Dreaming of becoming an age shooter in golf

By Kim Jeong-kyoo

I find myself physically enfeebled with age, but am ardently dreaming of shooting my age in golf. Age shooting means achieving an 18-hole score equal to or less than one's age on a regulation, full-length, 18-hole course. Indeed, shooting one's age is one of the toughest but most thrilling feats in golf that will leave one deliriously happy.

Achieving this extraordinary accomplishment is, for sure, no easy matter. A study shows that the probability of an amateur golfer achieving this milestone at least once in a lifetime is arguably below one percent. To pull off this breathtakingly exhilarating feat, one needs to have a great golf game and an agile mind, let alone be in good health and sprits.

A major stumbling block I face in achieving this amazing feat is a lack of strength. I've lost my power and distance conspicuously with age. Currently I have a little bit of difficulty in reaching the green in regulation. This disadvantage hampers me, forcing me to use brute strength only to ruin my shots and round.

To cope with my ever-declining power, or rather to build up the strength of my muscles, I am doing push-ups and working out with dumbbells. Also, to strengthen my lower body, I prefer walking and jogging to driving whenever possible.

What equally gets in the way of achieving the extraordinary feat is a little lapse of concentration in the middle of the game. I am inclined to lose my concentration and blunder during the play when I am exhausted.

To avoid this careless mistake, I am aiming to use my golf glove as a trigger for concentration. I want to take my glove off immediately after a shot and wear it again as a visual reminder of concentration on the shot at hand. That way I can relax during my walk to the ensuing shot, keeping my mind from straying when I need my focus most. One can hardly stay focused during the entire round.

Another critical obstacle to pulling off my age shooting feat is a noticeable loss of vision. Now, my presbyopia hinders enjoying my old magic short game. My imperfect eyesight impairs my ability to read slopes and greens properly. However, wearing glasses will improve my vision.

Perhaps, the biggest glitch hampering my age-shooting is that I don't play often. Fewer rounds of golf mean fewer chances of shooting my age. Still, I am itching to play and I aim to play more often this year.

Happily, I recently stumbled across an extremely simple but very effective address posture: I carry my hands high and use an ulnar deviation, with my left wrist lined up with left forearm and fingers pointing down. This new address posture, akin to an impact position, allows me to swing my arms fluidly and slot the club into the correct downswing path. Now, I can freely unleash my full power into the shot without forced efforts. This unrestricted, dynamic golf swing allowed me to recover some of my lost distance, regaining confidence in myself and my playing ability.

Now that I possess a strong will and an unwavering determination with a high level of motivation, the day will soon come when I shoot my age in golf. My body and mind do not work quite as well as they used to. However, I once was a scratch golfer who occasionally hit under par, over the past 20 years before I became a senior citizen. Given that I was an adept golf fiend, I don't think that shooting my age is that hard to pull off. Moreover, I am adamant about my dream, and nothing will mar my burning ambition.

The author (kimjstar@hanmail.net) lives in a rural village near Seoul, studying and teaching golf.