Penn Hills senior living facility residents enjoy own version of 'The Masters'

As golfers teed off Thursday to begin the days-long Masters tournament in Georgia, a senior living facility in Penn Hills held their own version.

The 30 residents at Allegheny Place participated in the facility’s inaugural “The Masters at Allegheny Place” to compete for donated prizes and enjoy a change of pace for a couple of hours.

“With everything going on with the pandemic, we were so happy to have given something to our residents to look forward to – and our staff, too” said Sara Rhodes, the facility’s communications manager.

Rhodes said six holes were constructed by Allegheny Place staff and were placed in different locations throughout the building.

The inaugural event was not open to the public because of covid-19 restrictions, but the residents enjoyed it nonetheless.

Sallie Royston, 65, met a reporter on the facility’s outdoor porch to talk about the event. She came donned in the event’s green T-shirt emblazoned with the familiar “Masters” lettering and her own putter.

“I was semi-pro at one point in my life,” she said, adding she still kept all her golf clubs in her room. Royston, originally from Fox Chapel, said she used to belong to Longue Vue Club, played on numerous golf teams, attended a Masters event and played on Pebble Beach once.

With a smile, she said the putting greens inside the building were “much faster” than those at Pebble Beach.

Covid-19 restrictions forced nursing homes and senior living facilities like Allegheny Place to prohibit visitors for a time, said Brandon Weimerskir, the facility’s executive director. As restrictions became less strict, the facility allowed family visitors to sit socially distant on the front porch.

Currently, the facility allows family members to meet with a loved one inside a dedicated room while wearing masks.

Allegheny Place, owned and operated by Enlivant, has not reported any covid-19 cases among staff or residents. The company operates a facility in Philadelphia and in cities in 11 other states, according to its website.

Royston said her brother had promised to take her golfing earlier this year but it never happened because of the pandemic.

“I hate it with a passion,” she said of the pandemic. “I wish it never happened. A lot of people died unnecessarily.” She said the facility’s version of The Masters was a good break from it all.

Local organizations donated to Allegheny Place’s golf tournament, with putters coming from Bob O’Connor golf course out of Squirrel Hill, event-specific T-shirts from Gallagher Home Health, prizes from Encompass and an Oakmont Bakery golf-themed cake from Gateway Hospice.

Residents were paired with assistants and friends for the tournament. The facility also played The Masters live on television, with Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore playing on another.

Royston was eager to get back inside to finish the putting course. She said she was challenging Weimerskir to a duel.

“Hopefully I can win – I think I can,” she said as she went back inside.