I played yesterday with an 88-year-old man!

[Big D McGee]

A great experience

Yesterday was such a glorious day here in Philly, that I decided to call in sick and play 18 holes. I had worked all weeend, and it's supposed to be lousy this weekend. A great decision on my part.

The weather was gorgeous, 66* and sunny without a cloud in the sky. I played a Philly Muni, FDR Golf Course, that I haven't played in ages. The overall flatness of the terrain lends itself to senior golfers, and yesterday was no exception. When I got there at 10 a.m., there were several senior golfers that were already finishing.

Being a single, I routinely get paired up with other singles or twosomes. So there I was, about to tee off, when a senior golfer came ambling up. Like me, he was a single, and also like me, he was a "walker".

"The startrer says to pair up. You're playing with an old fart today," he said. Great, I thought. Here comes a 6-hour round. Looks like I won't be playing 36 today.

What followed was a great experience! Ben, my fellow golfer, was 88 this month. He couldn't hear, could barely see, and walked a bit slow. But his swing was still pretty great. Sure, I outdrove him by 75-100 yards on each hole, and yeah, he used a wood for everything but chipping, but he still managed to get the ball high and straight on every shot. And his short game and putting were things of beauty. I don't think he made anything more than a 7 on any hole, and that was a par-5. His enthusiasm for the game energized me so much so that I made 3 pars in a row, something I've never done! I also short-sided a par-3 green, and chipped in for birdie (only the 3rd time I've ever done that!).

After playing the 10th, Ben expressed his regret that he wouldn't be able to finish with me. "I know my limitations, I'm gonna play 17 & 18 and head on in." I was honestly sad to see him go.

We didn't talk that much, and he was a little slow, but Ben was one of the best playing partners I've ever had. It made me reflect on how special this game, this obsession of ours is. You can't play basketball when you're 88, and you really can't bowl, either. But you can play golf, and still play it pretty decently.

I hope I'm playing at 88!

[freddiec]

thats a cool story. Us golfers are very lucky to have an opportunity to play this great game. I totally hear ya. Thats why this game is so great, it's who we meet along the way. It's a very unique experience. Who else besides a golfer can say, they spend hours together with a complete stranger and really enjoyed their company. Think about it, it's a very unique experience. I've also met and played with a very diverse group of people throughout the years and very few I didn't like.

[lidomkj]

In high school, I would often go out by myself and get paired up with the "old farts". Best experiences of my life. I learned alot about the respect for the game, rules, tradition, etc.

 

The biggest lesson I learned was course management. I guess when you loose the distance, you really have to think where you want the shot to go.

[italianstallion]

I'm 17, and play by myself as well. Over the past year I've found the best rounds come when I'm playing with one or more old people. They have such a great outlook on life, and give me tips on how to get throught it. Whenever I walk off 18 with these people, I feel like a new person, someone who enjoys life, and most of all, being a kid. All of them say to enjoy it while it lasts, and I do when I play with these people. It's a great experiece, and it has also allowed me to concentrate less on my and more on having fun. And, you know what happens when I concentrate less on my ? I shoot my best scores.

[raehtz10]

Just today I played with a guy that was 86, another that was 81, and a third that was 60. It was a very fun experience, and they all were pretty good golfers. It was cool cause the 81 year old was a B-17 flight engineer, and there was one at the local airport, and he got to go for a flight last summer, 60 years after his last flight.

[poppyhillsguy]

Great story, but for every one of these I have 10 that are the opposite.

[magee99]

Great story, but for every one of these I have 10 that are the opposite.

 

 

I have had a few myself, but I think that the key is try to keep an open mind, and remember that that will be you one day. The last thing that I want when I turn 60 is some kid acting stupid, just because I want to play a round of golf.

[Golf_Beauty]

Here, here. I know that's right. I love playing with the older active crowd. They can tell you so much about the game and life lessons. I'd hate to think I was being disrespectful, arrogant, or just plain ignorant with them when I know I'll be that age one day. You reap what you sow.

 

I have had a few myself, but I think that the key is try to keep an open mind, and remember that that will be you one day. The last thing that I want when I turn 60 is some kid acting stupid, just because I want to play a round of golf.

[shoe295]

Thanks for that story...as somone who is closer to 88 than 18 I sometimes hope to be able to draw breath unassisted much less play golf at that age. I've played with a lot of folks over the years and my experience is that each of those encounters becomes what I choose. I've discovered if I begin each of those encounters without expectations I end up enjoying myself immensely. Golf is too good a game, played in too nice an environment to allow "shoulds" and "otta" to cloud my experience. Life is just too short to worry about small stuff.

[GolferGal2009]

Old people are the nicest in the world. I find myself around a lot of older people and they are always friendly and I usually have a nice conversation with them. Our team was golfing together and there were these two older ladies behind us. We let them play through, one of them had a walker and the other one had a cast on her arm but they were good and complimentary of our team so it was a nice little experience.

[cleatsupkeep]

I like playing with seniors, it can be a fun experience, and there are always plenty of lessons to be learned for a newer golfer (me).

[pitbull808]

Great story Dick. Reminds me of the days when I played with my grandfather. He's 92 now and can't golf anymore but he still gets a twinkle in his eye when I tell him about a recent round. These stories really bring you to the base reason on why you love golf. It's not the club, the "tour" equipment and CT putters, it's getting outdoors, hitting a ball and getting it in the hole. All for the simple and pure love for the game. I'm almost halfway there to 88 and I hope I can still swing it when I get there with whatever club is in the bag and enjoy the game.

[theinsider]

Great story! Another reason why this game is so great!

 

:)

[Golf_Beauty]

There was a great article in GFW in the Jan/Feb issue about seniors golfing named: Who Are You Calling Old? There were women in this article aged from 77 to 101 who were still golfing! 101!!!! Her name is Elsie McLean. She shot her age at 95 and says, "Golf is my life and will always be. I tell my daughter and grandchildren, 'I'm going to die on the golf course. If I do, just roll me under a tree and finish your round.'"

 

Wow :)

[raehtz10]

Lol, the 60 year old that I played with said, "You know, those two other guys are in their 80's?" I looked at him and said something to the effect of hoping to still be able to golf at that age. He looks at me with a straight face and says, "I am just hoping to be on this side of the turf!"

[MrParr1Noid]

I got paired today with a couple of guys in their 60's, we played our 9 in 1 hour and 15 minutes, I shot 40, had a good time. I get paired with guys of all ages, and I don't really care how old of how good they are, just so long as they keep up, fix their pitch marks and pulls the flag if they are closest to it.

 

What does age have to do with the game? If anything, the younger golfers are most generally horsing around, not keeping up, not fixing their ball marks, and are unsure of who's next. Keeping up has more to do with know what going on, and paying attention to what's going on. Beating a ball 315 yards down the rough isn't so fast, and helping them find their lost balls isn't so much fun either but I help. :cheesy: I even fix their balls marks while they are trying to figure out how many strokes it took them to get to the green, along with their 3 putts. :)

[Ignited]

The last time I played with two guys that age I had so much fun it was untrue.

One of them even had odd shoes on but I kept quiet about it and so did the other old guy.

After about 5 holes he suddenly realised he had odd shoes on and it turned out one of them was not his. :cheesy: :) well I laughed so hard I could not breath.

[bk4]

My grandfather who is 86 will play any day it's not too cold. He either goes out to the range, goes and plays a few balls on a couple holes or just finds a game. He could break 80 on a regular basis up until a few years ago and still can if he plays well. His putting is still among the best I've ever seen. Through him I've heard all kinds of stories and met all kinds of people. He played with and against Billie Joe Patton for a long time, and was college teammates and grea friends with Harvie Ward up until his death. I was lucky enough to get to take lessons and play with Harvie a little bit and that was something else also. But like everybody else here, I hope when I'm that age I'm still playing and can enjoy it

[Hrocks]

Good story...just got back from a week in Myrtle Beach with 19 other guys. Same basic group has gone for 11 years. (2nd for me) Broad age range from twenty's to 80, with the avg of about 40. Two of the guys are 73 and 80. The "younger" senior has a short caddie swing that can still poke it a straight 240, and an incredible short game. The older senior hits it straight, but as you might imagine, struggles to get any distance off the tee. Both have an uncommon love of the game, and serve as an inspiration. My dad is a "young" 83 (He started playing at 69!) and walks a goat path of a course in Pittsburgh, 4 days a week! The best day I ever had on a golf course was playing with both my dad, and my 5 year old son on a small par 3 course. Three generations of guys playing the greatest game ever!