The 60 and over Thread
Release
Active member
Time flew by, without realizing. Until I had noticed the change of my golf bag.
Can't remember when I changed the driver from 8 degree loft to 10.5, from 46" X S to 45" S/R. Hybrids creped in to the bag and kicked out the long irons. Found the softer compression golf ball more friendly these days.
I had, never drive over 300 yards in the last 4 decades of my time on the links. I came close to crossing the line when I was much younger. I remember it was with the first generation of the Callaway S2H2 9.5 degree with the Memphis steel shaft on a long par 4 slightly up hill with firm fairway.
Used to pride myself of getting the 2 iron flying to the green 200-210 away and landed softly. Today, some young kids could cover that with a 5 iron easily, although the loft and the length of their 5 iron is similar to my 3 iron back in the 70's.
Have not been on the links for almost 2 years now , yes, I sneaked out to the driving range early in the morning to hit a few balls, but, that was the closest I had been with golf.
Some of my friends were golfing like nothing happened. I just can't take the risk of getting infected and possibly bringing the Virus home to my family.
We can't have all the good things in life. I'm not greedy and certainly don't have the appetite for life like when I was young.
Can't remember when I changed the driver from 8 degree loft to 10.5, from 46" X S to 45" S/R. Hybrids creped in to the bag and kicked out the long irons. Found the softer compression golf ball more friendly these days.
I had, never drive over 300 yards in the last 4 decades of my time on the links. I came close to crossing the line when I was much younger. I remember it was with the first generation of the Callaway S2H2 9.5 degree with the Memphis steel shaft on a long par 4 slightly up hill with firm fairway.
Used to pride myself of getting the 2 iron flying to the green 200-210 away and landed softly. Today, some young kids could cover that with a 5 iron easily, although the loft and the length of their 5 iron is similar to my 3 iron back in the 70's.
Have not been on the links for almost 2 years now , yes, I sneaked out to the driving range early in the morning to hit a few balls, but, that was the closest I had been with golf.
Some of my friends were golfing like nothing happened. I just can't take the risk of getting infected and possibly bringing the Virus home to my family.
We can't have all the good things in life. I'm not greedy and certainly don't have the appetite for life like when I was young.
Fatshot
Well-known member
We played the oldest course in Toledo today.....Ottawa Park Golf Course, designed in 1899 (at the time, it was the first public course
West of the Appalachians). It was remodeled by Art Hills in the 1970's, but still follows the same routing over beautiful rolling, heavily
treed terrain. I shot 36-40-76, but managed to screw up a great round by finishing with two double bogies (including a penalty stroke
on both of those holes!). Can't complain though.....I made nearly EVERY putt I had all day, and made three birdies!
West of the Appalachians). It was remodeled by Art Hills in the 1970's, but still follows the same routing over beautiful rolling, heavily
treed terrain. I shot 36-40-76, but managed to screw up a great round by finishing with two double bogies (including a penalty stroke
on both of those holes!). Can't complain though.....I made nearly EVERY putt I had all day, and made three birdies!
Carolina Golfer
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 11, 2017
- Messages
- 2,603
- Reaction score
- 1,322
- Handicap
- 36
I think you can check in online and if you walk, you're not near too many people and you are outside, maybe take a day off and play during the week? I think golf can be played safe and Covid free.
Release
Active member
In fact, all the public access golf courses requires online booking and payment around here. Pro-shop check in is for the walked-on only.
I do worry of those who don't follow the safety guideline. I tend to stay on the conservative side before the whole thing cleared out of our life. Some of my friends went on like nothing happened, they go out to dine, shop and golf as usual.
I don't want to be the one who brought infection back to my family. It'll be different if, I'm single, of course.
If one understand how virus works and how it spreads. there is no elimination of infection , unless we could do 100% isolation. I can't tell others to walk behind me or to stay at a safe distance or to put on their face masks..... so I stayed away from the links. They have a choice of how they handle the personal safety and I ,too, have a choice of not getting into the situation.
Vaccination does not equal to immunity ! There is very little we know about this new virus, and they say, always be safe than sorry.
I feel safer on the golf course than I do in the grocery store. Our courses opened in May of 2020 and I have been playing regularly since then.
Carolina Golfer
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 11, 2017
- Messages
- 2,603
- Reaction score
- 1,322
- Handicap
- 36
I hear you. Never plan a vacation to Vegas, that is a Covid trap. It's amazing how some people carry on maskless and no concerns. Especially at the Casino hotels.
BostonSal
Well-known member
Last year was a lost season for me.
The covid restrictions were more than I was willing to tolerate so I basically took the year off.
I don't enjoy the golf without the club amenities.
It made me appreciate this season even more. Everybody at the club was inoculated and because of my age, I got in early on the third jab as well.
Yesterday, as a matter of fact.
I'll still be glad, along with everybody else, when we're not thinking about it at all anymore.
Release
Active member
No kidding, we now have 50/50 of facial masks wearing in the public. People still believe vaccination = immunity.
I skipped last season entirely, and one of the reason being hitting the flag stick protruding from the putting surface was not the same as sinking the golf ball into the cup. Somehow, it did not feel "real" for me. Plus, all the green fees are up because of the demand. Golf was one of the few "approved" outdoor recreation last year. I don't blame the golf courses trying to recoup their lost from the year before the last, but, I have a choice of not paying $50-$60 for a municipal golf course, even if that's a 6 + hours of "fun".
It was worse than the first few years of the "Tiger Craze" , so many new golfers who were not ready to get on the regulation golf curse were flooding the public golf courses. They can support the local muni and I can wait. Or to travel a bit farther out for less crowded golf courses.
JPR1959
Well-known member
I played all season and will not let Covid rule my life. If I have to work every day with potential exposure, then why wouldn’t I play golf?
Played 9 holes today, swing was off. Couldn't hit the ball striaght, big bananna ball. Hopefully next week will see a change.
2Bad4u
KABOOM BABY!
Wow a 3 hour lesson... hope there was a lot of putting and chipping included. Beating balls for that long would definitely take its toll on me.
How do you like the thera gun, does it help you in the back area. Wow don't think I could do 1 hour.
Wow a 3 hour lesson... hope there was a lot of putting and chipping included. Beating balls for that long would definitely take its toll on me.
We worked on the low launch, high spinning pitch shot at 30, 40, 50 yards for 1.5 hrs
Then it was drivers and fairway for speed for 1.5 hrs.
My lower back was so tight that I spent Fri night with the theragun and put two Stamina Pro back patches on my lower back, more theragun and stretching and on the roller Fri night and Sat morning.
Theragun is my best friend - use it every day, and is my traveling companion, take it to the course with me when the back is tight. Well worth it. Yes, it does its thing on the back, shoulders, legs, etc.
I do a 3 hr lesson once per month. I like 2 hrs better because you don't feel rushed and you can ask more questions. But the last couple of times has been hitting a lot of drivers for speed. After 2.5 hrs, I'm spent. Sometimes we do a playing lesson. I like to start off with short game technique - high, medium, and low spinning shots, test out new clubs and make sure they fit, maybe test another shaft, long irons, drivers, fairways.
Right now, it's all about picking up speed for half the lesson and seeing what 3 or 4 wood works.
Last edited:
Release
Active member
To stretch your lower back and give temporary relief for the muscles; Lay flat on our back over a firm surface, raise both your knees as close to your chest as you're comfortable doing so. Alternate the knees position after the back loosen up. There are more advanced moves for the back , probably not suitable at this stage.
If it bothers you every time after golf, best to consult a specialist. A set of light stretching and exercise routine might help strengthen your golf muscles to prevent injury.
Thera-gun is great, I have one, and also a heated Shiatsu massage belt , those two are my pal. Use them weekly on top of the exercise routine prescribed from the Spine and Shoulder rehab.
If it bothers you every time after golf, best to consult a specialist. A set of light stretching and exercise routine might help strengthen your golf muscles to prevent injury.
Thera-gun is great, I have one, and also a heated Shiatsu massage belt , those two are my pal. Use them weekly on top of the exercise routine prescribed from the Spine and Shoulder rehab.
Thx. I also go to a licensed masseuse every 3 weeks who worked for an NHL team. He beats me up.
Played 9 holes this morning, started out bad. Then,I quite trying ro kill the ball. And strted hitting my irons and driver. Ended up paring last 3 holes, so it was a good day.
I bought a driver yesterday. Taylormade Sim Max. New. Ventus Blue 6 shaft (60g - R flex). I spent about 90 mins in the launch bay testing drivers. I wanted the Cobra SZ Extreme because it was $100 less, but.... I kept going back to the Taylormade and I had a hatred for TM drivers. So this driver won on merit. And the sales rep had to bring in the Sim 2 Max just because it cost more than the others and would bring a bigger commission. But I'm telling you. hitting driver for 90 minutes is hard. It's a workout... something I needed. My swing speed dropped from a three yrs ago 90-94 to 87-91. 86 at the very end of the testing. Still I was getting 222 carry with the drivers. Sometimes 230 carry - offline, but 230. Then straightened it out and hit a few 225 carry which at 90 mph isn't bad - it's my AoA which is way up and I get low spin out of it. I could almost go with a 9 degree driver but I'm afraid my spin numbers would drop like a rock.
Somehow for a soon to be 69 yr old (one week), I still retain a lot of flexibility. And I'm fat and out of shape. This was like a gym workout. I know this is probably the way to keep my swing speed up at my age. Go to the driving range over the winter and bang driver for about 40 balls, hit 20 mid irons, and 25 wedges. That should get me through. Maybe even gain back some speed. Unlikely, but who knows? I do know I can still hit the ball a decent distance. Into the woods, but a decent distance.
I've also learned this year that hitting a 3W off the tee is every bit as difficult as hitting a driver off the tee: you may not block it as bad but there's a greater chance of topping it or hitting a hooky toe shot.
And for LOLs.... According to the GC Quad I hit my longest drive ever yesterday. Look out DeChambeau. I'll post the photo, but to make it easier to read here's the stats:
Carry Distance: 382 yds
Total Distance: 417 yds
Ball Speed: 118 mph
Club Speed: 86 mph
Efficiency: 1.38
Launch Angle: 2.1 degrees up
Angle of Attack: 8.2 degrees up
Club path: 8.8 degrees I-O
Push-Pull: 2.3 degrees R
Backspin: 0
Sidespin: 0
Offline: 16.7 yds R
This is not internet driving distance. The GC Quad said so. I should play the tips. I this this shot straight off the hosel of the demo club thus proving once again my shanks are world class. The only place this could happen is on the moon. The software glitched and the next couple shots were way off and they had to reset the machine. But this evidence will live in infamy. Long drive championship, here I come.
Somehow for a soon to be 69 yr old (one week), I still retain a lot of flexibility. And I'm fat and out of shape. This was like a gym workout. I know this is probably the way to keep my swing speed up at my age. Go to the driving range over the winter and bang driver for about 40 balls, hit 20 mid irons, and 25 wedges. That should get me through. Maybe even gain back some speed. Unlikely, but who knows? I do know I can still hit the ball a decent distance. Into the woods, but a decent distance.
I've also learned this year that hitting a 3W off the tee is every bit as difficult as hitting a driver off the tee: you may not block it as bad but there's a greater chance of topping it or hitting a hooky toe shot.
And for LOLs.... According to the GC Quad I hit my longest drive ever yesterday. Look out DeChambeau. I'll post the photo, but to make it easier to read here's the stats:
Carry Distance: 382 yds
Total Distance: 417 yds
Ball Speed: 118 mph
Club Speed: 86 mph
Efficiency: 1.38
Launch Angle: 2.1 degrees up
Angle of Attack: 8.2 degrees up
Club path: 8.8 degrees I-O
Push-Pull: 2.3 degrees R
Backspin: 0
Sidespin: 0
Offline: 16.7 yds R
This is not internet driving distance. The GC Quad said so. I should play the tips. I this this shot straight off the hosel of the demo club thus proving once again my shanks are world class. The only place this could happen is on the moon. The software glitched and the next couple shots were way off and they had to reset the machine. But this evidence will live in infamy. Long drive championship, here I come.
uitar99
Well-known member
Many years ago, a chiropractic friend of mine told me the reason my lower back was regularly aching was because my back muscles were to tight versus the front stomach muscles which were the opposing muscle group. Years of bad posture, years in front of a computer screen, years of the driving posture from commuting, 15 years of riding a road bike with a racing club.. He suggested crunches, which I did, but I'd end up trying to hard and over doing it, hurting my lower back, then I'd stop.
A few years ago, I was reading in this forum about doing pushups every day. For some reason that turned into push ups and planks. Since then, lower back pain is almost non existent. Don't know why, don't care really. Probably has something to do with the front and the back getting stronger, together.
Been able to get up to a two minute plank once a day and occasionally a few extra 30 second planks waiting for the next deal to load on the PC. lol added a bit of stretching and ball free slo motion swings every day. Don't think about lower back much anymore but rarely miss the planks, stretching and swinging.
I recently started doing pushups and planks every day myself. And it is helping. Only a 1 minute plank in the evening and one set of pushups in the morning. With resistance band work throughout the day.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Played 9 this morning, windy and a little cool. shot 8 over, not bad not good. Still need to improve ball striking, it's a work in progress.
We are in the midst of a Nor'easter. Winds gusted to over 70 mph last night...over 90 mph on Martha's Vineyard. Right now they are in the mid-40's. The storm is supposed to die down around 8:00 pm. The yard is littered with branches, large and small. Needless to say, I didn't make my tee time this morning, lol.
Not trying to rub it in (much), but it's 81 degrees out right now and it's almost 5PM here. I wish I could have been out on the course today.