[belcherboy]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/arti ... article.do

Old golfers accused of hogging the holes

It's a provocative view which is sure to cause splutterings of indignation at the 19th hole.

A golfing magazine has described older players as 'leeches', saying they clog up courses and put the younger generation off joining clubs.

Needless to say, it's not a popular view among the many retired people who view golf as something akin to a religion.

The article claimed that with life expectancy increasing and more workers retiring early, many are making greater use of their cheap 'senior' membership.

The Golf Club Secretary Newsletter added that growing numbers of elderly golfers are now spending up to half their week on the links.

The article warned that clubs must consider new pricing plans which get rid of concessionary membership for the over-65s, as well as limiting the number of games they can play. On the flip side, they are pretty much funding the course when they play 3-4 times a week!!

According to a survey carried out for the English Golf Union, last year the average membership fee for an adult male player was £627, compared with £484 for a senior.

The article adds: 'Perhaps it will take a change in attitude towards those members who are "always at the clubî from being perceived as the club's life-blood to being perceived as the club's leeches?'

I golf with my 82 year old grandfather a few times a month, but he is two to three times as fast as many of these late 60's-70's aged golfers we run into on the course. Especially the ones that bring their wives!

I can't stand being on the course for more than 4 hours, and I average around 100. Sometimes these slower golfers push me back to 4 1/2 to 5 hours for 18 holes. Often it is not because of too many golfers on the course, but because their are too many old golfers on the course. On the flip side they are often funding the courses when they play 3-4 times a week!!

[Fumblerooskies]

Here is the real problem...

[scuzdriver]

It's partly because they think they can still make the senior tour. They agonize over every shot. Drives me nuts! The younger players are just as bad! Get to your ball, take ONE practice swing and then hit it. You aren't gonna get any better by staring at your shot for 5 minutes. Don't even get me started on most of the women......why do they carry a bag of clubs anyway? A 5wood and putter is all I ever see them use! UGH!

[LUconn]

hey, when you suck, you have to think about how you're going to swing. I paid $50-$100 to freaking play, I'll take as long as I want with each shot. I'll let you play through at the next hole though.

[TDDance234]

[RubberMallet]

luckily for me....we have a plethora of courses and there are many "old people" courses that i tend to avoid...

but scuz is right....these younger kids take just as long...theres just not as many of them...

i go with the flow....sometimes i need to take time on each shot...and sometimes i'm just feeling it and i take a practice swing, liked it, and then hit my ball...

i don't mind a 4 hour round...however, when i need a fast round i know where to go...

[PAmedic]

It's partly because they think they can still make the senior tour. They agonize over every shot. Drives me nuts! The younger players are just as bad! Get to your ball, take ONE practice swing and then hit it. You aren't gonna get any better by staring at your shot for 5 minutes. Don't even get me started on most of the women......why do they carry a bag of clubs anyway? A 5wood and putter is all I ever see them use! UGH!

how 'bout reading the putt from 19 different spots on the green?

FREAKIN' HIT IT, TREVINO Jr.!

that's why I like to play w/ cops, fireman and paramedics- too busy drinking to care. Most can throw the club farther than they can hit it.

then you have GMTuM (last 2 letters for "unlimited mulligans")