Shooting Your Age

ode I live in a 55 plus golf community. The course is somewhat difficult due to the greens and what you face when you miss them. It’s amazing how many guys here can shoot their age. These guys have probably always had good swings. They are also good putters and chippers.

We have the occasional 80+ year old who does it. And the occasional early 70s. But mostly they are between the ages of say 73 to 78. Like @fatshot . That seems to be the sweet spot.

I’m sure it helps that these guys play the same course 150 times a year, if not more.

DonM But mostly they are between the ages of say 73 to 78.

Yep. I'd say here, the sweet spot goes to 85.

DonM They are also good putters and chippers.

Hit the fairway with your tee shot and a solid short game is the .

Typhoon I got to thinking after seeing Fatshot’s spectacular round where he shot under his age. How many of youse have shot your age or bettered your age for 18 holes. Regulation course.

Fatshot shoots his age regularly. He should check the Guiness record for most times shooting your age.
Seems there is a sweet spot to doing it. Pretty hard to impossible for most people if you're in your 60's. 74-75 seems an age where you'd have a decent chance if you're a solid golfer, but far from easy. 75-80? Depends on what kind of shape you're in.
The really old guys might have the best chance. If you're still playing golf at 88+ you're likely in really good shape and probably a decent golfer. My dad shot 43 his last time out at 93. We never played 18 at that time because I was still working. But he would have regularly shot his age if we had.

DonM Closest I’ve come is 9 over.

7 over for me, 73 at 66

rsvman2 It's pretty unusual. My father has done it hundreds of times. He is 90

That's the sweet spot if you're lucky enough to get there.

Eguller Started trying to shoot my age when I was 63, but didn’t do it until I was 67. Gagged a few opportunities along the way… but my home course was a par 74, but now a 73.

This is the most impressive way, imo. A guy in his 60's shooting in the 60's. Well, except for Typhoon of course, who is not of this world.

ode Other than a B Langer type, I only see it as possible on a short and easy course for someone in their late 60,s or older!

This. The course matters a WHOLE LOT! I know some of the courses Fatshot plays and no matter what tees you play they are challenging, as opposed to my near home slump buster course that offers no real trouble unless you can't hit it straight. There should be an equation where you somehow divide your age by the slope rating or something. I think I'll eventually shoot my age at the slump buster, but not likely anywhere else.

sdandrea1 I mentioned somewhere (probably in here) that I play with an 85 year old who has over 135 rounds at/under his age.

Tell him Fatshot is on his tail and he has 7-8 years on him too!

garyt1957 . I think I'll eventually shoot my age at the slump buster, but not likely anywhere else.

Yep. Shooting your age on a "real" golf course is a different accomplishment.

Typhoon I’ll start… many times. In fact I think I was 58 when it shot 57 on a par 70 course.

Holy shit, I just saw this! You framed that card, right? Had your buddies sign it too, right? Jaysus, that had to be the course record. Did you tell the pro? I'd probably quit golf after a round like that!

fatshot That's where I'm lucky.....at 78 years of age, I'm able walk 18 holes with no problem, I take no medications, have never had any major injuries....m

So basically, the opposite of me, right?

fatshot I have become a better golfer now than earlier in my life. I stopped blaming my clubs (as much). And got serious about fixing the holes in my game. I wish I would have worked on my short game years ago.

Being around all the other seniors for the past several years, I've realized that I had to have decent swing mechanics in place before it's too late. I've probably said this before, but the mad slasher swings that a lot of guys get away with into their 50s, do not survive very well in the 70s. Almost every good golfer I play with has a nice smooth swing on a good plane.

Most of my mistakes are still mental ones. Almost always they are from trying to get close, from jail, after a missed green. When I go home and think woulda coulda shoulda, those are the things that stand out. If I top a drive or slice a 6 iron into the bunker, no regrets. It didn't happen because of wrong thinking. I'm able to laugh those off and carry on. But the flop shot that I bladed over the green, that pisses me off.