How to Embrace Life as a Senior Golfer

I have been a senior golfer for a number of years now - initially when I was still working full-time. But as somebody who is now a person of leisure, I have now become a full-time senior golfer. I am officially an Old Git.

Many of you will either also be fellow seniors or will be looking forward to the day when you hit 55 and become eligible. Or to the time when you walk away from work for the very last time.

So, how do you embrace life as a señor golfer?

There are some things you need to take on board.

Popularity Stakes

Let’s start with the fact that you will now be one of those people whom regular club golfers (those who still have to go out to earn a living) look down their noses at. They will resent the fact that you can pick and choose when you want to play. They will hate the fact that you play three or four times a week and yet pay the same as they do. Oh, and they will detest the fact that instead of having a pint or two when you are finished, you and your group sit down with a coffee.

Pace of Play

If you have been used to completing 18 holes of golf in around three hours then you had better get used to the fact that if you are playing with fellow seniors then five-hour rounds will become a matter of routine.

Search Party

Many seniors are, erm, careful with their money. And that means there is absolutely no chance that they will only take three minutes to look for that brand new Titleist Pro V1x. They will be searching for it for at least 10 minutes.

Provisionals

Seniors are extremely reluctant to play provisional tee-shots. If they hit a drive into the rubbish you will usually hear something along the lines of: "Oh, we will find that easily." They then take 10 minutes searching for it before finally accepting that they have to trudge back to the tee and hit another drive.

Playing by The Rules

Many seniors don’t know the rules of golf. Or, rather, they refuse to play by them. Instead of playing three off the tee, they will drop a ball in the fairway, finish the hole and tell you with a straight face: "That was a four."

Value For Money

Don’t knock it. If you are a senior golfer who plays three or four times a week you should fully appreciate that you are getting incredible value for money from your annual subscriptions. There will be some who may resent it but you should love it, love it, love it!

Senior Sections

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Most golf clubs have active senior sections. The one at my club is astonishing. We have more than 100 members who play in competitions every Tuesday. We also have roll-ups on other days of the week and away breaks to venues such as Belton Woods. And if you join a senior section the chances are high that you are going to make new friends for life - I know that I have.

Away Days

If you are an active member of a senior section the chances are that you will be able to represent your golf club in a series of home and away matches. It means you get to visit other courses, play competitively, have coffee on arrival and a meal at the end - all for absolute peanuts!

Weather

When you work all week and have a tee-time booked for the weekend, it is like the end of the world if the rain is tipping down, the wind is blowing a gale or the course is closed because of flooding, snow, etc. If you are a senior, you wake up, take a look at the weather, shrug your shoulders and go back to bed, knowing that you can try again tomorrow.

Tight Fit

Prepare for the fact that some of your fellow seniors might be, ahem, careful with their money. So make sure you always have a means of paying for drinks at the bar - or a way of making a quick escape.

Handicaps

You will be playing more golf. That means you will be submitting more cards. And it follows that, maybe for the first time in your golfing life, you are going to have a handicap that accurately reflects your playing standard - and that can only be a good thing. 

However, be prepared for the fact that some of your fellow seniors just might bend the rules a little. The Thursday roll-up group of which I am a member stipulated that all cards are submitted - not everybody is quite as fastidious. You have been warned!

If you are a low handicap golfer and decide that you want to play in singles and pairs knockout competitions, prepare for the fact that some seniors will have very high handicaps. You could be giving away a LOT of shots.

Injury Time

You are a senior. Your body is not what it once was. You are going to suffer from aches and pains. You may even need the odd new hip or knee. Be prepared for injury breaks. Sadly, it’s part and parcel of being a senior golfer!

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