Age/Weight & other factors ?

[Macster]

I saw recently that Tommo is at his lowest Hadicap ever aged 58, and it got me wondering.........

Here I am, 48, a consistent 10 HC, and after achieving 9 for the first time last year at 47.
Little heavier than I'd perhaps like at 15.5 stone, and always slightly limited by a fairly problematic left knee, altho not been too bad this year.

I was in all honesty imagining that getting back to 9, or even 7/8, would perhaps be a bridge too far for someone of my age, but now I'm re-thinking that, is that realistic ?

I'm currently on a serious drive to shed some pounds, and working on some exercises to strengthen the left knee etc, and determined to 'get in shape' for the start of 2011 season.

Maybe Singles is achievable again ? What do all of us 'Over 40's' play off on here ?

Cheers.

 

[John_Findlay]

58? 58?

Who's he kidding? He's broken his age a dozen times already this season!



Have to say that Tommo is probably the exception to the rule for a man of his advancing years. He's at his fighting weight, has good natural swing speed, a great, consistent swing and a lovely short game. Basically a right pain in the *@&% to play against.

Just shows what we can all do if we stay fit. I'm 43, haven't changed weight much since I was 17 and don't plan to. Fairly supple for a middle aged guy, I suppose. I think that's the key to being able to swing well into your dotage.

 

[chrisd]

I didn't hold a golf club before I was 44. I am now 58 in a couple of weeks and play off 11.5. Since I started playing I have constantly been 14 stone and 6ft tall. I have had a cruciate graft on the left knee and a replacement right hip (12 months ago) and now need the left one done. I am aiming for single figures next year and, please, NOBODY tell me it's a tall order!



Chris

 

[golfstick]

I think you are more than capable of this, dont be so negative and look on how to improve. Your already off 10 so your a decent golfer.

Just to give you an idea, my mate turned pro 4 months ago and I had the pleasure of caddying for him in a local competition. Hes only 23 like me but he played against a 46 year old (i believ he said that) and someone who looked slightly older. These guys were defo mid to late 40's. Anyway boy did I got a lesson on te way round from them on the way round.

both guys shot level par in the worst conditions ever! thing that i noticed is that they didnt hit the ball anywhere i mean i think at times i could launch my 3 wood 30 yards further than their drivers but it didnt matter. [****] hot short game and i dont think either of them new what ruff was.

What im trying to say is that these guys make the best of what they have got and play bloody good. I think if you can analyse your game and see where your dropping shots and improve it.

Im a bit of a fitness freak and could not recommend it more for improving your game. i started the game 9.5 stone wet through 2 years ago. Im now 14 stone and have so much more control over my swing and can hit a better range of shots. Dont focus on weight, focus on strenghth with flexability

 

[pokerjoke]

Re: Age/Weight & other factors ?

Im 45 and as i have only been playing a short while,i believe my best days are ahead.I will be single figures soon and know i can get down to 7 or 8.As we get older dont forget we also get wiser.Keep yourself relatively fit and flexible,practice hard,set your goal and go for it.

 

[Ethan]

Re: Age/Weight & other factors ?

Of course you can get your handicap down further.

I have been playing for 30 years, and got to 9 after about 6 or 7 of those, playing twice or three times a week at that time, and have been 8 or 9 ever since, and managing to hold on to my handicap despite ever declining time and frequency of playing (currently April - October only, play once a fortnight during the season and go to the range twice a fortnight). I have never hit the ball any further than i do now, and on those rare occasions when I play a couple of times in quick succession, can actually play a bit. I am also no model of fitness or good health.

I am absolutely certain that if I had a bit more golf or did any short game practice, I could get down to 6 or 7.

 

[Owen_Thomas_14]

Re: Age/Weight & other factors ?

I dont do anything fitness wise

 

[znuffzz]

Re: Age/Weight & other factors ?

32, 13 stone and 6'4"

 

[MashieNiblick]

Aged 49 and been off 10, 11, 12 for about 15+ years. Lots of single figure guys at our place over 50 and a fair few achieving it later in life. Immediately after retiring seems to be a favourite time for this as they get to play and practice much more and can shave off those last couple of shots or so.

I also think what Tom Watson did at the Open last year was a great inspiration to a lot of older golfers.

 

[smange]

Im 43 and only playing 4 years and down to 8 this season.

Really could do with losing a couple of pounds(ok stones) but dont think that age itself is a barrier but obviously being healthier and fitter will help in any sort of physical activity.

I think it actually becomes easier for us as we get to our 40s as our kids are older and require less attention and we usually have a settled life which all leads to us having more free time for playing and practicing.

So yes you can get down to 7/8 at your age and if you have the talent and the dedication maybe even lower. Go for it!!

 

[bobmac]

Greg Norman
Tom Watson

 

[Macster]

Looks like my best golf lies ahead then ! Wooohooo.........

Just need to fly south with the birds now for the winter to get some weather fit to play golf in !

 

[Region3]

43, 10st, 11hc. Skinny and weak, but quick.

Only started playing again last year after about 20 years off, and will be very disappointed if I can't go lower than I was as a junior, which was 10.

 

[ianshearin]

Re: Age/Weight & other factors ?

I started playing last Year at age 51, I have a hcap of 13 and intend to get it to single figures.
Weight is a problem for me, not necessarily playing golf but the other things that being overweight brings such as injury prone, loss of flexibility etc.
I have always been a keen sporstman and trained insanely over the years, however I fear many days of pounding the roads is coming back to bite me in the ass.
I am now working in the gym on stretching and swimming, started an exercise yesterday using a light weight and mimicking the golf swing whilst focusing on the muscles that I can feel being stretched as I swing. The theory being if I overstretch the golf swinging muscles during gym work I will be less likely to incur any injuries on the golf course.

As for age pfft, I want to be single figures all my life, I dont see that age, weight or anything else will drop my handicap other than a lack of focus and desire.

 

[USER1999]

Re: Age/Weight & other factors ?

45, 6ft 2", 11 stone, h/cap 10 (bit annoyed with that). Can't see age as a barrier. Talent, yes, mind set, yes, age? no.

 

[Imurg]

Re: Age/Weight & other factors ?

47
6ft
Hugely overweight
Currently playing at least as well if not better than ever and looking forward to getting better still next year.

Oh and 2 dodgy knees and 1 knackered ankle too.

 

[Whereditgo]

15 1/2 stone and a dodgy knee???....It's a miracle they don't snap!

You tried cycling Chris? I also have a dodgy knee (same reason you have) and have found that cycling is a superb no impact exercise to strenghten the muscles around the knee, doesn't do the ankles any harm either. I can definitely feel the difference when I do less exercise.

I also have/had a fairly serious back problem and again exercise (rock climbing) keeps me mobile and supple enough to carry 36 holes back to back.

As for the OP, I'm 49, been playing under 2 years, had a crap season and playing off 20.8, but......I'm as determined as hell that I will get to single figures one day

 

[Leftie]

Re: Age/Weight & other factors ?

Ahem... Drawing my pension, vertically challenged, and a little bit overweight.

Got down to 13 a couple of years ago and have stayed there since with a couple of forays to 12.4 in that time.

Once this tired old body has been repaired again (hopefully soon) I would like to think that I will be able to get my fitness back and get down a shot or two before I reach 70.

 

[Macster]

Hi Phil, you're right, cycling IS a great way to keep fit and keep the thighs in shape, which in turn help the knees etc.
I did do a LOT of Mountain Biking for 7/8 yrs, which came to a grinding halt about 2yrs ago when I threw myself back into Golf, and I do find it difficult dedicating the time to both at once etc, I guess I tend to be all or nothing.

Perhaps with my new motivation, I should make time for at least a couple of hours on the bike per week, which will help keep in shape and strengthen the knee same time.

 

[stevek1969]

41 years old,13st 6lbs go to the gym 3 times a week ,do a lot of cardio and weights.
Played my best golf last year getting to 9 the day after my 40th after that its between 0.1 all the way up to 10.6,looking to get back to single again hopefully the gym work and the pracise will work.