We see players on the PGA Tour every year get older and sadly aren’t able to do the things they once did at a younger age. The same obviously goes for everyone who plays golf because your body just isn’t able to take the beating it once could.
Tiger Woods is probably the biggest example of someone who was a freak athlete when he was younger and he is now paying for it at an older age. Fred Couples is another example of someone who is suffering from back issues at an older age.
There are some things to keep in mind as you get older in order to keep enjoying the game as you always have.
Play The Front Tees
Don’t be afraid to move up a tee box or two. Sure it may seem embarrassing at first, but over time you will get used to it and you will have more fun because of it. There’s not much fun about hitting a 4 iron 190 yards into a green that is well-bunkered. By moving up a tee you can turn that into a short iron or perhaps a wedge.
Play 9
Playing a round of 18 holes can be extremely taxing on a body as you get older. One way to counter that is to go out and play nine. You can even split up your nine’s to include a morning nine and afternoon nine if you can make the time for it. Give yourself some rest.
Get New Equipment
There are four categories of equipment: Juniors, Men’s, Women’s, and Senior. There is no reason for someone to be playing a category of equipment that doesn’t suit their game. If you feel like shafts are getting too stiff and iron heads are too small, make the change and get some new gear.
It will improve your enjoyment of the game and you’ll be able to save a few shots each round.
Play More Tournaments
Playing golf by yourself is no fun. As we get older people go their own ways and we sometimes lose touch with our golfing buddies. Try to play in some local tournaments as a way to meet new people and keep the competitive aspect to your game.
Warm-Up Before a Round
As we get older our bodies won’t let us do what we once could. You can no longer just head out to the course straight for the tee and make your first swing to get the round started. You have to warm up and stretch. Make sure to set aside some time before each round or practice session to stretch and warm up.
Use a Push Cart or Ride
We all like to show off how athletic we are by carrying our bag walking a full 18, but that usually doesn’t translate well for your golf game. Your body becomes tired by the time you hit the back nine and your shoulders are aching from the golf bag’s weight. Use a push cart instead to move your bag around the course. It will allow your body to stay fresh and you won’t feel so bogged down on the back nine.
Most courses charge cart fees, but it’s worth it to fork over the $15 or $20 to ride 18 for a round.