You know you're an Old Golfer when...

[SnowbirdTom]

You cursed the ball makers when Surlyn covers were introduced.  I’d go back to the balata balls today. Spin was incredible around the greens, but a bad hit would create a nice smiley.

[MikeW2]

When you unexpectedly get some cancellations in your schedule and have a three hour window before your next appointment so you decide to stop at a course near that appointment to play a quick 9, parking lot is not crowded at all so you’re feeling good about your chances of sneaking this 9 in, go into the pro shop and they said sure we can get you right out cash or card? You pay cash and are pretty happy with the way your day is turning out. Then you happen to look at the board and see that without even asking you the gentleman behind the counter charged you the senior rate😔…not gonna lie, that hurt.

[itsame]

When you need to tell everyone that you used to hit it much further when you were younger everytime you're paired with someone who drives it 250+.

 

(Sorry I had to.)

[rd1959]

7 hours ago, Rocky Ball-boa said:

I'm by no means an old golfer, but I did start young back in the early 90's with handmedowns. I had two persimmon 5-woods. So now I'm curious, were they new and all the rage back in the 80's when they would've been made, and your comment refers to way back before that, or was I just "lucky" to get what was then a new/novelty club?

When did 5-woods become heard of?

 

My main one was a beauty, it was a deep, dark shiny-ish blue. A Wilson if I'm not misremembering.

 

I loved those old persimmon drivers. It sounded like you were hitting with a baseball bat. When the tee was close to a green we would wait until somebody was putting before we hit. Lol, some of them could really jump.

[rd1959]

2 hours ago, itsame said:

When you need to tell everyone that you used to hit it much further when you were younger everytime you're paired with someone who drives it 250+.

 

(Sorry I had to.)

I just blame it on my bad back now. Getting old has some built in excuses.

[mark174ace]

you find a titleist balata 90 compression and tell all your friends and a few strangers about it

your first set of clubs were Jack Nicklaus Golden Bear woods and irons

your first driver was the size of today's 5 wood

your golf bag was heavy as #@&* and you didn't have much in it

you went into the clubhouse and there was at least one table of dudes chain smoking and playing cards.......for hours

you have at least one story of the head popping right off one of your fairway woods

one of your grips got wet and you accidently committed a low level felony

one of your grips got wet and you were done using that club for the rest of the day after accidently committing a low level felony

you purchased golf clubs at an actual golf course

 

 

 

Edited June 15, 2022 by mark174ace

[Wooley12]

When you tell the guy with the scope to his eye that its 177. And he says "No, it's 176". 

[BIG STU]

9 hours ago, Soloman1 said:

You make grunting noises trying to get the ball out of the hole.

And in my case my back popping like a pop corn popper bending down. And using one of those things on the grip is a no no for me. At the length I have to use the putter now those things jab me in the belly and besides it could be considered anchoring.

I still play persimmon some and you know you are old when a kid asks you when they started making hybrids out of wood ?? when looking at your 5 wood.

Yep full geezerdom now carry  7 & 9 woods.  Still carry the 4&5 irons though. Use the 5 to bump and run with and to get out of jail with and the 4 when it is really windy to try a run up shot at 150 yards.

Now days I can hit certain drives and take on the hazard because I know darn well I can not hit it far enough to get into it--- Even from the Gold Senior Tees. Remember the days I could hit persimmon and balata further than I hit a modern metal and modern ball now

I will say this is a great thread and thanks to the OP for starting it. And FTR I am not griping but laughing because I feel blessed to be able to play. 2 1/2 years ago now I had thoughts of never being physically able to play again. 

[BIG STU]

8 hours ago, darkhelmet said:

Got a few that are hanging on for dear life

 

Well I am blessed there---- Back fused together and knees going out I still at 64 have shoulder length dark full head of hair. Not much gray--- Body generally shot to crap but the hair still good. I attributate that to my Native American heritage.

[BIG STU]

8 hours ago, Rocky Ball-boa said:

I'm by no means an old golfer, but I did start young back in the early 90's with handmedowns. I had two persimmon 5-woods. So now I'm curious, were they new and all the rage back in the 80's when they would've been made, and your comment refers to way back before that, or was I just "lucky" to get what was then a new/novelty club?

When did 5-woods become heard of?

 

My main one was a beauty, it was a deep, dark shiny-ish blue. A Wilson if I'm not misremembering.

 

5 woods were around in the late 60s early 70s mostly special order. In the 70s off the wall stock sets changed leaving out the 2 wood and putting in the 5. Most beginner sets at the time end up doing a 1 3 and 5 wood combinations and it ended up that way in the Pro Line of things

[elwhippy]

Beige slacks feel good....more painkillers in your bag than golf balls.....comfort rules over style.....you start ordering decaff instead of a Guinness.....your back is stiffer than your iron shafts.....the list is endless.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

14 hours ago, JimmyC59 said:

To my knowledge, 5 woods became common in the 80s.

Before that most wood sets were 1, 3, and 4.

My first set of clubs my mom bought for me in high school to try out for the golf team.   1976 Acushnet woods.  They were 1,3,5.   I remember the 5 wood as it was the last club in that set that I held onto.   Up until about 1999.  I still had the original grip on it.  The rubber had become so worn it was molded into the shape of my hands on the grip. 
 

Man the head on that thing was meniscal.  But hey we don’t know any different back then. 

Edited June 15, 2022 by Carolina Golfer 2

[Hickory4ever]

I love this thread as I can relate to every post.

 

I knew I was an older golfer when I had to start wearing a hat instead of a visor because my forehead was getting larger.

When I started carrying Advil in my golf bag was another clue. 

[denismcg]

On the first tee of a tournament last, I told the starter it felt like I was playing with my Grandkids.  I did beat them all though.

[BIG STU]

2 hours ago, Hickory4ever said:

I love this thread as I can relate to every post.

 

I knew I was an older golfer when I had to start wearing a hat instead of a visor because my forehead was getting larger.

When I started carrying Advil in my golf bag was another clue. 

Adville and CBD gummies have been a norm for me for quite a while

[JohnnyCashForever]

when...wearing your 100% cotton shirt and black leather-soled wingtips with bootleg metal spikes, you ask your playing partner to put out the funny cigarette, turn off the music, and tend the flag as you line up your 15-foot putt with your leather-wrap-gripped Wilson 8813.   

[larrybud]

When you go to a new course and look on the scorecard... to see if they posted where the bathrooms are located....

 

[Kingkat54]

Miss the golf shoes with the kilties. Especially black and white wingtip. Heavy, but stylish. Leather soles, metal spikes.

 

Matching wood covers and bag. 

The Wilson 8802 blade putter. Or Acushnet Reuter putter. Everyone had one.

 

Titleist Black,Red,Green dot.  Dunlop same. 

[Robert72]

When you were younger, you could hit the ball farther than you could see.

 

You can still hit the ball farther than you can see....because your eyes are bad.

[caniac6]

The walk to the parking lot after lunch is more difficult than the walk on the previous 18.

[rd1959]

7 hours ago, BIG STU said:

Well I am blessed there---- Back fused together and knees going out I still at 64 have shoulder length dark full head of hair. Not much gray--- Body generally shot to crap but the hair still good. I attributate that to my Native American heritage.

As Ferdinand (SNL) used to say "it's better to look good than to feel good", lol.

Edited June 15, 2022 by rd1959

[BIG STU]

41 minutes ago, JohnnyCashForever said:

when...wearing your 100% cotton shirt and black leather-soled wingtips with bootleg metal spikes, you ask your playing partner to put out the funny cigarette, turn off the music, and tend the flag as you line up your 15-foot putt with your leather-wrap-gripped Wilson 8813.   

LOL difference here for me is I would ask for a hit off the funny cigarette---- I have came to accept the music as long as it is oldie rock and roll and NOT country or rap but I do not approve of it playing so loud it disturbs others

[caniac6]

When holding your putter in your right hand, and your putter cover in your left hand, you look all over the place for your putter cover.

[parmark]

Edited June 15, 2022 by parmark

[BIG STU]

35 minutes ago, Kingkat54 said:

Miss the golf shoes with the kilties. Especially black and white wingtip. Heavy, but stylish. Leather soles, metal spikes.

 

Matching wood covers and bag. 

The Wilson 8802 blade putter. Or Acushnet Reuter putter. Everyone had one.

 

Titleist Black,Red,Green dot.  Dunlop same. 

Like my Old Man I could never stand the Kilties and cut them off with a razor blade. Matching head covers so so my Old Man never used any period and he was a club Pro. Around my neck of the woods we had a mix of 8802s Bullyseyes and Mac Ironmasters---- The latter was my thing--- Now days on my vintage rounds I putt with any of the 3 and practice my ball striking with a Bulls Eye. I only remember Titleist Black Black and Red and Red--- Now Dunlop I remember all three dots. And I also remember the Spalding Dots too both the American and European sizes

[BIG STU]

6 minutes ago, caniac6 said:

When holding your putter in your right hand, and your putter cover in your left hand, you look all over the place for your putter cover.

Not I LOL I flat refuse to game a putter I have to use a cover on----- Of course all of my putters are rusty old dinged up and are lead taped

[jdl]

The only "drive-able par 4s" are now par 3s.

[alittleoverpar]

12 minutes ago, parmark said:

 

That is old school! 

[alittleoverpar]

11 minutes ago, alittleoverpar said:

 

That is old school! 

 

Speaking of old school.  I actually have an Amana Radarange microwave oven from 1986 that still works fine.

[scomac2002]

18 minutes ago, jdl said:

The only "drive-able par 4s" are now par 3s.

 

Some of the par 3's aren't even driveable! 🙄