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The Older We Get, The Further We Used to Hit It

bkuehn1952

Entry posted by bkuehn1952

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Getting older is inevitable unless you are a vampire or one of the walking dead.  As a golfer, the aging process becomes noticeable in a number of ways.

While many of us senior citizens remain in reasonably good shape and still have some limberness, one can’t help but notice the inevitable signs of getting older.  My physician has started the process of freezing off bits of my head and hands from years of sun exposure.  Hats and sun screen were for sissies back in the day.  Haircuts for we oldsters remove mostly gray hair if we are lucky enough to still have some.  Sadly, after age 60 the places where hair grows most successfully are the nose and ears.

When stuck behind a foursome of senior citizens I used to think to myself, “let’s hope the old farts keep it moving.”  Now I suspect younger players that are behind my group think the same thing.  Our “club without real estate” is comprised of about 200 members age 50 to 90.  A few years ago I was one of the new “kids” taking money from the older established members.  Now I suspiciously eye those youthful 50 year olds who hit the ball a mile and want to get their fingers into my wallet.

Some of us were once was able to hit 2 or 3-irons.  For me the 3 iron was replaced years ago by another lofted fairway wood.  Recently the 4-iron was dropped for a hybrid and I have started thinking about the 5-iron.  At this rate, irons are going to become an endangered species in my bag.  Most seniors with whom I play tell similar stories.

Those seniors who still walk often rely on push and pull carts now.  While I still carry and walk 18, I find myself sitting and taking a breather a bit more often.  Some of those modern push carts are starting to look pretty good on the back nine.  While I haven’t noticed any appreciable drop-off in my game so far, I am not looking forward to the day when golf technology no longer advances faster than my skill level diminishes.

There are a couple of silver linings to the dark clouds of the aging process.  At many courses I qualify for Senior rates.  As a noted cheap … frugal golfer, it is nice to pay 25-50% less than the regular rate.  Also, my age has opened up a wealth of tournament opportunities that were not available when I was younger.  During the summer months it is unusual for me not have a competition in which to play each week.

It is also easier to boast and brag unchallenged.  For example, "When I was a youngster, I could hit that old persimmon driver 275 yards easily.  Sadly, you can now see how much distance I have lost."  Okay, maybe I never owned a persimmon driver, maple laminate was the best i could do.  And that 275 yard drive was probably hit in mid-summer on an unwatered fairway ... and it was headed O.B.!

Lastly, each year gets me closer to shooting my age.  Judging from the play of a 90 year old I have come to know, there may be hope for me.  This amazing gentleman invited me to play the University of Michigan course with him this past summer.  I had to play my absolute best in order to tie his “75.”

The more I think about it, maybe getting older isn't so bad.  It certainly beats the alternative.

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Dan42nepa

Dan42nepa 13

Posted

I now have a device at the end of my putter to pick up my golf ball and the pin. The ego is mostly gone which is a good things. Lay ups are good and Par 5 are true 3 shot holes. On the other hand I can bump and run a 6 iron from the front of the green 40 feet up hill to the pin.. Not every thing is a flop shot two putts are acceptable rather then trying to sink every one and leaving it 5 feet past. I dont mine any more and enjoy my time outside on the course, not in a hurry and not aggravated by slow play like i used to.

Club Rat

Club Rat 628

Posted

Thank God I'm not there "yet"

Quote

The Older We Get, The Further We Used to Hit It

Quote

The more I think about it, maybe getting older isn't so bad.  "It certainly beats the alternative".

Or there also .........:banana:

9wood

9wood 62

Posted

"When stuck behind a foursome of senior citizens I used to think to myself, “let’s hope the old farts keep it moving.”

In my own personal experience I find the opposite to be true. I get to the course and a younger twosome is in front of me bragging about how far they are going to hit the ball. They tee off and slice the ball into the woods, and it didn't travel nearly as far as they boasted it was going to. Then they hunt for their balls. Maybe they find them or maybe not. My senior partner and I find ourselves being held up at almost every whole by the majority of youngsters.

That is the situation I normally find myself in at the courses I play at.

JBailey

JBailey 12

Posted

I used to be a high school teacher.  I recently played with an ex-high school student I hadn't seen for years.  I knew I was getting old when he went to the front desk and asked for the senior rate.  He also talked of his grand children.

However, I beat him!:beer:

Later,

John

gatsby47

gatsby47 26

Posted

I think I enjoy golf more now. I have always enjoyed all aspects of the game. I am more content to make good shots than how far or how many for that matter.  The main thing for me is being out in the sun. ( normally without a hat but I still have lots of hair)  I use spf spray. though.  My irons begin at the 6 and I carry 3 wedges. 3 hybrids and 3 woods and a putter.  I know that I hit the ball further in 1975 when I began to play. lol.  But I hit a ball a lot better in 2015/16.  Looking forward to the new season

Lihu

Lihu 754

Posted

I was thinking about this exact topic after I hit a Titleist "professional 100" 300 yards today. :-D

Joking, it was far but not nearly that far. :-P

However, I was thinking that pretty soon I could use age as an excuse for not hitting as far "anymore". :whistle:

Traveller

Traveller 4

Posted

On 19/1/2016 at 2:21 PM, Lihu said:

I was thinking about this exact topic after I hit a Titleist "professional 100" 300 yards today. :-D

Joking, it was far but not nearly that far. :-P

However, I was thinking that pretty soon I could use age as an excuse for not hitting as far "anymore". :whistle:

Yes but I bet your shots are straighter. Something I've learned from both Jordan Spieth and Bob Marley "Don't worry, be happy"

dak4n6

dak4n6 83

Posted

At 56, I'm quite comfortable with my game. I still hit a 3i well, about 200yd. I'm not really sure about how far I used to hit my Warbird or Burner Bubble drivers because there were no gps or lasers those days, all you could do was guesstimate from sprinkler heads, but I'm guessing 270 - 280 in my prime. Now, 250 - 260 is a nice drive. However, I am much much more satisfied with how I can control the ball today. Back then, if I hit a nasty pull hook, I wondered why that happened. Now, especially with the dissemination of ball flight laws, I know why certain bad shots happen and can then correct them.

I no longer have any golf 'goals'. Sure, I would like to get better, but with family and other hobbies/addictions (see 'Addictions' thread), I know I have limitations. Now, I don't really hit the range much, and when I play, I just want to make good contact and hit good shots. If I am playing with some $$ on the line, I still have a decent chance of bringing some bacon home. Good enough for me...

Patch

Patch 959

Posted (edited)

Best thing getting older showed me was to leave my ego in the parking lot before my round.

Edited by Patch
Polemix

Polemix 0

Posted

I'm 38, so I hardly qualify for senior tournaments... I will gladly wait for the 2040s for that pleasure. A few weeks back I was playing with a 19 year old college jock who played off a 15 index hitting the ball 300 yards. He made me feel old. Meanwhile, the twosome ahead of us was a father/son pairing, I'm guessing 55 and 75 years old or so. I'm pretty sure the 55 year old felt younger than I did at that point.

I remember a great-great-uncle of mine who was in his early 80s and was still competing and winning in national tennis tournaments of his category, even though he would only play doubles since his mid 60s. He was extremely proud of that, but found it frustrating that each year he had to find himself new playing partners his partner of the previous year had, in the best case, not been fit enough to repeat. It was his way of staying young, and it served him to live healthily and happy until he was 101, playing golf well into his 90s.

It sounds like you're having fun on the golf course, and if you ever do shoot your age, be proud! Whatever you do, be happy, old man, it's guys like you who are still healthy and happy and playing golf in your golden years who make us want to reach that point. I'm working hard to have a good golf swing and avoid injuries so I will be able to continue to play as long as possible. Thank you for that!

Marty2019

Marty2019 145

Posted

I'm 62.  The best thing about being 62 is that I was able to retire about 2 years ago, so I can play whenever I want.  

I played a lot when I was much younger, but I wasn't much of a student of the game.  I was just enjoying playing with my friends on weekends, shooting in the mid 80s.  I took about 20 years off from playing after I hurt my back a little bit.   Then I took in back up about 2 years ago when I retired.  

I have no idea how far I used to hit it.   I do remember one drive that went about 270 I think, with a persimmon headed driver, but the hole it was on, the 15th hole at Hyde Park in Jacksonville, once you crest a rise about 200 yards away, there is a long downslope, so no doubt I caught that downslope on a dry day with a little draw on my shot.  

When I took the game back up 2 years ago, I told myself, I'll be happy just playing senior golf, bumping the ball down the middle of the fairway, taking it easy, just enjoying the round.  But of course, like everyone else, I would have a good round, or a good hole, or even a good shot, and then I caught the golf bug real bad, and now I'm obsessed. 

I read an article about why there are fewer and fewer golfers these days and one reason they gave was that a round of golf takes too long.   Takes too long!   To me, that's one of the best things about it!   When I have a round scheduled, we usually set our tee time around noon, and the whole morning for me is spent going through my bag, getting all my stuff together, stretching, getting out there an hour early, practicing a little, then we play, then we hit the 19th hole and buy a few pitchers of beer.  By the time we go home, it's dark, and my wife is texting me, "where are you? are you okay?"    It's an all day thing, and that's the best thing about it!   I feel sorry for all those young guys who are still working. 

No Gimmie

No Gimmie 3

Posted

I'm 73 and played golf most of my life till a few years ago.....sold every golf item I had and have always missed the game!  This summer I plan on returning to this wonderful game with a whole different attitude.  I got fed up years ago with the necessity to rush thru a round and couldn't enjoy what the game is all about.....I now can play during the slower less busy tee times and hit the ball shorter but straighter and never mind about the score.  Don't get me wrong, I will keep pace and let faster players thru.  I remember when it was common to let the group hit up on par 3's.  If golf can't be fun it won't grow in popularity and something needs to be done to make it more fun!!  Just my "senior2cents"

  • Upvote 1
9wood

9wood 62

Posted

"I feel sorry for all those young guys who are still working"

I feel even more sorry for all the young people that can't find a decent payng job

  • Upvote 1
Traveller

Traveller 4

Posted

I'm so relaxed these days I fall asleep at the end of the backswing ...........

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