Her association with the game started as a primary school-aged player but she has spent countless hours dedicated to it off the course as well.
Boniface said she did not do the work for the recognition but for the "love of the game".
"You’re basically born into it and I don’t know any different, really ... I’ve been playing so long."
The nomination for the volunteer award outlines Boniface’s many contributions.
She had been on the Queens Park ladies golf committee since 1994, had carried out the roles of deputy club captain, club captain and president, had been the handicapper since 2007 and had taken up the role of club captain again for the second time last year. She had coached juniors at the club for the past 22 years.
She had been on the amalgamation committee to combine the men’s and ladies clubs, as well as the centennial committee responsible for the club’s 100-year celebration in 2016.
Boniface was on the Golf Southland Board from 2006-19 and was chairwoman from 2008-19. She was a Southland selector from 2004-17 and managed the Southland women’s teams for 13 years.
She has also spent many hours at the course working on the gardens and paths, hand-mowing around tee blocks and doing other jobs.
Part of what made her golfing experience so special was the friends she had made along the way, she said.
Last year, she was made a life member of Golf Southland.
"It’s been a pretty special ride all the way through."
