Is golf still fun if you can't hit it far?

[4thand11]

A friend of mine who I often golf with is in his early 50s and has been playing for 20+ years. He's a super nice guy, and has no physical limitations, but the ball just goes nowhere when he hits it. He plays from the senior tees and still can't reach most of the Par 3s even with a driver. His drives go about 160. He doesn't even carry irons, he uses an all-hybrid set, right down to the 9-hybrid.

 

I have a policy of not giving advice to other players, but the poor guy can't seem to figure out why he gets no distance. Every time he hits a drive he'll say something like, "hit that one good, thought I'd get more out of it". He has serious flaws in his technique obviously that are beyond me to try and fix. Besides he obviously loves the game and I am not going to try and coach him on the course.

 

But it got me thinking about all the other players I've been paired up with - often seniors and women - who never hit the ball more than 100 yards or so. They play along the ground - the ball just rolls along the fairway 100 yds, they walk up to their ball, and do it again. Another 80-90 yds or so. Ball never really goes in the air very much - they are rolling it down the fairway towards the green.

 

It got me wondering - is this fun? When I am old and cannot swing the club very well, will I find this enjoyable? For me the greatest feeling in golf is the perfectly struck shot. The iron that is hit flush and launches high in the air, or the drive off the sweet spot that lands way down the fairway. I have a hard time seeing what fun it is when you know even your best possible swing isn't going to make the ball go anywhere. I am not trying to look down on anyone (I am no great golfer myself, and I know I'll be old one day too) - just wondering if people still love playing golf when they are essentially bunting the ball down the fairway.

[MadGolfer76]

Haha...golf isn't supposed to be fun.

[theothertwo]

Good question. I am 59 and have been playing for almost 30 years now. I barely drive the ball 200 yards now and can't reach most of the par 4s in my course. However, I have been playing a lot more golf than when I was younger because now my time is more flexible. I still enjoy and love the game, just have to play from the proper tees.

 

I don't think golf will be fun if I'm no longer hitting flush irons, wedge and wood shots given that I know how that feels. So it appears my golfing days are numbered, I will finally know what my backyard looks like on Saturday mornings.

[Fade]

Do they (the low ball hitters) look like they are having fun? If not, why do they keep coming back, e.g. for 20+ years? Ask them, then report back please.

[Medic]

OP, it's not about how far you hit it but how accurately. And if you can putt - watch out.

 

I used to play with a gent who was pushing 80 and he didn't drive the ball but around 150. It was in play every single time, he rarely missed a par 3 GIR, got up and down a lot, and NEVER missed a putt.

 

And he was smiling the whole time we were out there.

 

RIP Jack. Miss ya buddy. Really do.....

[4thand11]

OP, it's not about how far you hit it but how accurately. And if you can putt - watch out.

 

I used to play with a gent who was pushing 80 and he didn't drive the ball but around 150. It was in play every single time, he rarely missed a par 3 GIR, got up and down a lot, and NEVER missed a putt.

 

And he was smiling the whole time we were out there.

 

RIP Jack. Miss ya buddy. Really do.....

 

Great point. Puts it in perspective.

[Maton12]

When I am old and cannot swing the club very well, will I find this enjoyable? For me the greatest feeling in golf is the perfectly struck shot. The iron that is hit flush and launches high in the air, or the drive off the sweet spot that lands way down the fairway. I have a hard time seeing what fun it is when you know even your best possible swing isn't going to make the ball go anywhere. I am not trying to look down on anyone (I am no great golfer myself, and I know I'll be old one day too) - just wondering if people still love playing golf when they are essentially bunting the ball down the fairway.

 

It's different for everyone

 

For me, golf's about playing to the best of your ability, being able to drive 300 each time you step up on the tee is not important, and the handicap system would support that

[95124hacker]

What in the world would I be doing otherwise when I'm in that position. Babysitting the grandkids may get boring day after day. Traveling the world may be tedious and expensive. Maybe going to sporting events but even that will get boring. Being outdoors and playing an actual sport will be enjoyable I imagine.

[MGMiller]

You raise an interesting question.. Not so much about how far but flush for me. A pure shot is a thing to behold, especially for a 10 plus handicap as they are more the exception than the rule. To hit a proper draw to a back tuck left pin is well....awesome! When I can no longer do it at least a few times a round. I might lose interest.

 

Back on topic... I play quite a bit with my 84 year old mother. She can't get more then 100 yards out of a drive but she still loves the game! Just can't get enough of it. She has to hit the ball 2 to 4 times to my one shot...it does not phase her a bit, and with her handicap be careful about betting with her. She is always in the middle of the fairway and advancing the ball towards the cup.

[Sean2]

If he doesn't keep a handicap and/or play in tournaments there is no reason he shouldn't move up to the forward tees. He'd be able to get to a lot more greens in regulation, and hitting irons on most par 3's.

 

Or, he can play the senior tees and adjust the scorecard. For example, instead of a par 72 he can make it a par 90. He can have his own "personal" par. He will now have the opportunity to get to every green in "regulation".

[dbleag]

I know a bunch of long hitters who are about to start a thread called "Is golf still fun if you can't hit it straight?"

 

 

 

The grass is always greener.....

[LittleLeftToRight]

I have said this before, but golf is a lot like sex. It doesn't matter a whole lot how good it is, it is still a hell of a lot more fun than just about anything else. I think therein lies your answer.

[mukster]

As long as you are prepared to move forward to the next tee box when the time comes, it will remain fun.

[BreezyBrett20]

I remember as a kid hitting a perfect drive and hoping it went 100 yards, back then the ball always went straighter

[azkaevolution]

Yes...I don't hit it far...not quite the players you refer to, but my drives roll out to 230-240 on a good day, and a beast drive will roll out to 260 on a downhill slope. I just play the appropriate tees. My wife drives it 130-140, and enjoys going out a lot...distance is nice, but it doesn't make it any more or less fun

[Bingo1976]

I think this is exactly why they put in different tee boxes. I will play the blues for as long as I can, and then keep moving forwards until I am off the ladies tees or in a box/scattered on top of a mountain/cliff

[wmblake2000]

Haha...golf isn't supposed to be fun.

 

Exactly

[Darth Putter]

I can have fun with my 209 yard driving average.

 

now if I ever start missing short putts...

[Bomber_11]

No

[0351Duffer]

I'm new to this forum, but not to golf. I had an almost 12 year hiatus, due to financial and other life events, but now I'm back playing this season and glad.

 

The short hitters issue in this thread is something I feel compelled to comment on.

 

My wife (who is a forum member here also) saw that I was going to take golf back up and decided she was interested. She never held a golf club except to play mini golf. :-) So a little more background: she's in her late 50's and played tennis most of her life.She's 5'1" and 118lbs. I'm in my late 40's 6' 215lbs. and played a variety of sports including hockey and of course... golf for about 10 years before my hiatus..

 

Luckily the little lady took her first two lessons with a PGA Pro (which I paid for) and loved it. Fast forward 3 months... She has a decent set of ladies irons, and nice driver and 3 wood and takes the occasional lesson and also online video lessons with what I call "Kung-Fu Panda Golf", but it's some online school/videos etc. Chez Reavie is a student of it according to her. It's all working well for her and she enjoys the driving range, and really loves the two rounds of par 3 golf she's played so far. We're heading out tomorrow to play her first course with some par 4's on it.How does this all tie -in with this thread?

 

She's one of the types of players you described in the OP! And you know, that's not a problem for her (or me). She hits her irons straight more than not already, She can pitch & chip effectively for a novice. She's doing fantastic with only 3 months and couple rounds under her belt!

 

Now, let's talk about distance.

 

Well struck iron shots for her, range from 95 yards with a 9 iron, and 115yards with a 7 iron, (The irons have loft, but not like an iron shot hit by me, a 215lb male). She hits about135ish with a 4 hybrid and her Driver 140-150(in the air) when she hits a solid, straight driver shot. She just got the driver and only has taken it out to the range a few times in ernest, so she's still got to gain some confidence with it.

 

But honestly... overall... she's doing fantastic, as she hits way more straight, playable shots than shots that are out in the rough. Most importantly... she's having a fun time with me playing golf!

 

My better half may never hit a 200+ yard tee shot, but she can still play and enjoy golf on most courses. She's determined to work her way up to regulation courses by years end, and I don't doubt she will.

 

One final thought on the short hitter issue.

 

When I played in my 30's I played with maybe a a dozen different female golfers, including company tournaments, golf-buddies wives/girlfriends and the occasional pairings at my local municipal course. There was two woman in particular I'd like to reflect on...They got paired with my friend Jack and I one afternoon.

 

Two ladies of smaller stature in probably their late 50's-early 60's. Clubs and bags well worn and other than a nice Driver one had, no truly expensive clubs to speak of. We tee off and play 18 holes in nice weather all pulling our carts. At the end both ladies had lower scores than my friend and I. To be fair, I generally shot in the high 90's or maybe 100 most rounds. This day I think I shot a 98 and my friend was a few shots lower. The thing I remember was a longer par 4 where I hit a tee shot that was long but bounced and rolled into the right rough, I hit a tough second shot, and then a third to get on the green and two putted for a bogey 5. Not bad I thought, until I realized that both ladies who only hit their tee shots about 135 and 150 yards but solidly in the fairway, each shot pars on the same hole! Their second shots got them both close to the green and they chipped/pitched on with both having reasonable putts for par.

 

What I realized, is they did this a few more times during the round and shaved a few more strokes off to shoot better final scores than us. Even though all our tee shots and second shots were much longer than theirs. I played with them a few other times and their game and score(s) were the same. I had a similar experience with another older female golfer at another course as well. She never hit a drive more than 140 in the air, but hit most of her shots straight and played smartly around the greens. She shot in the high 80s if I recall correctly and we all had an enjoyable round. My point is that this appraoch is almost certainly the type of game my wife will develop and she can and will shoot decent scores as she gets better. The best part about this all to me is that we get to play TOGETHER! I know some people don't like their spouses on the course, I'm not one of them. :-)

 

Anyway, just my thoughts and observations. ;-)

[SixtySomePing]

Great question. This is my 52nd year playing (at 66), and I used to really crank out my drives (almost WRX long) :) So now 220 is still a good drive for me, but I see it diminishing a bit each year. You asked about the love playing part, so the answer to that is a simple yes. There is no doubt about that, love it and enjoy it, maybe more than ever. I still play in a league and can keep up with all the young people. I know that will change, however in my league there is one guy who is 78 and another who is 72, and they can beat just about anyone too. Maybe not long, but straight and precise, but again the key for them is also enjoying the game and loving it. I think you can do that at any age, senior players of course don't have the only claim to that. Maybe it's just what we hold onto the most that makes us like it so much. BTW, the word 'bunting' was a hoot... yes a perfectly struck shot is a great feeling, and so is the result of a well placed shot which is what we rely on. If I do get to the point where my game is holding others up because I'm slow or just not able to play with others to take away from their enjoyment of golf, then I hope someone will let me know. Kinda like when somebody has to take away the driver's license of an older person, seems like they are the last ones to want to let it go. But not there yet, however I know I will always love the game even if I have to sit on my lazy boy with my blanket and prune juice and watch it on tv...

[BigUnit68]

The only thing I will add that hasn't been said is to combat this, keep your body strong and in shape.

 

I am 49 and hit the ball about as far as I ever did with all clubs. I keep myself in great shape and have no intention of ever being out of shape...keep strength and flexibility up and I would think golf can be very fun in your later years.

[ricklinens]

Being outdoors, staying active and healthier as a result, is fun.

[larrybud]

About 5 years ago when I was 43 and my dad was 83, and hitting drives about 140 on a good one, we won the GAM Father/Son for our division (the "century" division, total ages > 100). Pretty sure we were the oldest team there. We won the GROSS event, shot 82, if I recall correctly, on a modified chapman format. I even remember getting 5 pars in a row at one point.

 

That was fun.

[GolfNuts4]

I love to play well, that being said, I am not particularly long and usually shorter than my playing partners. For me, my golf game is secondary to the friendship and camaraderie of being out there with my buddies and even my wife. Golf does not support my family and never will, it is a game, it is social, it is healthy, it is outdoors....I will play as long as my body allows me to.

[HatsForBats]

When I am old and cannot swing the club very well, will I find this enjoyable? For me the greatest feeling in golf is the perfectly struck shot. The iron that is hit flush and launches high in the air, or the drive off the sweet spot that lands way down the fairway. I have a hard time seeing what fun it is when you know even your best possible swing isn't going to make the ball go anywhere.

 

As you get older you redefine what you consider far for your age. At 160 yards for a drive I would hope you are well into your 80's by the time that happens. Sounds like your guy could use a handful of lessons with a good pro and some quality time working on it. I play with someone closer to 80 than 70 and on a good drive he is still getting them out there about 225-230. Have been paired up with some other guys in their 70's that could hit it further. Distance is relative to the player swinging the club and there is plenty more to enjoy about golf than just hitting a long drive.

 

Is losing distance frustrating? Yes, but usually it doesn't happen all at once. You gradually lose distance, then try to figure out how to get it back and then eventually just realize it is the new reality.

[NJpatbee]

I am 65 and started playing at age 40 with persimmons and blades and was never a bomber off the tee. However with today's equipment I can carry and roll my driver 220+ on a good drive and average 210-215 which is still long enough to play the white (member) tees. My 2i thru 6i have been replaced with hybrids and there are only 2 holes on my home course that I rarely reach in regulation. I guess a lot depends on your health: my father passed away at age 80 but could still drive the ball 200 yards and beat me soundly every time before being sick. I have a ball every time I play and believe it or not, I feel my best golf is still ahead of me. I average about 20 rounds/year and have never played more than 30. With retirement on the horizon I hope to really improve my short game, and if I can still poke my drive out 200 yards my scores should improve.

[The Pearl]

Your buddy needs a few lessons and to spend a little time on the range. Most golfer's should be able to knock a driver out there close to 200 yds, even well into their 70s. If you play the right tees anybody who can average 200 or so yds has the ability to shoot high 70's/low 80's if the rest of their game is solid.

 

To your broader question, distance is irrelevant. A well struck shot is a well struck shot regardless of age, size, or male or female. That is why for avid golfer's when they age never quit playing, but are forced to stop due to health reasons.

[bigred90gt]

I reckon my perspective might be a little different than some others, but for me, the lack of distance is very frustrating. I was playing to a 3 index, and hitting the ball a mile. I was averaging 290-310 with the driver (some longer some shorter), about 180-185 with a 7i, and was playing and winning tournaments on an amateur tour in the Houston area. All with 2 herniated discs in my lower back. In June 2012, after 5 years of pain, I had surgery and couldn't touch a club for 3 months. At that moment, I lost my swing and still have never got it back. I lost about 30-40 yards off my driver and 2-3 clubs distance off of my irons, and struggled to break 90 for a year. Over the next 2 years, I started slowly getting some of the distance back, and occasionally threw up something in the high 70s/low 80s. Then, in September 2014, I had surgery #2. Since then, my game has gotten progressively worse. On my best drives now, I'm lucky to hit the ball 260, and I average somewhere closer to 240. I'm only 36 years old. For reference, I used to hit my 3i close to 240. And, if I shoot anything less than an 85, it feels like a miracle. When I stand over a ball at address, I have no clue where it's going anymore. I have actually contemplated on multiple occasions just quitting, but I cant make myself do it. I've got too much time and money invested in this game, so I keep trying. I get increasingly more and more frustrated while playing, and I have rounds where I literally do not enjoy a single moment of the round. All of that to say, no, golf for ME isn't that much fun now that I cant hit it far.

[rcain1us]

One of my regular playing partners is scratch, I out drive him all day long by 30 yards and he beats my by 9-10 strokes a rounds.

 

I also play with a 80-year-old who lays up on par 3's and makes more par's getting up and down then 1/2 the guys on the course.

 

It's not all about length, just play from the correct tees.