Shooting your age.. When & how did it happen for you.

[Yuck]

Well, I will be 65 next year and in my younger days, I did shoot a 65 (1980’s) in a tournament.  So it got me thinking.  Lowest score in the last year was 70, and it has been a several years since I was in the 60’s.  I still play relatively far back for my age, so my personal criteria for shooting my age would be 6500+ yards, par 72, CR at least 72.  Odds are very slim that I can do it the next several years but….. If I moved up to the Sr tees, the course rating drops under 67 and all par 5’s are reachable in two with a mid iron and 4 of the par 4s become “drivable”.   (270-300 yards long from St tees).  If I swallowed my pride and played up, I believe I could shoot my age years sooner.  Problem is, does it “count”?    

 

The reality is my skills will continue to deteriorate as I age.  I will be probably be well into my 70’s before I actually do it.  If ever.

[RoverTiger]

I'd say a round of 65 would still count for plenty regardless of which tees you play from. I definitely support trying the senior tees for fun a few times and seeing what happens.

 

And hey, you've got me beat either way! I'm content with shooting my age (43) on nine.

[Nickb333]

Well, in golf everything counts right? 
 

I’m nowhere as good as you but share the goal. I want to shoot my age before I turn 70. White tees at least but I’ll move up if chronic pain develops. 
 

I've only shot my age once. It was a  63 when I was 64. But… the course was a par 60. Small victory for now. Got a long way to go. 

[Yuck]

30 minutes ago, Nickb333 said:

Well, in golf everything counts right? 
 

I’m nowhere as good as you but share the goal. I want to shoot my age before I turn 70. White tees at least but I’ll move up if chronic pain develops. 
 

I've only shot my age once. It was a  63 when I was 64. But… the course was a par 60. Small victory for now. Got a long way to go. 

I did not think of that.  I am sure I could find an executive course if the goal gets too elusive.  BTW, I am not very good either.  It is just my “A” game is worlds better than my B & C games.  I just went on a golf trip and did not have a single round in the 70’s.

[Nickb333]

47 minutes ago, Yuck said:

I did not think of that.  I am sure I could find an executive course if the goal gets too elusive.  BTW, I am not very good either.  It is just my “A” game is worlds better than my B & C games.  I just went on a golf trip and did not have a single round in the 70’s.

👍 

[bobfoster]

Have thought about this a lot lately (as I am now 66 - approaching the place where in the somewhat near future it may become possible).

 

I figure there's a rare window where you hit the intersection between two trendlines moving in opposite directions on a graph: Numerical age increases on a steady upward sloping line (hence making it increasingly easier to hit the number), at the same time as physical abilities inevitably decline on a downward sloping line (making it increasingly harder to hit the number). You only get this when you live it. Despite using the newest clubs and technology (which does compensate a bit) I'm probably already 20 yards shorter off the tee than when I was in my prime. My spine will never again be as flexible. Muscle mass slowly decreases. It takes longer to warm up, and some days my body is stiffer than others. Mysterious aches and pains randomly appear and go away for no apparent reason. (As the old saying goes, some mornings I wake up and wonder whether I've hurt myself, or it's just the way I am now 🤣.)

 

It obviously varies greatly depending upon the person's genetics/lifestyle and their golf game, but I'd think the highest likelihood - top of the bell curve - would be between 74 and 78, with the low end tail being maybe 70 - 72, and the high end being 80 - 82. Only around 2% of golfers (of any age) can legitimately break 70, and while I do know several 80 year olds that still golf (in fact, my father was one of them), shooting 80 would be a rarity - in my experience they can still have a fairly good game, but sheer stamina becomes the real issue. By halfway through the back nine (even riding), they are getting seriously tired - both distance and concentration take a hit. They may start the round hitting pars and bogies, but end with doubles and triples (saw this commonly with my dad). Our bodies have expiration dates. Even if you are in relatively good health for your age, 80 is still old. And old blows. 

 

Just random thoughts. But good, fun topic (for me at least, only because I've been thinking about it - probably isn't even relevant to anyone middle-aged or younger).

[Hawkeye77]

I was playing with my dad when he broke 80 for the first time and shot his age - 79.  My daughter was with us as well and one of Dad's buddies. What a fun day.  It had only been a couple of years before she had slyly managed to get him to start playing up to some appropriate tees when we visited my folks out in Palm Desert in the winter - we were playing a Player course at Mission Hills, I believe, and it had like 5 or so sets of tees and she'd figured out a combo set to play and she told him they'd ride together and play their own tees and I could do what I wanted, lol.  He rediscovered the joy of not having 3 wood into most of the par 4s, lol, and he was sold on playing up (think he had something lowish 80s that day and was pretty excited at what was a really great round for him - and not a hard course for the ones who kept their shots in play, lol).   Hope someday I can do it and am still playing to a good standard - but for now my goal continues to be to break 70, maybe this season . . . . . 

Edited April 10, 2024 by Hawkeye77

[Shilgy]

@Yuck

i haven’t done it yet….just turned 67.  Came within 2 strokes last year from what I call the baby tees…a hair over 6000 and don’t think I could have counted it.  Also a 69 from 6300-might have wanted to count that if 3 strokes lower.  But typically play 6600.

 

I’d like to do it soon from any tee but would prefer the bigger boost from normal tees.

[bobfoster]

[Roejye]

I've done it once, 4 years ago and it was my beat round ever. Granted it's a 9 hole par 34, but I still shot 35. Sometimes I think back to the last hole, where I decided to lag it up for a tap in par instead of trying to hole it out, and I waffle on being okay with it and kicking myself. 

[OnTheBag]

I have accomplished this feat a few times but am old enough and used to be a good enough golfer that the odds were in my favor.  First time was at 67 and did it every year till Spring of 2023.  My health took a turn and now I can barely make it 9 holes before it hurts too much or I am too tired to finish.  

 

It is a great goal for those of us that are on our proverbial back nine of life.

[DArnie]

It absolutely "counts" if you do it from the Senior tees or even Super Senior tees as long as they are your appropriate tees. I send in scores every so often to our State Golf Association for my members and they get into the monthly magazine. Great stuff.

 

Now remembering when I was younger and most courses only having only three sets of tees-Championship, Men's and Ladies, shooting your age was a very difficult task. But even from your appropriate tees it IS a big deal! Congrats are in order.

 

As a teenager, I played with a 72yo who shot 65 from the Championship tees and at that time was the course record. Very impressive! In his younger days , he was a golf hustler who played against the very best names in golf. A lot of stories.

[Yuck]

Maybe I should not care about the length of the course.  As long as the CR is 72ish.  Heck, last week I had to play a 75 CR, and it was windy, so the PCC was +3.  Essentially a par 78 that day.  Had I shot a 71, that would be the Equivalent of a 65 on a CR 72 course.  But alas, I did not even break 80 that day.

[Hickory4ever]

I would be happy shooting my age as long as I am playing the appropriate tees and forget the CR. Enjoy the ride.

[st1800e]

At age 60 I shot 66, which was the age of the oldest guy in the group! 🤣

 

Shot 70 at 70…

 

Looking to do it again this season.  
 

p.s. surprised we haven’t seen the standard “shot your age” joke posted yet.   😉

[MattM97]

I'm 34, only way I'm shooting my age is if I do it on 9 holes, I'd take that honestly. 

[Itsjustagame]

Did it twice last year when I was 75.

[Nickb333]

8 minutes ago, Itsjustagame said:

Did it twice last year when I was 75.

👍👍

[ChaosTheory]

I play in a senior community filled with avid golfers.  Many of these guys have shot their age and some do it often.  Our oldest player just turned 90, and he shoots his age all the time, albeit from the red tees now.  But his drives only go about 135, so those tees are appropriate.   He has shot in the upper 70s during the past year.  

 

I'm 65 and figure I'll have to wait ten years to even sniff it.

[Pepperturbo]

21 hours ago, Yuck said:

The reality is my skills will continue to deteriorate as I age.  I will be probably be well into my 70’s before I actually do it.  If ever.

I can attest to the bold statement.  Now, in my early 70s, still looking to shoot my age.  The best regulation par 72, so far, was 75 from 6400yds.  So close yet so far... 🙄  I've carded lower, even under par on shorter courses but can't seem to swallow my pride enough, so those scores get my attention.

[Nickb333]

From Pulp Fiction.

 

”… f pride”  😀

Edited April 10, 2024 by Nickb333
Dupe

[Ghostwedge]

I don't understand this " it doesn't count if it isn't from the appropriate tee's ) stuff. What kind of golfer are you ? What do you normally shoot? What yardage do you normally play from ? 

If you are a bogey golfer (90) and in a few years can't break 100, why wouldn't you move a set of tee's to get back to 90 ? Same thing for a 80 or 70 player.

If you're a single.digit cap and in 10 years (because of age) start shooting 85-90 are you going to just cash it in from the same tee's ? 

You're a low cap, act like it ! move up a set of tee's you're not getting any younger and life is to short for suck golf. 

[Yuck]

26 minutes ago, Ghostwedge said:

I don't understand this " it doesn't count if it isn't from the appropriate tee's ) stuff. What kind of golfer are you ? What do you normally shoot? What yardage do you normally play from ? 

If you are a bogey golfer (90) and in a few years can't break 100, why wouldn't you move a set of tee's to get back to 90 ? Same thing for a 80 or 70 player.

If you're a single.digit cap and in 10 years (because of age) start shooting 85-90 are you going to just cash it in from the same tee's ? 

You're a low cap, act like it ! move up a set of tee's you're not getting any younger and life is to short for suck golf. 

I normally play 6300-6800 yards.   7000 plus on occasion.  I have lost a lot of speed over the years but still have 155-160 ball speed. So moving up means lots of gap wedges and sand wedges.  I enjoy the game more when I can use most of my clubs.  I walk almost all of my rounds.  (About 150 a year).   As long as I can still reach the 450 par 4’s with an iron, I am comfortable with the tees I play.  State Sr AM events are played at 6400 - 6700 yards in Florida, so my tees in line with the events I participate in.

 

I already have moved up from the yardages I played in my 50’s. I was typically playing at 6900 - 7300 back then.  The “deterioration” of my game as I have aged has been a combination of lost distance, dodgy short pressure putts, horrible death hooks, brain farts and injuries.  I have had quite a few embarrassingly bad rounds the last couple years.  

 

I am not young anymore and I don’t ever expect to be a plus index again.  Heck, I’ll be lucky if I ever get it back to a 1 or 2, but self delusion is powerful.  I have varied from a 3 to 7 index over the last couple years, hence my lack of sub 70 rounds.

 

As someone mentioned earlier, if I follow the graph of my game getting worse overlaid  with my age, 74 or 75 seems like my best chance unless I move up a couple tees or find lightning in a bottle.

[Ghostwedge]

Yuck, my post wasn't meant as personal, just a general thought. Its like the guys that play from the tips and can't break 100, they sit around the clubhouse BS' ing about how they used to be scratch, etc. I say if you used to be scratch why would you want to shoot 50\50 on each nine ? That can't be fun in anyway shape or form. Been a 3-5 cap for years from 63-6500 yds when I'm no longer breaking 80, I'm moving up or at least mix n match the scorecard for my mid-iron into greens shot. Ill shoot 75 at 75 but it'll probably be from 5800 yds. ☺

[Nickb333]

I suppose I consider what constitutes appropriate tees the same as Yuck. I’ve said for many years, if you can’t get to most of the par 4s in 2 with reasonable shots, it’s time to move up. 
 

For clarity, reasonable to me means;

Striped driver + mid iron

Toed driver + long fw

3w + long iron or 7ish wood. 

[bobfoster]

Aging:

 

Edited April 11, 2024 by bobfoster

[jplroper]

   I did it when I turned 40, on a local par 3. Actually shot a bit under my age 🙂 . A friend of mine managed the place and they where trying to break into birthday parties, so I got to be a test pilot.

[dashanks]

I'm gonna have to get a whole lot better or live a really long time.

[Nickb333]

2 hours ago, dashanks said:

I'm gonna have to get a whole lot better or live a really long time.

Well, those are 2 excellent goals IMO. 

[UKGolfer86]

Im 38, so usually after the double on the 8th...

Edited April 16, 2024 by UKGolfer86