Getting too old to play

[matts1984]

Hi guys, wondered what your thoughts are on this.

My dad is 69 and has played golf all his life. He plays off 16 but has had a few lengthy spells out of the game due to health issues over the past few years. He didn't play this year from January till around March / end of March time. He normally plays 2 / 3 times a week.

He has not played well since he has started back again End March and has got into his head maybe he is getting too old to play. He says he keeps hitting behind the ball with his irons and thinks maybe his hand eye coordination has gone. I keep trying to say it will come back with time etc but don't think he is so sure.

He talked about if it doesn't get any better this season he will probably not renew his membership next year, this will be the first time ever.

Can anyone advise anything? I am thinking of maybe booking him a few lessons?

 

[fundy]

have a guy at our place who is still playing in his 90s, youre never too old! Not sure you lose hand eye co-ordination, maybe his sight has deteriorated? Certainly wouldnt do any harm to let the pro have a quick look and see if he has developed a specific fault that could be causing this

 

[Birchy]

Tell him absolute cobblers! The only thing golfers lose with age is distance from what ive seen. Theres people nearly treble my age who have taken me to the cleaners

 

[CliveW]

The average age at my club is 74 and you can't play in the seniors untill you are 60, so your pops is but a youngster!

 

[Stuey01]

My dad has been a golfer his whole life and is starting to find that he is in an unstoppable decline in performance that he finds frustrating.
At the start of this year he was considering quitting his membership. But he retires this summer so is going to hang on another season. He got a couple of shots back in the annual review and found a bit of form so has been happier recently playing at or near to his adjusted handicap. I'm hoping he sticks with it as a father son golf game is definitely a highlight of a visit home for the weekend.

Hope your old man can find the love again. Personally I would discuss lessons with him rather than spring them on him, it may not be well recieved!

 

[StrangelyBrown]

I play with a guy that's just turned 78, and he's far from the oldest fella at our club.

 

[davidg2010uk]

Could be the clubs, perhaps he's not as strong/quick as he used to be. Could try some lighter flex clubs might help. Might also just be timing and he's getting ahead of himself, I'm sure it will come back.

 

[duncan mackie]

he simply needs someone he looks forward to playing with and enjoying the wider aspects of the game - lessons are the last thing he needs for his sate of mind; having them (now) will reinforce the concept of improving to enjoy, which age will keep knocking back!

I play mist of my golf with people his age, or older; my game today was with 72, 69 and 68 - teed off at 0730 and finished 1036

 

[chellie]

FiL is still playing at 86 although he can't do a full round now without a buggy and is thinking he may have to stop soon due to hip and back problems. I know that's depressing him.

 

[Nashy]

My old man is 74 and still plays to 14, he has obviously lost some distance but not a huge amount. He plays 3-4 times a week and still loves the game as much now as when he took it up 40 years ago.

 

[CMAC]

Brucie played in the pro-am yesterday and quite tidily apparently- he's 81

 

[Hobbit]

I'd be more inclined to think his current form is a lack of playing.

"You don't stop playing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop playing..."

 

[short off the tee]

hi
was at wentworth yesterday for the pro/am. sir bruce was playing and still enjoying the game so he used a golf buggy to get aroung. better thank packing the game up altogher.
i am 80 and still play once a week. a lot shorter of the tee but know play mostlt on sub 6000 yards courses.


short off the tee

 

[williamalex1]

i'm 67 and in the same boat as your dad just now , i put it down to not playing enough, the cold weather and the courses playing longer so we try to hit harder . I hope his game comes back along with mine , soon please .ne:

 

[MikeB]

My Dad is 84, he was walking 3 times a week until his knees started giving grief, now he walks if he can and uses a buggy if he can't, sometimes he shares the buggy with another old bloke & they take turns walking/driving.

Dad loves the exercise & the company, I hope I am as healthy as him when I'm 84 (if I make it that far!) He doesn't hit it as far as he used to but with that he tends to keep it on the short stuff.

 

[patricks148]

i'm 67 and in the same boat as your dad just now , i put it down to not playing enough, the cold weather and the courses playing longer so we try to hit harder . I hope his game comes back along with mine , soon please .ne:

There a guy still plays off scratch at Brora, who's in his 70's.

so i would say you are never too old.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Firstly I would book him a couple of lessons with a sympathetic Pro.

I nearly gave up a couple of years ago and two things happened.
My daughter said that I had to accept that I was now officially carp and then move on......wise words.
I have always been very competitive, at most things, not just golf.
So I gave up my handicap and stopped playing in competitions
I play for fun now, enjoy the good shots, ignore the bad.
We had 13 holes the other day I was level fives, she was level fours and it did not bother me a bit.

Perhaps your dad is expecting to come back to the same standard as he was?
Are his playing partners now much better than he is?
Is there another family member who wants to start playing that he could coach and play with?

i think the lessons and a bit of practice are the answer.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Treat him to a lesson. The pro will get him back on track. If he can get some confidence back after this he'll soon be be playing with a smile on his face