Like it or not, I guess that I could now be regarded as a veteran golfer. I still play the game to a reasonable standard and, like almost everybody who picks up a club, I am always looking for ways to improve.
The reality, however, is that golf changes as you get older. Some things become more difficult, others become surprisingly easier, and you soon learn that trying to play the game exactly as you did in your 20s or 30s is a battle you simply won't win.
But that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy some of your best golf.
Here are some of the biggest lessons I have learned about playing golf in my 70s.
Distance
No matter who you are, no matter how fit you are and no matter how good you have been, the first thing you have to accept as you get older is that you are not going to hit the ball as far as you did in your 20s and 30s. It’s a fact of life. Short par fours that I could once drive are now out of reach. Hitting par fives in two blows is now beyond me. When I face long carries over water I now have to ask myself if I am still physically capable of pulling it off.
Accuracy
It needn't all be bad news. As you get older your swing speed will slow down. Speaking from personal experience, I can say that, without the slightest shadow of a doubt, I now hit more fairways than I ever did in my prime. And it is a fact that this is an easier game when it is played from the fairway.
Strategy
My strategic approach to the game has both changed and improved. Because I am now more aware of my physical capabilities there are shots that I simply will not consider taking on. As a result, I have largely eliminated card-wrecking scores. There are holes where I accept that a bogey is absolutely fine - and you never know, you just might hole a decent putt to save par.
Short Game
Unbelievably, my short game has improved. Part of the reason for this is that I now play more golf (three times a week) than I did when I was in full-time employment (once a week if I was lucky). So you get more feel for shots on and around the greens. I was also custom-fitted for a putter and, lo and behold, my putting has improved out of sight.
Practice
I now have the time to practice properly, something I could never really do when I was working. And, as they say, practice makes perfect. I use a driving range equipped with Trackman technology and that means I know how far I hit every club in the bag. I am no longer obsessed with distance. I hit my driver around 200 yards and am comfortable with that.
Game Time
One of the biggest advantages of life as a senior golfer is that you have more time to play. And if you are rained off, no problem - you can play tomorrow instead.
Social Scene
As a seasoned golfer one of the joys for me is that much of my golf is social, played without a scorecard in my hand. I play competitively every Tuesday and that is enough for me. The rest of my time on the golf course is about having fun in the company of like-minded people.
Equipment
I am not proud. My clubs are fitted with senior shafts and that helps me get the most from my game. I have also added a seven wood to my bag - in my prime I would never have considered buying such a club but it is incredibly easy to hit, it launches the ball high and that means that when the ball hits the green I know it is going to stop.
Ailments
You know that you are a senior golfer when the post-game conversation centres almost entirely around knee and hip replacements, aching backs, arthritis and hospital waiting lists!
The Verdict
Getting older inevitably changes the way you play golf, but it doesn't have to diminish your enjoyment of the game. You learn to accept a little less distance, rely more on experience and course management, and celebrate the good shots just as much as you ever did.
If anything, golf in your 70s teaches you to appreciate the game for what it really is. The score still matters, of course, but so do the friendships, the fresh air and simply being able to get out on the course.
And if the conversation afterwards turns to aching joints instead of birdies? Well, that's all part of being a veteran golfer.
