Golf Happy – The Senior Hacker

By: Larry Farlow

In this brave new world known as the internet, as in golf, the word hacker can have a bad connotation. Big whoop, get over it. My business card reads Larry Farlow, Senior Hacker.

Most of the golfers like myself, seventy or higher are considered by the young flat bellies (at term coined by the late Harvey Peneck) as Hackers.

That’s until the younger set play a round with the seniors. It’s a lot of fun sitting in the 19th hole letting the younger guys buy the liquid refreshment. It’s only fair; we seniors are on a fixed income.

Why are the 30 year olds paying? It’s because for the past ten years they have grown up watching Tiger or John Daly. Hit the ball as hard as possible using a driver off the tee box. Yeah, right, hit it further into to woods.

Now I am not one of those who say only guys with a 13 handicap should play a driver off the tee box. My driver is often my straightest club. But, I do not hit if very far. I am very pleased with a 185 yard drive… straight down the middle. Then I’ll hit a three wood 170 straight down the fairway. Chip it, putt, putt and I have a nice bogey. Or maybe one put for a par. On a par 3 I’ll often be putting for birdie.

Yep, give me a nice tight, short course and I’ll take on the flat belly every time,

Of course being a senior has a lot of advantages. I have had many years to pick out my favorite clubs which I seldom change. When I do I make sure they are fitted to my swing, which is real slooooow. With an 85 mph swing I play with an L shaft or at least a special shaft that has good whip action at the bottom. I never buy clubs off the rack unless it is a special club I have been looking for that I find at a good golf shop.

One of those favorites is a 65 degree wedge, which has enough loft to hold the West Texas greens that can be as hard as a rock. It takes a lot of mental work to convince yourself you can hit a full swing only 30 years from the pin.

Much of my advantage is that I start the important part of my play before I drive to the course. In the past 18 months I lived long enough to be fortunate enough to having undergone Rotor Cuff and Lower Back Spine surgery. So I have worked hard to get back to playing again. But not too soon with a full swing.

I have found that following surgery is a great time to practice your short game; pitch shots, chips and putting. That’s what you should be spending 80 percent on anyway no matter what your age and where you will make your money.

When I was in my middle fifties I started an exercise routine I use before I ever put my clubs in the car. I have a super stretching routine that I have worked out for myself, taking tips from experts and adopting those that work for me. I also try to get in a little strength training using light weights and stretch cords every day. I make sure that my back and chest muscles are stretched out real good before I put my clubs in the car. The older you get the more important that exercise routine become.

So when guys say hit’em long and straight, remember the key word is straight. I do not like going out of bounds and hitting three off of the tee box. That’s as dumb as getting a speeding ticket.

Golfhappy’s exercise routine...

I start with an exercise mat and a rope.

I have a loop on the end of the rope that I put around my right foot, and lying on my back I stretch my leg up as far as possible. I hold that for at least 30 seconds. Then the same drill with my left leg. I then flop over on my stomach and stretch the left leg for at least 30 seconds. Same with the right leg. Then I get up on my knees and assume the prayer position for at least 60 seconds where I stretch my back muscles as much as possible.

I then get on my back and bull my knees up to my up to my chest one at a time.

Then, with my hands locked behind my head, I twist my torso first left, then right for at least 60 seconds. After that I do as many stomach crunches as I feel like. I often top all of that off be getting on an inversion table and hanging upside down for a minute or so.

Every other evening I do arm curls and stretching my arms with a stretch cord while watching TV.

Hey, it works for me and I am pleased with my game.

I am now seven months post operation and my game gets better every day. I must level with you and tell you that it was a shock going from a 13 handicap to a 23 following my surgery. But I am getting better and am back to about a 19. I have had to relearn my game and in some cases compensate for age and wear and tear. But, I’m out there and that’s the most important thing for any golfer.

Let’s face it, it’s not a game you can win… it’s only a game you can play. Keep it fun, it’s a game!

But if you take five hours to play a round, get the hell out of my way, but that’s another story.

Article Source: http://www.bettergolfarticles.com

Larry Farlow owns www.sanantoniogolf.com and is developing a new site at Golf Gulf Coast where he has listed every golf course from Brownsville to Key West. Whew, that’s a lot of courses. If you are a golfing travel agent who lives on the coast please contact him at golfhappy@sanantoniogolf.com.

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