Golfer's Game Remains Strong at 95

For Moorpark resident Mike Lynch, turning 95 means one thing—more time to play golf.

You see Mike, who celebrated his birthday Feb. 27, has been an avid golfer most of his life. At this point, even at 95, he sees no reason to slow down.

That’s why two days a week you can find him at the Westlake Golf Course either working or playing. Monday he serves as a marshal, keeping golfers moving along, making sure everyone follows the rules. Wednesday, he’s out with his friends playing 18 holes. No slouch at the game, he admits that his score matters.

“All my life I’ve enjoyed playing,” Lynch said. “There is a good feeling when you can score less than your age. And I’ve only had three scores in the past higher than my age.”

What does he love most about the game?

“The competition,” he admitted. “I want to go out and beat all the other guys.”

But golf is only one of Mike’s interests. His other two passions are his wife Madge, to whom he has been married 68 years, and his love for California.

Mike was born in Austin, IN. about 40 miles south of Indianapolis. His family moved to Indianapolis a short time later. That’s where he grew up and went to school. It’s also where he first learned to love the game of golf.

“I was 12 years old or so,” he said, “and I asked a friend of mine to go to the park. He said ‘I can’t, I gotta’ caddy for my father.’ I said ‘What’s that?’ and he said that he carried the bags around for his father. I said ‘Get me in, would you?’ Two weeks later I went out and got into the game.”

Lynch was 21 when he first moved to California. After so many cold winters in Indiana, California was paradise. He moved here to find work, but it was golf that kept money in his pocket.

“I first came out here in 1938. It turns out I couldn’t find much work, so I worked as a caddy at a golf course in Glendale,” he said.

He volunteered for the military in 1942. It was while he was stationed in Chicago that he met his wife Madge, who noted that dating a military man could be adventurous.

“We met in Chicago, where I worked as a key punch operator,” she said. “A roommate of mine introduced us and Mike was transferred to Sioux Falls not too long after that. I moved back home to St. Paul so I could be closer to where he was stationed. I took my mother to meet him. Going out, there were 20,000 soldiers in a city of 40,000 people. We had to sleep in a dormitory with my purse underneath my pillow.”

They were married in Sioux Falls in 1943.

After getting out of the service, Lynch returned to Indianapolis and worked for his father, but he was smitten by his love for California.

“I stayed just long enough to get enough money to move back to California,” he said.

The couple moved to Glendale in 1948. At that time, very few new homes were being built.

“There was so little housing, you could hardly find a place to rent,” said Lynch. “Work was a little slow, so I went back to Indianapolis for a while, but I missed California so much I decided to come back.”

Mike and Madge bought their first home in Reseda in 1953. He spent the next 35 years forging his career as a construction masonry contractor, working from one end of California to another.

They moved to Moorpark 20 years ago to be near their daughter, Peggy.

“We had a home in Woodland Hills for 30 years,” said Madge, “and then, in Westlake, we moved into a condo. Then we moved out here because our daughter is out here. All four of our grandkids grew up here in Moorpark.”

They are extremely proud of their family and their grandchildren. Their daughter Peggy lives here in Moorpark. Their son David is a graphic designer in Asheville, North Carolina.

They have four grandchildren. Trevor is currently studying for a doctorate in astrophysics and biophysics. Sean works in Puerto Rico. Alicia works in the Santa Monica area and Emma is a freshman at Moorpark College.

Enjoying his family and playing golf go hand in hand for Lynch.

“Our son David said that he was bragging about his father to people around town,” said Madge. “He said ‘How many people do you know that are so optimistic, they’re buying new golf clubs at 94?’ ”

Madge explained that when they were married, Mike told her he had three goals in life.

“He said we’re going to celebrate our 50th anniversary, live to see the new century, and he’s going to live to be a hundred.”

So far, so good.

Lynch’s immediate-future plans remain very simple.

“I’m going to keep playing golf until I’m 96,” he said with a smile.