Older And Playing Golf

[Patch]

I was reading a thread earlier that got me to thinking about my future in playing golf. 

At some point, everyone's body is going to grow into an unplayable condition. Of course that unplayable condition is relative to the individual. 

I see older guys every day, out on the course who can still hit the ball down the fairway. Not very far, but still down the fairway. Yes,  they may slow up play, but anyone who has read my TST  posts on slow play know my thoughts on that topic. 

So when would you know that you no longer can play this game? Would your body after waking up one day,  just laugh at your brain and say "no way, no more".  Your brain might say "yeah you are right, lets just go back to sleep". 

For me, I will probably let my scores tell me when it's time. I play in the low 80s right now, with an occassional excursion into the high 70s. I think when I start playing in the high 90s, or have trouble breaking 100, my playing 9/18 hole days might be over. 

I can also see me, when actually playing is no longer an option, being that old guy on the practice range still hitting a few balls once or twice a week. Other folks looking at my gawd awful swing wundering wth is he doing, while having a good chuckle at my expense.  At some point, my Grand Daughter, who is also my ride,  will yell at me, "Grand Pa, it's time to go, and don't forget to pick up your clubs". ....."huh? What did say? What clubs?".............

[Hatchman]

 

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So when would you know that you no longer can play this game? 

A great question that I ponder regularly.  I also add want to play.   Unfortunately, I didn't pick up golf until after I moved into an adult living community on a golf course and was sent golf clubs.  Really wish I would have played golf earlier over other sports, but I didn't.    Golf is fun, requires skill, thinking, and for the most part money!   

Not starting until just before 58, I have worked almost daily between operations to play, and hopefully improve.  This last phase requires more advanced instruction to combat my physical limitations.  But I'm going to play for at least 2 more years until I qualify for them beautiful forward tees.  After playing I am pretty tired (4-7) miles and think I'm done while in my jetted tub taking Motrin, but bounce back in the morning and start all over again.   4-5 times per week.  And I play fast.

So I guess I'm not stopping yet, still have a few objectives to meet...god willing...and the body holds out.

 

 

Edited January 2, 2017 by Hatchman

[Hacker James]

quitting playing is just like quitting cigarettes, I've done so many times. Actually, concerning the latter, I've not indulged since about 1976.  I will be 75 in July

 

 

Edited January 2, 2017 by Hacker James

[CarlSpackler]

I played with a 70 yo not too long ago. He didn't hit it as far as I did, but he made a lot of bogeys with a double mixed in here and there. Even though he averaged 210 or so off the tee (not bad for 70 I would say) he was ready to go when it was his turn and didn't hold up play at all. I don't swing nearly as fast as I did in my 20s or 30s and don't imagine it getting faster as a quickly approach the 5-0 mark, but I love this game no matter what. 

[DaveP043]

So I'm 61 (tomorrow), I've been playing since I was about 13, and I can't imagine quitting.  I know at some point that my distance will erode, that my scores will rise, and I'll feel more aches and pains, but I can't imagine not playing.  I have a feeling that it'll be a physical issue, something that makes it impossible to swing.  I know I could be wrong, I could get discouraged with rising scores, or something like that, but I can't believe that will happen for me.

[Hacker James]

20 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

I played with a 70 yo not too long ago. He didn't hit it as far as I did, but he made a lot of bogeys with a double mixed in here and there. Even though he averaged 210 or so off the tee (not bad for 70 I would say) he was ready to go when it was his turn and didn't hold up play at all. I don't swing nearly as fast as I did in my 20s or 30s and don't imagine it getting faster as a quickly approach the 5-0 mark, but I love this game no matter what. 

Yah, A year or so ago, my drives were around 220 and I was very disappointed that this year they were much less, BUT I also learned yesterday that what i THOUGHT the yardages were, the Garmin S-2 proved otherwise and that I am actually 40 yards shorter.  That being said, my 4W goes further than driver much of the time. The driver "looks" good, and feels solid. but just the same, maybe I should indeed retire it as I mentioned in another thread.

[chilepepper]

Until that unplayable condition arrives I'll keep at it. I use some of the older guys I play with , 80-90, as motivation. Some play the whites, some the reds, some the forward most tees depending on the course. They may not be long but they are deadly straight for the most part. They sure seem to enjoy themselves, they still practice but don't seem hung up on grinding the handicap down.

[Blackjack Don]

1 hour ago, Patch said:

So when would you know that you no longer can play this game?

My uncle, a scratch golfer with a professional son, said he was going to quit when he could no longer hit his driver 250. He sold his clubs when that happened. Sad.

I'll quit again when I can no longer get out of bed and walk to the first tee. Who cares what anyone else thinks?

[GolfLug]

I play with an 83 year old member regularly in the league at our CC (2nd oldest) who has been a member for 47 years. He is lithe, in great shape, almost always in good spirits, plays from 4500 yards at least 3-4 times a week in summer and what conditions will allow in winter, shoots in the mid-low 70s usually, plays with hybrids from everything over 80 yards I think, very competitive spirit, compliments just right, doesn't hear that well much anymore but always stays engaged, eats clubhouse food every Sunday at least, still goes to work at his construction company office everyday. Kinda person whose presence is underwhelming but seems determined to cash in every day given to him.    

Cheers to all the seniors who just want to chug on...!     

[Hacker James]

15 minutes ago, GolfLug said:

I play with an 83 year old member regularly in the league at our CC (2nd oldest) who has been a member for 47 years. He is lithe, in great shape, almost always in good spirits, plays from 4500 yards at least 3-4 times a week in summer and what conditions will allow in winter, shoots in the mid-low 70s usually, plays with hybrids from everything over 80 yards I think, very competitive spirit, compliments just right, doesn't hear that well much anymore but always stays engaged, eats clubhouse food every Sunday at least, still goes to work at his construction company office everyday. Kinda person whose presence is underwhelming but seems determined to cash in every day given to him.    

Cheers to all the seniors who just want to chug on...!     

once you get beyond a certain age, any day above ground is a good day.

[uitar9]

At 63 I'm starting to think that saying active helps me stay active and golf works well for that-mental agility, physical agility without being too hard on the body  Got a feeling when I stop swinging I'm gonna stop

[Rip62]

If I can stand I'll still play.

[JonMA1]

Being physically unable to play is something I don't want to think about for a couple reasons.

Played the remaining 6 holes of a round with a very old gentleman a couple years ago. The guy still walked the course, hunched over with his pull cart. I could have played through but instead accepted his invitation to play along with him. He told me "walking the course keeps me young".

The round was a tremendous learning experience and hopefully a glimpse into my own future. It was hard to get into a bad mood hanging out with this guy. One of my more pleasurable rounds of golf.

[Hacker James]

to quote the NRA..(or at least paraphrase).."not till they pry it out of my cold, dead, hands".

[Buckeyebowman]

7 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

So I'm 61 (tomorrow), I've been playing since I was about 13, and I can't imagine quitting.  I know at some point that my distance will erode, that my scores will rise, and I'll feel more aches and pains, but I can't imagine not playing.  I have a feeling that it'll be a physical issue, something that makes it impossible to swing.  I know I could be wrong, I could get discouraged with rising scores, or something like that, but I can't believe that will happen for me.

You and me, Dave! I'm 64 and still going, and I can play pretty good when I'm on my game. It's just that I'm not "on my game" as much as I used to be. And, Patch. The old guy who is hitting it 210 down the middle is NOT the guy who is holding up play! He's more likely the guy who is keeping it moving!

[Club Rat]

7 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

So I'm 61 (tomorrow),

 Have fun in PS golfing....

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but I can't imagine not playing.

I'm with you there, I plan to take my putter to my grave with me...

We have a few guys who are over 80 and many in their 70's join us occasionally in Mens Games.
They usually clean house (friggin Sand Baggers) and playing Red Tees !!!
All the guys Luv 'em when they play, always glad when they can make it.

[gatsby47]

I'm 66 and have played since 1975.   I loved the game from the time I took it up.  I have mentioned before that one of the experiences everyone should have is to play with a Senior golfer.  You will be very surprised at the speed and the abilities of long time golfers.  They rarely get into trouble and kick ass quite often. When I was 27, thinking I was two steps away from the tour, I played a 75 year old who only hit 150 yds with 3 different clubs and was a whiz at chipping and deadly on the greens.   Nice about it though. It amused him to see my titanic drives slice into trouble or out of the course.  I bought him a beer after the round and he said that some day, I would be the old guy. He had his moment after the war.  I remembered the round and this last season, I played with two behemoths from the Army base.  I whipped their asses with my straight 210 yd drives and my ability to get on in regulation, hybrids, 5 woods. Wedges close and putting.  Never lost a ball. lol.  Golf is about the enjoyment.  If it takes you a lifetime to fully understand that concept, so mote it be.  Golf is for being outdoors on a warm day with amiable companions, who likewise relish the time.  Pros fret over things that would make your round, month, year, career amazingly unforgettable.  And there is no age limit to be being happy. Play the game at every age for the enjoyment of that time.  Walter Hagen did say to stop and smell the roses.  I try to follow that maxim every time I go out.

[70sSanO]

I'm 65 and hope to be playing for years to come.  My brother-in-law has Parkinson's and he played until he was 75.  As he aged he was playing short par 3 courses, and his game was gone, but he was still playing and enjoying it.

I try to be involved in a number of activities as I think that it helps to work different muscle groups. I also enjoy the variety.

That said, It is odd is how much a simple golf swing leaves me with more aches and pains than even something like surfing.  The physical strain of twisting and turning and the effect of the impact on my tennis elbow seems to be more apparent after playing golf... and that does concern me more than where my score will go.

John