Quit Twice -- Here I am Again

[KKORO]

Hello all, glad to be here!

 

Story One

Some 30, maybe 35 or 40, years ago I was on the course with my wife. I had just received a new "tipped" driver my pro had built for me. It was a beautiful persimmon driver that I spent a fortune on. Unfortunately, I couldn't hit it. After about 2 weeks of total frustration, and many low duck hooks and slices, I took that club and, with all my might, through it in the woods. As it whirly birded into the woods, it went right over my wife's head, missing her by about 6 inches. Completely ashamed of myself, I left the club in the woods, walked off the course and didn't play again for four years.

 

Story Two

After returning to golf, and playing seriously, I became a fair player. (5 handicap) Then, 23 years ago, I was told that without a back operation I may not walk again. I spent the next 3 years, post operation, never one time breaking 100. At that point I took up sea kayaking and quit golf again.

 

Story Three

Fast forward 20 years and at the age of 65 I've taken up golf again. I dusted off my old clubs with stiff shafts and still couldn't break 100. So, I bought some "old man's" clubs and immediately not only broke 100, but was often breaking 90. Amazing the difference a couple of decades of technology can do. Forgiving irons, oversized drivers and graphite shafts on all the clubs made a huge difference.

 

So, as it stands now, I'm way shorter off the tee than I was, but, I think, much smarter. I play the whites instead of the blues now (courses didn't have blacks, golds or whatever back then). By the end of the summer I was consistently in the 80's and a few high 70's thrown in the mix. The Golf Digest Handicap app tells me my handicap started in the 30's back in June and it's now down to 10.8.

 

The main thing is I'm having a ball playing. Winter has set in in Northern Michigan, so I'm planning a trip to the Robert Trent Jones Trail the first couple of weeks in January. That'll prevent cabin fever from getting too much of a hold on me this winter.

 

Goals for next year is to get the handicap down to single digits, play from the blues and add a few more yards to my drives.

 

Glad to be here -- seems like a good sight for an old -- new, player.

 

Later,

 

John

[Sean2]

Greetings and welcome (back) John! That is quite a story.

I didn't start playing until I turned 50, so I'm a bit late to the party (60 now), but I love the game. I don't know what "old man" clubs are though. The score card doesn't care what's in your bag.

[BParis]

John, welcome back to the game, and enjoy your January trip down to the southern states! RTJ Golf Trail will be a nice break from the grey Michigan winter!

[KKORO]

[quote name='Sean2' timestamp='1448242855' post='12633124']
Greetings and welcome (back) John! That is quite a story.

I didn't start playing until I turned 50, so I'm a bit late to the party (60 now), but I love the game. I don't know what "old man" clubs are though. The score card doesn't care what's in your bag.
[/quote]

Thanks Sean2,

The score may not know anything, but my old body keeps trying to tell the score card something.

Later,

John

[KKORO]

[quote name='lebanontngolfer' timestamp='1448243672' post='12633204']
John, welcome back to the game, and enjoy your January trip down to the southern states! RTJ Golf Trail will be a nice break from the grey Michigan winter!
[/quote]

Thanks sir,

Right now it's a white winter up here.

Later,

John