Humbling golf experience

Release

I wouldn't be surprised. There's always an exception, but it's highly unusual for someone who hasn't played much in their younger years to be that good in their golden years.

This conversation has caused me to think of a good man who I played golf with on numerous occasions over the years, his name was Enos. We called him "Eenie." I didn't know him until I started playing with his son-in-law about 16 years ago. We became good friends, and over the course of the following 15 years or so - he would invite Eenie along to join us. When I first met him, he was around 75-yrs-old. He was a small guy, very wiry build, but he was in great shape and flexible as a garden hose. He refused to play the senior tees, lol... he would have none of that discussion, he was stubborn for sure. But at the same time - he didn't exactly need to because of his driving. He was still popping them out there around 230-240 yards. He'd always say, "if I move up to the seniors - I lose 3 strokes off my handicap and the holes don't get any bigger. I'll stay here with you guys and keep my strokes."

Naturally over the course of the next 10 years or so, he lost considerable distance and was basically left with no other option but to swallow his pride and move on up. He shot his age a few times, but always lamented that he would still shoot even par if he could putt half as well as I did. A couple years ago we played quite a bit together, and on several occasions he would talk about how many friends of his was dying off. I would always say something along the lines of, "Eenie - you're gonna live to be a hundred." He would always chuckle and say, "God, I hope not. 70 years of putting up with the same woman, I'm not sure I could take another 10 years with her." He was kidding, of course. He had a great marriage, loving family, retired early... and the only thing that really bothered him much was the state of his deteriorating golf game.

Eenie had a stroke last fall, spent 5 unresponsive days in the hospital, before the family made the heart wrenching decision to cut off life support, per his wishes. He lived 91 years, and I can honestly say that there will never be another one like him. He broke the mold.

Release

Yes I did. But they weren't hard to find. Most were right down the middle!

Bangoman

That kid set himself up from the very get-go! LOL... Score one for the old guys.

Back in the day I would go out as a single, and occasionally I would get paired up with some strangers. It never failed - one of the first questions they'd ask after an opening tee shot would be, "So tell us - what kind of scores do you normally shoot?"

I was always hesitant to be truthful in those situations. For starters - not knowing these people, not knowing how well the played - the last thing I wanted to do was put any undue pressure on them to play to a level they couldn't play to. Or even worse - tell them I'm a 3 handicap and put undue pressure on myself! LOL I learned that lesson the hard way.

One day, I'm out playing at my club (many moons ago) and meet up with a couple of really nice guys, looked like pretty good players. And they were. They were ahead of me and I'd watch them hit the ball as I waited on them. We got to a backup a couple holes later, so they just politely asked if I wanted to join them. I said sure.

So they ask me, "How long you been playing, what do you normally shoot, etc.?" I told them I was a 2 handicap and had just shot 70 from the tips there two days earlier.

I shot 83 that day, and I can guarantee you they were both thinking "2 handicap my ass" then entire time. LOL...

Just better to let the game do the talking!

Some day I'll get there, undoubtedly. And at that point I'll have to compromise the difference when I would rather play versus when I should play, based on my physical inability to keep pace with the quicker groups ahead.

I've not played a round in over 4:15 for so long that I'm completely spoiled. It would be very difficult to go back to the day when 5+ hours was the norm on the weekend, let alone during a weekday round.

First-world problem, for sure, but a problem to me no less. I loath slow play.

Proud sponsor of the Last Tee Golf program here. Geezers can teach you a lot if you are willing to listen! Many of my regular golf buddies are old farts.

Most of the time avid senior golfers are quick in my experience. Every now and then I will get behind a slow foursome, but it is rare.

I do not think later tee times would be better. The ones I know like to get out early to beat the heat.

Slow Play: Never bothered me....Never. But, the ones in my group were stomping on the tee, swearing under their breath, yelling at the group, sometimes even hitting balls into them (rare..but, it happens). I don't say a word...I am there to relax, not to get bent out of shape because the group in front of us stinks. I just go with the flow on the golf course. Just look around at each hole and wonder about the designer's thoughts. I play golf to relax not get upset because the group in front of me hasn't a clue.

I usually do not get bent out of shape by slow play, but it does mes up my rhythm. I rarely play well behind a slow group.

I will continue to work on mastering the space between my ears.

I used to be a slow player, until one day a fellow playing partner informed me that I was earning a reputation. I didn't take it personal. In fact - I thanked him for caring enough about me to say something.

I'd just joined the club, very first private club I'd ever been a member at... and my playing pace had essentially gotten slower from all the years playing on a public layout that didn't enforce pace of play, where 5-hour rounds were the norm. Well, you figure out in that situation that it does absolutely no good to get upset, because it ain't changing anything getting bent out of shape. I just slowed my pace down to compliment the hurry-up-and-wait environment, where we learned early on to not get in too much of a rush. We kept pace, albeit a slower pace. It was what it was... just accept it and do whatever you can to adjust.

And over the years, I guess, I just adjusted. So when I joined the private club, I had to make another adjustment. And it wasn't easy early on... I felt rushed, seriously rushed. My game suffered for a month or so as a result. But then I found myself playing some of the best golf of my life that same summer, playing at a quicker pace and not having to wait.

I will occasionally bring guests up to my current club, and depending on their level of skill - I'll make the tee time accordingly. It's a tough layout... lots of long holes, tough greens, and lots of trouble. I would never want to put my guest in a situation where he would feel any more uncomfortable than needed, so I usually avoid the busy part of the morning. We're there to enjoy ourselves, to enjoy the experience. We're not there to race around the course in record time, and we have a lot of morning regulars who feel like they're in a track meet.

My regular foursome generally finishes in 3:45-3:50, if we're not being held up. That's an enjoyable pace for us. We don't feel rushed, but we're not having to wait either. I guess that would be my ideal pace.

Slow play, however, just takes a toll on my game now. And I know that when the medal play championship begins in a couple of weeks - it'll be slow. It always is when guys are having to mark everything and putt everything out. I just gotta be patient and make the adjustment, however difficult it might be if the heat and humidity are kicking.