INFORMATION PORTAL OF THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE OF THE KUJAWSKO-POMORSKIE Region IN TORUŃ

Czesław Romankiewicz, the oldest golfer in Europe, is living proof that sports are beneficial for health and that it is never too late to discover new passions. He started playing golf at the age of 80, yet quickly became an active tournament participant. Recently, he celebrated his 100th birthday with friends from the Polish Golf Association, and now, during another ceremony surrounded by family and loved ones, he has been honored with the Unitas Durat Palatinatus Cuiaviano-Pomeraniensis medal, presented by Dariusz Kurzawa, a member of the Regional Executive Board.

 

“May your positive energy never leave you, and may your smile, passion, and cheerful spirit accompany you every day,” wished Dariusz Kurzawa.

 

Mr. Czesław is not only a golfer but also a community activist and someone who has lived by the motto: “zero stress and lots of love.” He was born on January 31, 1925, in Chęciany, in the Mazowieckie Region. His life was not easy—his father fought on the Eastern Front, and his mother passed away prematurely. He grew up with his brothers in Kuczwały, Toruń County.

 

After World War II, in 1948, he married Franciszka Kowalska, with whom he built a loving family. They had three children. The Romankiewicz family settled in Toruń, where Czesław began working in the poultry industry and joined the United People’s Party (ZSL), where he served as the First Secretary.

 

After Franciszka’s passing in 1994, he devoted himself to gardening, which became a source of solace for him. However, he discovered his true passion—golf—only at the age of 80. At that time, golf was still relatively uncommon among seniors in Poland, but it became his lifelong hobby. He participated in senior tournaments (75+), playing on golf courses in Portugal, Turkey, and Crete. For his contributions to the sport’s development in Poland, he was awarded the Gold Honorary Medal and the 25th Anniversary Award of the Polish Golf Association.

 

Although he has played less frequently since the outbreak of the pandemic, he still visits the golf club and uses a simulator to stay in shape and maintain friendships. He is proof that it is never too late to develop new interests. Despite his age, Czesław Romankiewicz remains active, enjoys good health, and loves spending time with friends and family. He is a proud grandfather of five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Just a few years ago, he was still driving, and today, he remains independent and full of energy.

 

“Our roots are the history of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. We thank the oldest residents of Kujawy and Pomorze for sharing their experiences and contributing to the development of our present,” says Marshal Piotr Całbecki.

 

The regional self-government has been honoring centenarian residents since 2018, and to date, more than four hundred people have received the Unitas Durat medal. Families of residents who are about to turn one hundred, as well as those who are older, are encouraged to contact us at 56 62 18 344 or via email at stulatkowie@kujawsko-pomorskie.pl.

 

More information can be found in the Peers of Independence section.

 

Beata Krzemińska

Spokesperson of the Marshal’s Office

 

February 11, 2025