Delight in seeing age defied
I love this story (“Divot: Aging gracefully,” Oct. 27, GGP). I had a very similar experience in Florida many years ago. I was down for a week and played golf each day with whomever the starter paired me. One day I was paired with two fellows who were beginners. It was painful, 2½ hours for the front nine, riding carts on a flat, no-water-no-trees golf course. At the turn the starter asked if I minded if Mr. C. could join. Yes, of course. What a delight.
Initially I was concerned because his bag was probably from the ’60s, baby blue and white patent leather … hmmm. Well, Mr. C. steps up to the 10th tee and has a beautiful swing, full range of motion. Down the middle, second shot in the greenside bunker, sand shot out and one putt for par. After nine, he was 2-over par, all the while encouraging me. I asked him how often he plays golf per week. His response: “Nine holes once a week; the other six days I work out to stay alive.” He was 87! This is my favorite golf story.
Manuela Newell
London, Ontario, Canada
Ol’ Miss legend made it look easy
I was reminded of Hunter George Weddington while reading your story (“Divot: Aging gracefully,“ Oct. 27, GGP). Hunter George won the Mississippi State Am (three) times in his younger days, played every day until he couldn’t play anymore, and then hit balls on those days.
I saw him one day when he was still playing, in his early 90s, and asked, “Hunter George, have you ever shot your age?”
To which he replied, “No, and if I ever do, I’LL QUIT!” A great man.
Mark Scarborough
Meridian, Mississippi
Golf is a great game for life
My husband, Martin, is 82, and last year, when he was 81, he shot two rounds below his age (“Divot: Aging gracefully,“ Oct. 27, GGP). Both in club medal competitions, scoring two gross 80s. He too has a fitness regime, and works hard to stay fit and supple. He also uses weights. What is even more amazing is that he has had both shoulders replaced. He has played since he was 14. What a great game golf is.
Jackie Corby
Kenilworth, England
Intrigued by shortened course
After all of the analysis of the Ryder Cup, I was intrigued by the article about the Pines course at The International near Boston (“Remaking the Pines,” Oct. 3, GGP+).
The original version being built decades ago with a possible playing length of more than 8,000 yards was simply mind boggling and begs the question: Why? With a presumed answer of: Why not?
When it comes to a thorough revision of existing courses I can’t think of any venue in the U.K. ever being reworked on that scale of action and investment cost. With the outcome being a much moderated length of just more than 7,000 yards I’m left with an exhale of relief but do wonder what the modern pro brigade would achieve around it. You might guess that I am firmly in the camp of restraint in golf’s distance factors.
A final tribute to the writing – did I really find references to “tees” to the exclusion of “tee boxes?” I have a personal vendetta against the latter term being both unnecessary and crass in my view. Just when did it creep into golfspeak?
Steve Palmer
Huddersfield, England
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