Surge's Reality Check

I think I heard that the PGA was supporting a (new?) concept called "Play it Forward" which would make the game more enjoyable for older seniors as well as speed up play.
We now have a program at Sea Island that allows older men to play from the "forward" tees if their age plus handicap is 90 or higher. It works well. Handicaps are adjusted based on the slope of the course from the reds, this is usually about 4-5 strokes lower than from the member (white) tees and everyone seems to be pleased with the results.
Keep up the good work and video's. Come down and visit us sometime, you're not that far away. Maybe the McGladrey Classic? Hope DJ plays in it this year!
Dick Bobb, St. Simons Island, GA

Jim, I see it slightly differently from your post and reponses to your post.  For me, I get the most satisfaction when I get clean contacts, so I practice where I can get the most improvement in ball contact.  This includes putting.  When I get clean contact in a round, my scores turn out ok, so I get two for one.  Since I have been a "finesse" player in all of my previous sports, the short game came faster.  As for the long game, my fairway woods give me the most trouble, so I put more time proportionally on them.  I used to spend a lot of time on the driver until I was able to hit is a reasonable distance for the people I play with. 

SGP,

You are wrong, he did in fact answer the question. You just didn't like the answer. BTW, Surge did not say he was too old, YOU are the one who implied that. Surge just tried to offer his best advice, YOU seem to be the one having conflict with it. SO, what is your great advice for the gentleman, besides criticizing the advice of others. Do you even have any advice of your own to offer, other than criticism. At least Surge is trying to be positive and deal with the actual reality of the situation.

Jim, I agree that it is reply rewarding and feels great to hit a few clean,crisp shots. Yes seeing a drive or fairway metal fly long and in the direction ia great. Most of us who have played a long time know whether we've hit a good shot just by the feel and sound. We don't even have to see it to know. We see it on TV players just grab their tees and walk knowing the flight is spot on.
Unfortunately those ideally hit long balls are rare (foror me) and like Terry says we have to be able to chip and putt and doing so allows us to hang with younger longer kids. Yesterday I played the Sun course at Paiute (one of the two courses will play for the Tourny at the end of Sept),with my brother and his son. I made three putts of 15- 25 feet, two for birdies and another to save par. I also had three one putt tap ins because of chipping it close. So as good as a well struck ball feels, I still walk away ticked off if I don't finish it around the hole.
Sometimes I wish I didn't take it all so seriously and just say, I am satisfied I at least hit a couple good ones. Most of us are never completely satisfied. It's the nature of always striving to improve, like our friend Merv.

SGP

What answer are you looking for that their is a magical shaft out there that will give you 50 - 60 yards more distance ? 

I do not care what age you are if you want to shoot lower scores its going to happen from 100 yards and in that is were we need to practice more to be able to go low. not spending hours beating balls with the driver.

Surge
Good comment today, as you get older you must become wiser, ie become a short
game wizard. I'm 67 and started playing in my 50's and while being coached put many
hours in on the short game to compensate the lack of ability on the long game.
Now that my long game is starting to show results due to your methodologies and
techniques, my scores have dropped between 5-10 strokes and all my mates who are
big hitters are usually 10 shots behind me now when playing 18, some times when
even playing 9. I believe Merv should be using more woods/hybrids like me, I don't use
a driver, my 3W can do the job on just about any par 4, except when its about 400M.
If you get close to the green in regulation, then the chip/put is crucial for picking up
the par and or bogie at least. This year I've started breaking 40 for nine holes, something I've never done up to now, which is due to regular practise. Most days after work I
unwind down on the practise greens, I find it relieves stress and just enjoy being able
to chip balls consistently close to the hole. I hope I'm play golf when the same age as
Merv as my knees are now showing signs of wear.   
   

Surge,

Great video today.  I've moved up to senior tees when available and have taken long irons out of my bag and replaced them with hybrids.  The game is much more enjoyable when I have a chance to get to long par 4s and par 5s in regulation.  My two lowest rounds all year happened on vacation from the senior tees.

Perhaps the 2 most memorable rounds I've ever played were with men who were well past their physical prime.  Played with a gentleman a number of years ago who was 94 and played an old Bobby Jones wooden shafted putter with a severly pitted face.  He was deadly from about 25 feet in and beat me and a couple of twenty somethings rather handily. ;0)

The man who got me started/hooked on the game was in his early 80s and had cataract surgery on both eyes early in the spring.  The Dr finally let him out on the course early in the fall with wrap around sun glasses.  I witnessed his first ever ace on the 9th hole, 8 iron, 135 yards, and he never saw it past about 75 yards.  He wore hearing aids and never heard the man playing with us tell him to "put a 1 on the card and put it in his pocket."  He was looking for his ball near the green and couldn't find it.  I told him "Ernie, it's in the cup."  He picked it out of the cup and the look was kid in a candy store priceless.  I may forget where I left the car keys, but I'll never forget that look. ;0)))

Surge, you are so right.  Golf truly is the game for a lifetime.

Lynn42 

Golf is an activity where you can have it both ways. One of my professional specialties is what I call active dynamic aging. It is true that diminished physical performance is a physiological reality but that does not mean that you have to accept it. Everyone who is physically capable of playing golf can significantly increase their power, balance, coordination and functional range of motion, no exceptions! Those of us who employ the "Surge Swing" are exceptionally positioned for progress since the lack of rotational forces takes the need for hyper flexibility and greater risk of injury out of the equation.  Start by developing a strong and stable core and work the large muscles of the torso. Train the legs for strength and balance and you will restore, and quite possibly add power translating into faster club head speed. Putting additional effort into your short game and gaining back a club or two of distance will synergistically improve your game. A hint... those of you who discover the majic of kettle bell training will experience results in balance, power and flexibility at an even faster rate.

Surge:  Outstanding blog and video today!  As I age (now 67), I've found that I simply can't hit the ball as far as I did 20 years ago.   So, I have become much, much better with my short game and putting, thanks to your instructional videos and other materials.   Two things have really helped me make a HUGH difference in how I play now; 1) Course management and 2) A simple, consistent swing based on the master set-up (GBSAPS).  My scores are better than they ever were, my game enjoyment level is higher than ever, and I have NO FEAR of making a bad shot - because I just keep everything simple!!  And, the great thing is, I do all this with zero body pain.  Thank you for your patience and willingness to teach us and share with us your awesome back porch moments -they are just like getting an full hour of professional instruction from the best there is, every single week!!  Have a safe holiday weekend.   R2    

It's a USGA program, not PGA. The idea is to get people (particularly men whose egos are bigger than their driving ability) to play from whatever set of tees are most appropriate to their abilities, no matter what their age. Very good both for increasing enjoyment of the game and speeding up play.

I am 79 years old and was shooting in the high 90's and even a few over 100's.  I have been listening to you and trying many of your suggestions.  Even though i suddenly gained over 50 yds with my tee shots for some reason, I started concentrating on my short game and have lowered my scores considerably.  In one week I shot the following scores------83, 89, 84, 86, and today I shot 81 and had three birdies, something I had never done.    The biggest improvement has been in my pitching, chipping, and putting. I realize driving longer has helped my game, but the close game REALLY  has helped.
         Thanks for your coaching on the internet.
               Glenn Hager ---Greenwood, Indiana

Off to practice my short game on the course practice hole after lunch [decided on our morning walk earlier today]. The shots I suffered at the other day were in the main from close range. I used to love my chipping/pitching and putting short game. With the PPGS swing,my distances need re-calibrating to reality. Have hit some lovely shots among the rubbish, to see them over the green or short. The 9 holes played in showery weather a few days ago, I had some beautiful 5W and 3Woods off the fairway, long and straight :- ]
Good Luck Glen and thankyou for confirming what I needed to do.From a young 'un 70years young in sunny Wellington New Zealand

Surge, Merv deserves our respect for his efforts and desire to improve regardless of being 88 years young.
Hears a little humor to lighten our holiday week end:
Three retirees, each with a hearing loss, were playing golfone fine March day. One remarked to the other, 'Windy,isn't it?'  'No,' the second man replied,'it's Thursday..'  And the third man chimed in,'So am I.  Let's have a beer.'
TELL ME THIS WON'T HAPPEN TO US !!!!
_________________________________________________________

You didn't answer the question
I don't think Merv was looking to be told he was too old and that he should work on his short game

Am I the only one that feels this way?  I have really mixed feelings about practicing the short game at the expense of the long game.

To me, the most satisfying aspect of golf is not so much the score, but hitting the ball solid and straight and the feeling in your hands when you do it.  I take more satisfaction from a round where I hit the ball well (especially my drives) than one where I hit it mediocre but get up and down a lot for perhaps a better score.

And, of course, the better you hit it, the more greens you will hit and the less you need a great short game to score well.

I just don't particularly enjoy practicing pitching and chipping, but I love hitting balls on the range.

I play regularly with a great fellow 93 years old. He plays in a skins game with our group that range in age from 50 to 70 at least twice a week. We play greenies as well. He is a good golfer, but of course, doesn't hit if far. We have him play off the ladies tees and give him a stroke on the par 5s and a long par 4.  He is always in the thick of things and regularly shoots up to 10 strokes UNDER HIS Age. Let's all do that for our older golfers. I am 70 and getting shorter in distance, but my scores have not dropped as you say Surge, get on top of that short game!!

Jim,

Among amateur players, I think you are actually in the majority. I think that's why most casual players can't break 100. I played in a group Thur with another senior and two young bucks who both hit 275-300yd drives. The young guys were both in the high 90's, while me and the other senior were in the low 80's. Neither of us can hit over 200yds on average. The young guys would double chip and three putt almost every hole. Neither could hit a green from 100yd or more out, and closer chips were generally chunk-ed, fluffed, or bladed, needing another attempt, then the three putt, sometimes four.

I can rarely get on a more than 350yd green in two, so being able to get up and down for par, or bogie at worse, is very important to me. That's how I keep beating the 300yd drive hitters.