36 Hole Days.....Am I getting old :)

[BG5]

Gents,

 

I am 36 years old, workout 3-4 times a week and was a solid athlete in my younger years. I used to blow through 36 holes no problem but I have noticed this year that after 18 holes I am a bit fatigued and by the time I wrap up 36 holes I am flat out exhausted with the last 9 holes just swinging and hoping for the best. Last weekend my buddies and I traveled to treetops in Gaylord MI and played 45 holes the first day and 36 holes the next. We are all starting to feel that this is getting more difficult each year we play.

 

Somebody suggested to play an early morning round and then come back to cabin and nap or relax and then go out in late evening as a way to help with fatigue. We might try this later this year.

 

But in short it appears we all can still play 36 holes but it is becoming less enjoyable unless we scamble or play teams that last round. We might be more of an 18 hole group from now on.

 

 

 

 

So the big question.....at what age did 36 holes become to much????? I see the light at the end of the tunnel and although I can still do 36 holes its just alot less enjoyable as it used to be and it takes me a few days to recover. Am I getting old :)??????

[jewofgolf]

36 walking has always been tough for me and I'm 30. 36 riding shouldn't really be an issue for someone in good health. I'm not a doctor, but I think when you notice something like this it's worth evaluating your diet. As we age we can handle less and less bad stuff. I remember the kind of crap I would eat at 20 and I could double bag for 18 caddying and would be "ok". If I eat like that now I'm laid up on the couch for a few hours.

[SixtySomePing]

Seriously? I'm 66, I take a several vacation days here and there during the summer to play 36 holes each time I do, interrupted by a quick lunch but that's about it. Just a few years ago I played 54 in one day and it was no problem. If you're 36 and saying things like 'in my younger years' I would be thinking about things like making out my will.... I have a friend that's 82 who plays 18 holes 3 times a week..

 

I'll answer a couple of your questions though, 36 holes has become too much for you at 36.. Yes you are getting old..

 

BTW, I bought a new guitar last summer, just sayin' (I'm not getting old)

[Sean2]

Well, according to Matt Kucher if you had a pair of Sketcher golf shoes you could play 36 AND go dancing afterwards.

[NJpatbee]

I started playing golf at age 40 but use a cart unless I am playing an executive course. In my mid-forties traveling for business and having an entire Sunday I would play 54 holes whenever I could. At 65 I rarely play more than 18, but not because of exhaustion. I am still working and on a day off I do not want to rush anything, including a good breakfast with my wife, probably at a diner. I then travel to the course and spend an hour or more at the range and practice area. I will take the time to get a light lunch to go at the grill and tee off at noon or so. By 3:30 I am back at the clubhouse and usually off the course grounds by 4 PM. Short drive home, shower, and in my usual spot on the deck in time for cocktails at 5. Age gave me a different perspective on a good day of (with) golf.

 

I could physically play 36+ holes riding in a day but prefer no more than 27 and a good relaxing lunch.

[hacker49]

I've never played 36 holes in one day. That would be too much golf for me. I know saying that is not very WRXish of me and may get me banned for life. Everyone is different. My father is almost 80 and can walk 9 holes. The day he plays 9 in the morning and 9 in the afternoon his late game suffers.

 

I used to study martial arts. I noticed when I was about 30 I was no longer able to work my landscape job all day and do back to back classes three times a week. That is when I knew I had reached my physical peak. Of course I was never very physical or athletic so many other people will peak much later. Our instructor always told us of a Master who at 80+ still did 1000 pushups a day.

 

Just do what you can do. If you can't do 36 holes in a day so what. You just stretch it over two. 8 hours of the same activity would get to me regardless of if it was physical or not.

[HatsForBats]

I'm a bit older, have a bad back and not in the best of shape. A few times during the summer I will play 36 on Saturday and then 18 on Sunday. However, I pick and choose the times I do that by how I feel rather than by planning a trip on a future date. If you and the guys are finding it less enjoyable then maybe drop it down to 27? Morning, nap then late afternoon sounds like a decent plan as well.

[raynorfan1]

Really depends how much you play.

 

I walk and carry 27 almost every morning in the summer (tee off around 5:30, finish just after 9:00), and by mid-season, adding another 9 (or 18) is no big deal. But the first week or so every year is a bit of a grind...

[J13]

Doesn't have anything to do with age it has everything to do with not enjoying being on a golf course for 10hrs. I could physically play 36 but honestly don't care to because I have other things in my life that I enjoy. I'm 36 as well and my perfect day is practicing for 30-45min then play 9-18 depending on how much time I have. And btw by doing that I'm better then I've ever been including when I played in school.

[rcain1us]

I'm closing in on 49, have MS and walked and carried 36 hole a couple of weeks ago.

 

Granted, it wasn't too hot and I am a member on a fairly flat course.

[Argonne69]

How many strokes are you taking per round? Practice strokes? Bucket of balls on the range before each round? One could take a full swing anywhere from 70 to 300 times depending on the answers.

 

In 2016 I played 36 rounds on 36 hole days, or roughly 1/3 of my total rounds for the year. I'm in my mid 50's, easily 50 lbs overweight, with bad knees, a bad lower back, and could only be considered "in shape" if round is considered a shape. On days when I'm playing two I generally will use an electric cart. I have a light breakfast, and skip the range. I do not take a practice swing on the vast majority of my full swings. I try to have at least an hour between rounds, but have managed with as little as 15 minutes.

[Ferguson]

Gents,

 

I am 36 years old, workout 3-4 times a week and was a solid athlete in my younger years. I used to blow through 36 holes no problem but I have noticed this year that after 18 holes I am a bit fatigued and by the time I wrap up 36 holes I am flat out exhausted with the last 9 holes just swinging and hoping for the best. Last weekend my buddies and I traveled to treetops in Gaylord MI and played 45 holes the first day and 36 holes the next. We are all starting to feel that this is getting more difficult each year we play.

 

Somebody suggested to play an early morning round and then come back to cabin and nap or relax and then go out in late evening as a way to help with fatigue. We might try this later this year.

 

But in short it appears we all can still play 36 holes but it is becoming less enjoyable unless we scamble or play teams that last round. We might be more of an 18 hole group from now on.

 

 

 

 

So the big question.....at what age did 36 holes become to much????? I see the light at the end of the tunnel and although I can still do 36 holes its just alot less enjoyable as it used to be and it takes me a few days to recover. Am I getting old :)??????

 

 

Stay hydrated and keep food going in on steady basis. Flat insulin - less fatigue. When playing 36, I eat 6 small meals and drink a boatload of water.

[Matchplay10033]

I'm 36 as well... are you sure it's not mental fatigue? I played 36 on a golf trip and my 2nd 18 was brutal... shot 75 first round and an 87 the second round... I was exhausted L.. I thought the same thing until I came back and me and my buddy played 45 holes and I felt good enough to go to the gym afterwards. The difference was the 45 holes were playing good, fun golf and the 36 on the trip was 18 of struggling.

[golfgirlrobin]

My 69 year old husband, who had major surgery in March and just got home from playing 36, says you might want to look into joining a local mall walking group.

[cbbaron]

50 years old go to the gym 5 days a week including 2 mile runs on track. Play 36 all the time a key is mental focus. Go to Arizona where Ill play 36 seven days in a row hits you when your all done and sit on the plane going home lol.

[Frohlich]

I am 45 and on golf trips we usually rotate 36 one day and 18 the next. Playing 4 to 5 days straight of 36 holes is too much for me...it was not too much 10 years ago. Temperature also has a impact for me. Playing 36 holes on hot summer days when its 90+ degrees is brutal. Couple years ago we went to Destin in June and it was 80 degrees at 8 AM when we teed off and over 90 by the time we finished the round. Playing 36 did not sound fun that week so we played two morning rounds of 18 spread apart. Playing 36 on a 70 degree day is not a problem. Keep in mind I am riding in golf cart and do not walk.

[pbr2121]

Good timing this thread. Buddies trip to AZ has always been 18,36,36,18 and home. This last year though I think we all left hating golf a bit. My brother would sit out the second round, hit the spa and enjoy himself while the rest of us soldiered on. Pretty smart.

[Loki]

Can't play 36 at 36 yo? LOL.

 

Typically the last 9 of the 36 is my best. I'm 50.

[cbbaron]

Can't play 36 at 36 yo? LOL.

 

Typically the last 9 of the 36 is my best. I'm 50.

Thats a good point usually I play better second round

[SadTrombone]

I used to "play my way into shape". In the spring I'd start out playing 9 holes, walking, every day after school. About two weeks after (so we'd be into March by now because I was insane and I'd go out playing as soon as snow melted in February) I'd go to 18 holes when daylight allowed. Then 36 pretty much on weekends (18 in morning - range balls - 18 in evening) and by the summer I could go 36 holes 4-5 days in a row without really feeling it.

 

It's amazing how I spend more time in the gym now, but am in worse "golfing shape", if you will.

 

Maybe there's something to this "play my way into shape" stuff...

[aliikane]

I am in good physical shape and mountain bike and run regularly. Been playing golf all my life but the last few years golf has just been tearing up my body. Lots of injuries and pain. Back, shoulder and elbow issues. I can't play two days in a row. I have been stretching a lot more and seen some improvement but still can't play a lot. Two weeks ago I was playing well and pain free. This last week was in lots of pain and my golf was a train wreck. I know how Tiger feels. Haha.

[rcain1us]

 

Stay hydrated and keep food going in on steady basis. Flat insulin - less fatigue. When playing 36, I eat 6 small meals and drink a boatload of water.

 

This ^^^^^

 

I mix coconut water with water and ice.

 

Better for you than any sports drink with less calories.

 

Save the beer for round two

[Argonne69]

OK, honest question, OP. How much alcohol is consumed during the 36 holes? As many have pointed out, dehydration can make 36 holes feel like a marathon.

[cardoustie]

I am 50 this year. Awful back (surgeries etc). Haven't done 36 hole days in 13 years (since my disk herniations)

 

In fact 18 a day for five days in a row is now a chore. It's hard to be excited about playing when you are half broken down. Golf is just not as exciting for me ALL THE TIME

 

I suggested to one friend we fish on day 3 or something to break it up for future guys getaways

 

At my home club all summer we play Wed-Fri-Sun to space a day out btw rounds ... and we don't love Sunday am. Mornings suck

 

Afternoons on Wed and Friday are WAY better for us .. Our group of 20 runs in age from 42-68 fwiw

[cwglum]

Stopped going on a trip 4yrs ago that was an 18-36-36, which put me at age 39. We all started the trip in our mid-20s, all barely out of college and would find the best rates for as much golf as we could possibly fit into a weekend. Cheapest rooms possible. We upgraded our accommodations as time went on but never revisited the format.

 

The last year I went was absolutely the last year I could do it, back doesn't hold up for that kind of weekend any more. Mentally bored as well. Too much of a good thing doesn't always work.

[Darth Putter]

I have never played more than 18 holes in a day in the forty years I've played this game.

 

Honestly, I just hate being outside.

[Loki]

Wonder why someone that hates being outside would play an outdoor sport.

[tiger1873]

Do you have steel or graphite shafts? I started to get sore lately after 18 but changed to graphite and now it is no problem.

 

The other issue is the weather. Here in Texas it is hard to do more then 18 in the summer when it 100 degrees outside. We also can get a lot wind and sun and it all takes a toll on you. i do not know too many people around here that will do 36 in a day but we can play year round so still get a lot rounds in.

 

 

[elwhippy]

Playing 36 tomorrow but afternoon round is foursomes....took Monday off to recover. I am not unfit but being desk bound at work wreaks havoc on your flexibility...ouch.

[DivinDave]

Im 59. I played 36 last Sunday and played 36 today without a problem. During springtime I always play at least 27 as a minimum. When summer comes to Texas and it's 95 by 10:00 a.m. I'll barely be able to make 18.