Age and your hcap goin the wrong way.

[Tashyboy]

When I went to Northumberland the other week I was fortunate to play some golf with some good lads. Some good lads who had plenty of Anno Domini on there side, but hit the ball as sweet as you could imagine. In a day and age where fitness and flexibility is the norm for pros. Guys in there sixtys were hitting it as sweet as you could imagine. The eye/ ball coordination was a joy to watch. It should be illegal for guys of mentioned age to hit 500 yd plus greens in two, if only to protect me from embarrassment.
However having spoken to a few of them when hcap was discussed, they told me there "now" hcap. But told me what they used to play at.
Now don't get me wrong, some of these guys were ( and still flippin are single hcappers) but I sensed a bit of disappointment that ther hcap was goin the wrong way ( towards mine ). It is a feeling I would one day like to well feel.
But ( and by what I sensed) why do the AD generation feel a bit coy about there hcap goin towards mine when they should not.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I can't imagine anyone who is serious about golf would be happy that their handicap is going up regardless of age

 

[Tashyboy]

Hawkeye, you will not get any arguments from me on that one, but sometimes Father Time has the last say.

 

[Hobbit]

On the one hand I take pride in just about retaining a Cat 1 handicap, especially as the body is like that of an old battered tom cat. Equally, I want to remain competitive with everyone. It will be what it will be, and so be it.

 

[harpo_72]

It's just a fact of life, I don't have the time to maintain my swing, practice my shots. It's the life affect,the time consumption of work and family. So the handicap will creep up. It is depressing because only you as a golfer know what you did, these little white trousered upstarts just see you as some fat middle aged fantasist.
Hence I play late into the evening mainly on my own just enjoying the opportunity of playing a game that has held me in its grasp for nearly 40 years ...

 

[Hobbit]

It's just a fact of life, I don't have the time to maintain my swing, practice my shots. It's the life affect,the time consumption of work and family. So the handicap will creep up. It is depressing because only you as a golfer know what you did, these little white trousered upstarts just see you as some fat middle aged fantasist.
Hence I play late into the evening mainly on my own just enjoying the opportunity of playing a game that has held me in its grasp for nearly 40 years ...

But it's been a fun journey! 48yrs for me next month and, hopefully, a good few more to salt away yet.

 

[williamalex1]

It's just a fact of life, I don't have the time to maintain my swing, practice my shots. It's the life affect,the time consumption of work and family. So the handicap will creep up. It is depressing because only you as a golfer know what you did, these little white trousered upstarts just see you as some fat middle aged fantasist.
Hence I play late into the evening mainly on my own just enjoying the opportunity of playing a game that has held me in its grasp for nearly 40 years ...

I disagree, my handicap is based on the scores I have returned in ALL competitions .
No age on score cards, unless it's a senior comp.
Use your guile young man, do you look better in the dark too:rofl:

 

[delc]

I have just turned 70 and my handicap has gone up from 10 to 13 over the last three years. Death by a hundred 0.1 increases, with the odd just 'just made the buffer zone' score. Biggest problem seems to be an exponential loss of length! 😞

 

[duncan mackie]

I have just turned 70 and my handicap has gone up from 10 to 13 over the last three years. Death by a hundred 0.1 increases, with the odd just 'just made the buffer zone' score. Biggest problem seems to be an exponential loss of length! 😞

But you were over 65 when it went down to 10!

 

[duncan mackie]

You only have to spend a little time on here (which is a microcosm of the wider golfing world) to realise that how far you hit it, what you can score and what your handicap is are the key judgemental elements for most.

When I'm being out driven by 50 yds do I feel like getting out the box of 'longest drive' trophy I've acquired over the years (mainly from boot sales obviously!) - 'course I do.

When asked what's my handicap is it nice to be asked the follow up of "What's the lowest you have been?" - again, of course.

However, there's one small plus I'm starting to see - you can start to take pleasure from the good shots again (something that gets overshadowed by pain at the bad ones when you are improving).

Finally, do I still belive I've got it in me somewhere to shoot par (sorry, SSS!) - absolutely!

 

[Hobbit]

You only have to spend a little time on here (which is a microcosm of the wider golfing world) to realise that how far you hit it, what you can score and what your handicap is are the key judgemental elements for most.

When I'm being out driven by 50 yds do I feel like getting out the box of 'longest drive' trophy I've acquired over the years (mainly from boot sales obviously!) - 'course I do.

When asked what's my handicap is it nice to be asked the follow up of "What's the lowest you have been?" - again, of course.

However, there's one small plus I'm starting to see - you can start to take pleasure from the good shots again (something that gets overshadowed by pain at the bad ones when you are improving).

Finally, do I still belive I've got it in me somewhere to shoot par (sorry, SSS!) - absolutely!

So so true.

Sometimes I look at a course card and see a par 4 that I think will need two of my Sunday best shots to reach. Once upon a time the same hole would have been a driver and a 6 iron or 8 iron. Now its a driver and a hybrid or three wood. Thank god for a decent short game!!