Neil Christiansen celebrates his win on the West Virginia Golf Association’s Senior Series last month at Pipestem Resort. (Courtesy photo)

PARKERSBURG — Two hip replacements later and it’s as if Neil Christiansen has discovered the fountain of youth so to speak.

At 73 years old, the golfer from Parkersburg is staking his claim as part of his rookie season on the West Virginia Golf Association’s Senior Series. In nine events, Christiansen is a three-time medalist and placed in the top three on five occasions.

This past May at the West Virginia Senior Amateur Championship at Sleepy Hollow Golf Club in Hurricane, he placed fourth in stroke play for the Senior Championship bracket then swept through match play with four wins, including a 2-and-1 victory over Hurricane’s Lee Cooperrider for the title.

“I feel very fortunate I am still able to play,” Christiansen said. “As a youth, you hear your elders tell great things about how golf is a sport of a lifetime. When I had my right hip replaced in 2020, the orthopaedist told me I only had about a year and a half left with my left hip.

“I had surgery on my left hip on February 8 this year and I feel much better. If I had known how I felt, I would have done it sooner. There’s always cautions about that stuff.”

Last week at the West Virginia Senior Open Championship at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, the mental side to the sport was in play as golfers experienced three rain delays on Day 1 of the two-day event. Christiansen placed second overall – two strokes behind medalist Richard Carder from Fort Ashby.

The opportunity to meet his peers throughout the state has shed topics of conversations familiar to his age group.

“It’s always interesting because they all talk about their aches and pains,” Christiansen laughed. “I met up with one of our super sophs when I was in my senior year playing golf at Parkersburg High School. He and I played together at Little Creek Golf Course one day and I asked how he was feeling. He said he got his 12-inch zipper on his knee. He says, ‘I got my knee placed’ and I told him I had my hips replaced.

“We then exchanged high-fives.”

Neil Christiansen and his wife of 53 years, Jo Ann, lived a majority of their time together and raised two daughters (Jeanne and Tammy) in Florida before the couple returned to the Mid-Ohio Valley in May of 2021.

“When I moved to Miami in 1974, I thought it would be for a short period of four to five years then it became a full-time career down there,” Christiansen said. “We had always traveled back to Parkersburg two to three times a year and always looked forward to seeing my wife’s in-laws, so we remained familiar with the area.

“In the south, they talk about sand in your shoes. We always had the mountain in our mind and figured we would wind up here. That was the natural move for us.”

Both Neil and Jo Ann are 1968 graduates from Parkersburg High School. Neil played football and started at halfback during his senior year. After spending his freshman year in college in Miami, he returned to the Mid-Ohio Valley and eventually graduated from Glenville State College. As a senior on the Pioneers’ football team and weighing all of 180 pounds, he was selected captain on the defensive unit and lining up at defensive end.

“Going up against offensive tackles and offensive ends was a challenge,” Christiansen said. “I guess coach thought I was the best candidate. I lined up next to our defensive tackle who weighed 240 pounds. I needed to rely on leverage and quick feet.

“It was an interesting experience.”

While working in Florida, Christiansen continued to stay active – whether it was running 5Ks and 10Ks for worthy causes or playing tennis with his wife. Pickleball also figured into his list of activities.

“Running was one of the reasons my hips gave out,” Christiansen said.

Once Christiansen retired and upon his return to Parkersburg, he eventually became a regular on the WVGA Senior Series circuit thanks to the encouragement of his friend Joe Crislip. Last year, the two gentlemen paired up to win a senior four-ball event.

Christiansen’s background in golf dates back before he first became serious about the sport at the age of 13. His father, Earl Christiansen, was instrumental in constructing the Golf Club of West Virginia – the same facility Neil considers his home course.

Even with all the time required as part of the PHS 55th class reunion committee, Jo Ann finds time to catch a few of her husband’s golfing stops.

“She has been wonderful,” Christiansen said. “She knew when we first got together – I explained to her that golf is a big part of my life. She understood that. I told her I may be spending extra time either playing extra holes or practicing.”

If there is one area of his game Christiansen feels strong about, it’s hitting off the tee. He added his tee shot is not far behind when it decides to show up.

“Prior to the hip replacement in 2020, I didn’t realize how much it inhibited my game,” Christiansen said. “I learned some bad habits. After the second hip replacement, I’m somewhat of a bionic golfer.”

Christiansen has an array of individuals to thank as he progressed through the rehab process – his wife most especially, along with the rehab specialists, physical therapists and the employees at Mountain River Physical Therapy.

As long as he stays healthy, he hopes golf is in the conversation for many years to come.

“Five years ago, if somebody said I would be playing competitively for a senior as much as I am right now, I would not have believed them,” Christiansen said. “I didn’t think it would come to that point again. It’s a blessing.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com