Murv

My son and my son-in-law and Arnold Palmer when he was about 70-75 years of age.

So. Dunes was very difficult. Everything was a carry over sand. I played it from too dark back though. The Raven is not a desert course but is beautiful and just a super course. Make your tee times as soon as possible since the good tee times fill up fast.

I am 79. And I play with an 85 year old and an 81 year old and we all walk. Out of 12 retirees 9 of us walk. Several have electric walk behind carts the rest regular carts. When it is hot and humid we sometimes walk nine and ride nine. We don't walk real fast...we pace ourselves. We average 4 hour rounds. Golf is a better game walking.

Wish everybody got there 30 minutes early. I manage a group of 8 to 13 guys on Monday and Thursday. They tell me via email what days they will play and I make up groups. I try to get a little variety on who plays with who while knowing who likes to play together. Some get there 45 minutes ahead some 5. And then you have the issue of the league ahead of us not using all their tee times and we can get off early. Somebody used the term " herding cats " earlier. I've got to the point where I lie to them about what our tee times are.

Well, you may not like this....but, you are going to have to give him strokes. Example: his 7,000 yard course probably has a course rating of about 73. Your 6400 yard course has a course rating of 70. Your handicapped adgusted score is 80 and his is 83. So you have to give him 3. Now if you are going to play the same tees it works the other way he has to adjust his handicap down to your course rating if you play your tees. And if you both play at 7000 you get adjusted up to about 13.

Cut line at +4 Highest score 85

For the old timers my advice is to go to woods. Last year I added a 7 wood and then a 9 wood to my bag. Easier to hit and get some elevation.

I used the intro model, no remote Control, for about 20 rounds early in 22. The standard battery. Worked fine. Had to carry the heavier battery into the house to charge after each round. This was a loaner to me. I owned a remote Control Kangaroo for years and the very heavy three components plus the battery became tough on my back. This year I purchased an MGI X1. Non remote, but lithium battery. It is a cinch to unload at 22 lbs. Battery is 5 lbs. Used it for about 7 rounds so far this year and love it. $639 through Amazon.

I always play my best golf after a layoff. Because I try to keep it in play. Aim for center of greens. Take extra club and swing smoothly. As soon as I think I am swinging well...I try to hit the ball over bunkers to the pin...hook it around doglegs...and so on and my scores go up. If I only played once every three weeks instead twice a week, my handicap would be lower.

I use an electric walk behind golf cart. So a little weight doesn't bother me. The vast number of "cart" bags are designed for riding...not walking carts. Small staff bags work much better.

I rotate gloves during the round. Due to my hands perspiring. Number of gloves depends on heat and humidity. Usually 2-4. I use Kirkland gloves and go through 8-12 per year for between 45-70 rounds per year. I keep the ones I am using on a velcro strip on my bag and push cart. No feeling like new fresh golf gloves. So I dispose of them as soon as they get a little slick. Keep some older ones for the range.

I built a 7 wood a couple of years ago and all it did was go high. Last year I noticed my hybrids were not getting up. So I tried the 7 again. Magically it was great. I'm even trying a 9 wood this year. By the way I'm 79 and fighting club head speed loss.

Inside 40 yards I'm certainly feel since I may use a 58, 54, or 49 or even pw. But I still shoot it because I want to know that it's 40 and not 50 or 55. I always shoot everything inside 120 since I want to try to get it close. But outside of 150 I can use GPS just as well. One time I was playing an uphill hole where the flag was mostly hidden. Standing right beside a yardage marker I took to be 100. Turned out it was 150.

Shooting my age is also my goal. Accomplished it first at age 73. It was easiest at age 76. I will be 79 for the next season. Working hard to actually gain distance and have consistent ball striking. As long as my short game holds up, this should be a good year. Maintaining focus for 18 holes is another goal.

I have one room in my house where I can swing a club. No hitting balls. There is a facility in town where I can hit balls for $10 and have about 20 yards of flight...no simulator. Or they have a nice simulator for $30 per hour. I think I will alternate using both every two weeks until April. The simulator is usually used by several guys at a time playing "a round" and splitting the cost for a couple of hours.

I've had a 7 wood for a couple of years. Gave it a short trial and set it aside for 2 years. Tried it again this fall and loved it. Now I'm looking for a 9 wood. I'm aging so fast I'm replacing hybrids with iron shafts to high lofted- long shafted fairways.

Many years ago I took a size 10 1/2 or 11 in all types of shoes. When I retired almost 17 years ago I began to play more golf and walked my rounds. I began to notice discomfort in my toes in a couple of years. And moved up to 11 1/2. Now I am up to a 12. As we age, our arches break down and our feet actually get bigger. It becomes most apparent in activities where we walk alot. Like golf. Just chalk it up to aging.

The key for me is you saying " I just hit it and try to have a repeating motion". If a putter fitting changed your approach and got you "thinking" about your stroke, I don't see how it could possibly help. To nw, you seem to be in a great place. Murv

Oh, so true! I'm 78. Just went to double digit handicap last year. Finally moved up to red tees on 4 par fours that I had trouble reaching and greatly increased my enjoyment.

Where do we see where we finished?

Lee Trevino...."You can talk to a fade, but a hook will never listen."

I also have a Kangaroo. Bought it second hand at a bargain. Full remote. Thing is indestructible. Have friends with units 30 years old. But I have to break mine down and haul it back and forth. The weight is wearing on me. Would switch to a different newer, lighter unit but at my age I will be riding before long.

I have gone through a variety of motivations in my life. I played high-school golf and wanted to qualify for the state tournament. After that I played in a few tournaments a year and wanted to play well. Even later I played only business golf scrambles and usually played the "A" spot. My teammates depended on me. Later it became a way to compete with myself. This has become the most rewarding era. Now at age 78, for sometime now it has been a way of competing with aging. A losing proposition. But I have shot my age several times a year since age 73 and that is my goal for each round. But you need to keep moving to shorter yardages.

I hate the Callaway script. Always have. Disliked it on the original Big Bertha and it has stayed with me. I think it has something to do with all of the knockoffs of Callaway drivers that came out with similar script. I have never used a Callaway product although I do use Odyssey putters.

You need to find a "Staff Bag". But not a giant one. The staff bags get the pockets on the outside with the irons hanging correctly. I ended up finding a gently used one at a good price. They don't seem to be making these bags anymore.