A Man Walks By Me in the Dark and Asks:

stevemcgee99 · April 30, 2015

"Are you a new player?"

Eventually I figure out he wants to remark about my clubs. I thought he wanted to acknowledge that it was 8pm and the two of us were still on the golf course.

"If you get new clubs, you could hit so much farther!"

...

At least when I said, "I love these clubs", he got it.

Funny thing was, I found a 460cc drive head cover on the course and was carrying it with me back to the clubhouse to leave on the doorstep. I figure they've got a lost and found.

I used it as a puppet cobra head to ward off the ducks lounging on the 12th green. Duck can understand what 'hisss' means.

BIG STU · June 2, 2015

I used to hear it all the time when playing vintage especially when I would give a standard BS story (and I mean real BS not Birly Shirley) about they were my grandfather's clubs. Everyone around here thought I had a screw loose when I re done my VIPs and ditched my custom forged cavity backs. I have made believers in them the last 2 weeks or so though

ScooterMcTavish · June 2, 2015

I just tell people:

"After buying my third set of new irons and third driver in three years and my game didn't get any better, I realized that I was as good as I was going to get for the amount of play and practice I get in. So I decided instead to play clubs that I love the look and feel of, clubs that remind me of what I played when growing up."

Usually after this explanation (and especially with people 45 and up), I get a "Can I try hitting one?" Kind of like watching grown men play Tonkas with small lads in a sand box - we all have a 5-15 year old inside that loves to play with the toys we played with when younger.

HoldenCornfield · June 3, 2015

[quote name='ScooterMcTavish' timestamp='1433280494' post='11677252']
I just tell people:

"After buying my third set of new irons and third driver in three years and my game didn't get any better, I realized that I was as good as I was going to get for the amount of play and practice I get in. So I decided instead to play clubs that I love the look and feel of, clubs that remind me of what I played when growing up."

Usually after this explanation (and especially with people 45 and up), I get a "Can I try hitting one?" Kind of like watching grown men play Tonkas with small lads in a sand box - we all have a 5-15 year old inside that loves to play with the toys we played with when younger.
[/quote]

Perfect!

Kirasdad · June 8, 2015

Yesterday I played a hickory 18 at twilight (thank goodness for late rounds in summer) joined by a dad and daughter. She was on her high school golf team and they were out practicing. She was hitting several balls a hole. This is exactly what I like to do on my causal hickory rounds, no range balls for hickoryites so on the course practice is key to getting ones game in shape. They were nice people and good company. Nothing was said about my gear until about number six or so. The dad comes up next to me and says "so you like persimmon?". I wasn't quite sure what he was getting at exactly. I thought maybe he thought the shafts were persimmon as well as the head of my woods, so I said something noncommittal like, "uh yes, I do". Then he says "you know, you'd probably be able to hit a steel shafted persimmon a little farther." Now I am really confused, is he saying that he wants me to replace my 90 year old technology with 50 year old technology?" Or does he think I am too short of the tee with my spoon/driver and need a few extra yards? I have been playing well lately and I am hitting my tee ball 220 - 225 right down the pipe just about every hole which is ok for a 58 year old hickory player. (Isn't it? I am sensitive to distance as I get older) At a loss for a response (rare for me) I smile, shrug and keep walking. He then says "I have a couple in the garage, you can have them if you want." I laughed out loud and said that's ok I have a few myself.

So...he was either, trying to help me with my game perhaps in a respectful way by suggesting an "improvement" that does not involve anything too new to this goofy guy who plays really old clubs, or he was trying to clean out his garage. Either way, it was amusing, and original.

Wriggles · June 13, 2015

The fellow probably just wanted to clean out his garage. Happens all the time, with me anyhow. Yesterday, my pal and I were having a soda pop after playing. Between us, we have stories that span decades. The waitress joined our conversation about old books. She told us how she had been an English major and loved books. She said she's been collecting books for years. (She's in her thirties.) So, I chime in, that I'll give her a bag of old books next time I see her. She thanks me.

Just a way of getting rid of stuff.

PS : 220-225 with hickory is fantastic. I haven't played any hickory this year, but will top out at about 200, usually 180-190.

TimV · June 13, 2015

"[color=#282828]I have been playing well lately and I am hitting my tee ball 220 - 225 right down the pipe just about every hole which is ok for a 58 year old hickory player. (Isn't it? I am sensitive to distance as I get older)"[/color]

[color=#282828]KD, I'm 56 and I can't hit my graphite shafted 300cc 8 degree driver that far.[/color]
[color=#282828]Sad truth, hope it makes your day anyway.[/color]