Why Seniors Quit Golf

Some people think seniors quit because they are getting old and the old legs wont carry them anymore.
Nope. They quit because they are forced to play 6400 yards with a handicap in the 30's and 40's and that is not enjoyable. Go overseas and you can play 4800 yards par 72 and enjoy your golf. Why can't we do that here?

[ianburton]

Until I played a team competition away from home course a few weeks ago I was seriously giving up on golf. When I arrived at the tee with my 83 year old opponent, he suggested we play from the forward tees. That took off 900 yards from the course that was full of dogleg holes. All of a sudden I was playing hybrids and irons from the tee and reaching or very near the greens in regulation. So instead of my usual +25 over par I went round in +13 (like the best handicap I had 17 years ago).

A friend at my home course already has on his federation card a recommendation to use the forward tees. From now on I'll be playing the forward tees with a reasonable chance of reaching many greens (not all) in regulation. I'm 78 years old and play in SW France. I agree wholeheartedly with your position and all the courses in this region now offer exactly what you described - a reasonable chance for super seniors to continue playing a rewarding round of golf.

[seancoxe]

Greetings from Tucson, AZ, Simon, and welcome to my (golfing) world. I'm 76 years old now. My average tee shots are @ 182 yds. i rarely get more than two greens in regulation per side. When I turned 70, I just quit the Mens' Club at Fred Enke G.C. because i could no longer compete from the white tees that everyone had to use in competition. I stopped carrying a handicap about the same time. I play from the forward tees now, and usually can shoot in the mid to high 80s. (My wife and I will often go out and play nine, and in a couple's scramble, we can often shoot in the high 30s for the nine.) I guess what I'm saying is that you reach an age where you play a game different than the one you played in your youth. You don't chase a handicap. You're not trying to beat other golfers. You're probably playing courses you've played hundreds of rounds on over dozens of years--old friends. You work on a short game to make up for your lack of GIRs. You know that, as bad as it's gotten, it's only going to get worse, so you savor every round, even the bad ones. I miss competing, and I try not to be that old guy who is constantly telling his younger companions how far he used to hit it. But I still look forward to my rounds, even if they're more often 9 than 18 holes.

[larrysheedy]

Completely agree. I play in western New England n New York.
63 y/o n moved up from white to yellows n sometimes the reds.
Shot 43 over 9 recently n had a good time.

[billbyrnes]

OMP, OMP!!

Golfmates, OMP, y'all know him. Short and stright, AND consi.

And a great putter.

If my eyes hold up, I hope to be playing when I'm eighty, like the two out of three I play with now.

I will be seventy this Dec., living in NE Ohio, and hope to be swinging a club in ten years somewhat like I am now.

[ericcooper]

As an 80 year old golfer, I would say it's a pity that the English golf union doesn't do more to encourage clubs to follow this excellent thinking from this man
Golf should be enjoyed by all

[robertwatson]

G’Day Simon
Move to Australia as my course we have 5 tee’s
Blue medal day
White regular comp day’s
Yellow guest’s
Red Ladies tee
Purple for players who struggle with above tees

Both men women can play competition from any of the tees mentioned and have there handicap revised accordingly
Robert 👍🏻🇦🇺

[janheckman]

I found this a very interesting argument. I'm 82 and living in Germany. I'm still playing from the yellow tees. Next week, I want to try to play from the blue tees in my golfclub! Thanks for the encouragement!

[mikebiase]

One of the best golf videos I've seen ! I'm sick of playing long courses against my younger brother is 59 & I'm 72

[crowdpusher]

Not been playing for a while first golf video I've seen for a while, good quality as usual. Remember golfers have a handicap so if your 18 for example your first shot is free; which means on any given hole you are playing your first shot from where your drive lies. It's great playing a texas scramble with players with lower skill level, when they get to hit from where my drive is they say "wow, how easy is this!". It takes a great deal of time and effort to able to strike the golf ball properly, as scottie sheffler said " Most golfers don't know the mechanics involved to play golf properly so just muddle through with no confidence".

[emmettmcnamee]

What an excellent video, sums up exactly how I'm feeling. I'm 64 now and struggling off 6. Have not been in contention in comps for almost 2 years, my handicap is only going in one direction - up and up, my interest and motivation going down and down, thinking I may give it another year then take up domino's.
However, like your idea of playing off red tees, may put it forward to like minded elders at my club

[alangoudie]

EXCELLENT, COMMON SENSE VIDEO.
WHEN I TAUGHT IN PRIMARY THE FOOTBALL PITCHES & GOALPOSTS WERE REDUCED TO SUIT YOUNG CHILDREN.
I AM 81 YEARS OLD & WANT TO ENJOY PLAYING GOLF FROM TEES SUITABLE FOR GOLFERS WHO NO LONGER HIT THE BALL LONG DISTANCES.
I WANT TO ENJOY GOLF FROM TEES THAT GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY WELL.
IT IS DISHEARTENING TO KNOW BEFORE YOU STRIKE YOUR FIRST DRIVE THAT YOU HAVE NO CHANCE TO SCORE WELL.

[TimC]

I'm 58 y/o and quite enjoy playing from the "senior" tees with the actual senior members (over 60) at my home course. I can shoot around par from these tees. If I move back a set of tees I can still shoot in the mid 70's. Which is ok. But last weekend I played from the back tees and i struggled. It's just too long. I for one can't wait to turn 60 and play from those tees all the time. It's FUN!

[johnstevens]

Thanks for the eye opening video. At may club where the green keeper plays off scratch, us old duffers over 70 are derided. so I cannot see any time soon that your suggestions would be accepted. However, please make representations to the golfing authorities, your suggestions are just what we seniors need.

[erniesteele]

I'll soon be 76... I needed this video to make me feel a little better after this afternoon...I went to the range for a little pre-season warm-up... My best drive was about 165...Average was closer to 150...I think I'm now looking at bogey golf from the gold tees BUT that's the way it is now...Disheartening but I love the game too much to quit just yet...Thanks for putting it in perspective.

[elizaisacatgirl]

I put together a simulator golf practice area in my garage. I am in my 70's and can't walk the big course anymore. The cost to play a round of golf with my younger buddies is nearly $50.00. On the golf simulator l use yardage around 5500-6000 yards. The game is more fun now and you can play a lot of golf in a short time.

[timhautzinger]

They're not "ladies" tees. They are "forward tees" and perfect for us seniors

[jayingram]

I'm nearly eighty and belong to a club where I play the forward teas with my wife who just turned sixty. I spent years playing at a ten or under handicap and taught my wife when she was in her twenties. We have good matches now and she shootss in the low eighties while I'm lucky to stay a few strokes more. But we do match play and have fun. I win maybe one out of four times. She 0utdrrives me by twenty yards at least and has a good short game. We have a lot of fun. But she's the better player now. Loved your vido and opinions. We need all courses to have multiple teas.

[billbutts]

Great video, my club allows players 75 and older to play from the forward tees, a new ruling just implemented last year. It has thoroughly improved the attitude of us older fellows and even gives us some chance in the club events. We do play men’s par. I suggest all clubs do the same.

[dave]

I found on the internet where the length of the course for an individual is based on how far you hit your 5 iron. I'm 74 and was able to calculate at my course that I should play the "forward" tees. But that was a little too short for me, so I move back one set of tees on the par 3s and the total distance is perfect for the length of a course for me. It makes it fair an enjoyable!

[mrmoke]

Yes, yes, yes, you are exactly correct. We have the same problem with golfers and golf courses in the states. We need more tee boxes, shorter options and less stigmatizing about distance.