My guess is the 83 year olds drives were 'slighty' exaggerated. And I use the word slightly very loosely. We have 3 guys in their 80's that still play in our group and their distance is way down from where they once were. One guy who is 85 is still as straight as ever, but can't hit an iron more than 125 - 130 yards tops. The key is to play off the appropriate tee for your distance.
Humbling golf experience
Gary, Good to see you here.
Yes, and the 3rd senior whom plays senior tournament all over the country had made a comment at the back nine that he tried to catch up with the 83 year old's drive ( his own driving distance was close to 240-250, very long for someone over 70 ). It;s funny because I first noticed that the 3rd senior golfer tried harder and harder at his golf swing. Thought it was the effect of getting tired from walking the course, but he let it out on the 15th tee box telling the 83 that what in the world that he could not catch up with the 83's drive and he check the distance on several holes just to make sure it was not a fluke.
Come to think about it, not sure what's in the Vodka.
My memory of this 83 was when I walk up to the first tee and there he was sitting on the bench on the side of the tee box looking out to the green. Like a framed picture. Dressed appropriately like a golfer. I walked up and he looked around at me, I said " good morning, are you next up " ? He replied a simple "yes" and shook my hand , exchanged our first name politely. I than asked him where is his cart or golf clubs, he said casually, "oh, my partner took the golf cart and went back to the parking lot to get something ".......... A brief exchange .
Okay, in the back of my mind I thought maybe the someone had remembered his birthday wrong.
I was correct, the guy was not 83 but 81 years old. I confirmed this with several other golfers whom I hitched a round with the other day. Their 4th had back issue and I was walking on with the last minute decision.
So apparently, these 3 golfers played with the same guy in the past and one of them played college baseball one played college football, one played high school football. The one played the college baseball asked if I had played with the same guy there at the golf course, of course, I replied yes and shared our story.
His comment was, "okay , when he started playing well, I thought this will blow over soon but he kept coming up with pars and birdies and beat the crap out of us... later walked in the 19th hole and the bartender asked the 81 year old - the usual Mr......and he said sure and get my buddies a beer" as they walked in after the 81 year old.
So my mistake, the golfer is 81 instead of 83.
Well, my father is 83 and he can hit a driver about 230 or so. His 8-iron 150-ish. Still plays from the white tees. Routinely breaks 80. Had shot his age innumerable times.
I don't buy 275 from an 83-year-old, although it might be possible. But I think it is unlikely, since my father has got to be in the 99th percentile for 83-year-olds.
After confirming with other golfers whom played with the guy often, his age was 81 , not 83.
During my round with him, maybe one or two tee shots close to 270 , majority were between 240-260 as one of us actually not only GPS but also paced off the distance.
Your father really is an inspiration to all of us. Quite frankly, I'm not even sure I could live to be his age let alone play golf like he does. You are one lucky son.