Why I am Giving Up Golf

Lon

Well-known Member
After playing golf for over 55 years I have made the decision to give up the game and stick with the physical sport activities that I can still be competitive in like Petanque, Table Tennis, Water Volleyball. Darts.
I went to the driving range this morning and hit a large bucket of golf balls and although I hit the shots straight, my distance was pathetic and it dawned on me that my 80 year old body would never let me get the game back like I played just 10 years ago.
 

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Time flies, Lon. I used to do three or four one arm pushups, I could do a full flag on a pole, and when I graduated recruit training in the US Coast Guard I was number 2 out of 60 in physical ability but alas, now I am just another old guy....
 
After playing golf for over 55 years I have made the decision to give up the game and stick with the physical sport activities that I can still be competitive in like Petanque, Table Tennis, Water Volleyball. Darts.
I went to the driving range this morning and hit a large bucket of golf balls and although I hit the shots straight, my distance was pathetic and in dawned on me that my 80 year old body would never let me get the game back like I played just 10 years ago.
You don't have to go cold turkey, what's wrong with driving the cart with a beer cooler next to you and keep score for your buds?

You can get your vitamin 'D', critique their swing, walk around looking for their errant drives and don't need to lug that heavy bag back to your car.
 

I have a feeling my hubby will probably give it up soon too-although he is only 66. He insists on playing with our 19 yo grandson and,in hubby`s words "That kid can hit the S**t out of the ball. Makes his drives seem rather pathetic lol. Tomorrow he`s playing with our brother in law and our son in law who is 55,so maybe he won`t feel so bad playing with the old geezers lol....
 
I'm 60 and have been playing 47 years. I still enjoy the game and get decent distance with my clubs, but I can see giving up the game in 10 years or so. Will play it by ear. When its no longer fun, its time to do something else.
 
I play a lot of golf. The guys I play with run from early 40's to well into their 80's. The group I play with when home during the week, runs from late 60's to well into the 80's. We get some really intense competition going. We play for quarters. Some of these guys are "well-heeled" and could buy most anything they desire. Yet, to lose a quarter on a golf game drives them nuts. The past two days, I was off work so joined them. Took their money!!!! $2.50 yesterday day and $1.00 today.
The 84 year old who rode with me yesterday hits the cover off the ball. He can really play well for his age. We have a few at our club who are into their 90's and still play regularly.

Don't just give up the game because you have lost distance. The guys I play with will shoot from the mid-70's to the upper 90's. We don't care what anyone shoots, as long as it's fun!!! We tell the same jokes week after week. We know the life history of most everyone, whether we want to or not. It's purely social.

I'm blessed in that I still hit the ball quite well at almost 69. Didn't pick up a golf club until I was in my 40's. Shot 78 yesterday and 81 today. Tomorrow, I may well card a score in the upper 80's to low 90's. It all depends on which body wakes up in the morning.
 
I only live ten miles from St Andrews and my wife's nursing home room overlooked the 18th on the Old Course, but we never even so much as looked out of the window at it!

I did tell her that when the Open was on she would have to move as I could get £600 a night for her room!

I can remember coming off exorcise at five in the morning in Germany. We'd been at it for three days, unwashed, largely unfed and unrested , and stinking, still in our special NBC suits (vets will know what I'm on about!).

As I drove past the golf course, windshield wipers on full speed, there were three guys , dressed as I was as they had just come off the same exercise as me, teeing off!

I have no doubt many of you will see that as perfectly normal behaviour!
 
Some of the kids are pretty good. I wish I could still play a round say once a week. It's a great game. I played my last two or three games with two grandsons i had taught to play years ago. I had to quit after four or five holes. Oxygen deprived even though I had a tank on the cart. There's a beautiful course around the corner from me. When I could still ride a bicycle I would go to the course and watch them tee off and come in on number 18.
 
I quit when my brother-in-law kept beating me. He lost his right arm as a bombardier in WWII.
His left arm was as big as my leg.
 


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