to be a reliable and rewarding athletic endeavor since she took it up at age 10 or 11.

“It’s something you can do at any age,” says the former Bedford city champion.

Golfing can be done as a solo outing, a social activity with friends or a competition with peers. A golfer can play in contests as an individual and in others as a member of a team. Some courses have various leagues (a couples’ league, for example), and golf courses often offer a variety of challenges—from putting to chipping to driving—in addition to traditional tournaments.

“It’s a great social activity,” says Mathews. “It’s a great way to meet new friends.”

And, she says, a perfect way to enjoy some beautiful Hoosier days and scenery such as the hilltop views from the new Pete Dye Course at French Lick.

Another reason Mathews loves the game is that it tests the mind as well as the body. Coping with challenging courses requires some clear-headed thinking as well as some practiced swinging.

“One thing about golf—you never have it mastered. It’s always a challenge.”