“It’s important to get out and socialise with people,” the Muree Golf Club life member said.

“The problem with people watching TV is that people loose the ability to talk.” 

Psychologist Nikolas Steffens at the University of Queensland examined the positive impact social memberships have on health and wellbeing.

It involved 424 people living in England who were at least 50 years old for six years after they retired.

A person who belonged to two clubs for the two years before retirement, and six years after, had a two percent risk of premature death.

If contact was maintained with one club only, the risk jumped to five per cent.

If they cancelled their memberships completely, the risk jumped to 12 per cent.

Mr Clark, East Seaham, was Muree president for 19 years, on the NSW Golf Association for six years, served the Newcastle District Golf Association for 13 years and even chaired Golf Australia.

“They’re the things that keep you going and keep your mind active,” he said.

“My golf was the only thing that went backwards. I had got down to a handicap of 12 before that.”

ClubsNSW CEO Anthony Ball said that clubs in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region provide a wide range of social and recreational opportunities for retirees in the community. 

“Perhaps it’s time to stop counting our age by years but instead, by the number of club memberships we have,” he said.

“Clubs in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region are a great place for retirees to maintain their sense of purpose and belonging.”

Muree Golf Club general manager Brett Myers said Lionel was a picture of health and a great role model.

“He has a keen feeling for the history of our Club and golf generally, and we know that our members young and old appreciate his wealth of knowledge for the sport.”