My Mom is in her mid-70s. (It’s ok. She’s proud of her age and doesn’t care who I tell.) She’s been playing golf her entire life. It started when she was a little girl. She played with her Dad who taught her everything she knows about golf. She grew up watching her maternal grandmother play into her mid-80s. She also spent her whole childhood competing against her big brother to see who could win the round. She’s the one who taught my brother and me the game of golf. She carried our bags when we got tired and she made sure we knew etiquette and rules.
Now, her knees are bad from walking the golf course for decades and from playing high school and college basketball. She has two bad shoulders. She even incurred a broken hip, which she classifies as a “sports injury” since she did it while walking nine holes about two years ago.
I have often wondered what keeps her going. Why does she still get out there with a fearless sense of being able to do anything? Why does she keep on when she knows there is an ice pack in her future when her knees get angry at her? Why does she care if she can still sink a 50-foot putt? (She does it all the time.)
Though her body has aged through the years due to the wear and tear of activity, one thing has not changed: her competitiveness. She still talks trash to me on the green proclaiming how she is a better putter than me. (She is, by the way.) She gets mad at herself when she hits a shot she knows she hit better the day before. She says she can still beat her big brother. Her competitiveness never left her even when her youth did.
I recently read a study that investigated the mature female golfer and her motivation to participate in sport-based leisure activity. The study entitled, “Let me play, not exercise!” was a fascinating insight to the psychology of mature women golfers. The authors wanted to find out what keeps them coming back to their chosen activity and why they enjoy their sport. The authors interviewed 79 women (including golfers, walkers, swimmers, and bowlers) over the age of 60 and asked them why they still participate in sport. As you may guess, many golfers said golf provided them with exercise. They enjoy being outdoors, the increased quality of life golf gives them, and the enjoyment of being with friends and other people when they play.
But, one attribute the golfers spoke of particularly intrigued me. The golfers mentioned they still value the sense of achievement obtained through competition. Golfer responses included, “enjoy beating other people,” “like to compete,” “makes me work to improve,” “shows me I am still capable of doing things in life,” and the “challenge.”
Wait a minute. This sounds a lot like what my mother would say.
After reading this study, I started thinking about all the mature female golfers with whom I come in contact or watch. This led me to thinking about the Legends Tour, the official senior tour of the LPGA.
Full disclosure: I love watching the Legends play. I have always enjoyed their grit, their humor, and the fact that they still can make a clutch putt like nobody’s business.
Recently, I was lucky enough to speak with two current Legends players. Both women have extremely accomplished careers and have seen their fair share of victories. However, even after all those wins and accolades, I was struck by how both women still have the competitive fire in them. Both mentioned to me when they play on the Legends Tour, they feel as competitive now as they ever did. They said when they get on the course it is like they never left the competitive environment. It all comes back in an instant. I could see it in her eye. I could hear it in her voice.
As I watched the Legends play this year, I kept asking myself why do they still do it? Why do they leave their jobs, families, and daily life to go back out there, and play as if their lives depended on it? Were all those wins not enough? For what are they looking? After speaking with the two Legends players, reading the aforementioned study, and playing with my own mother, I see all of these women still have the determination to be all they can be. They still want to do better for themselves and apparently beat their opponents.
We often see in the media competition and power being attributed to young golfers. And while this may be true (their knees aren’t bad quite yet), it would be a tragedy to discount senior golfers. You may even question, why in the world would I sit around and watch a bunch of senior women play golf? Would it not be more fun to read the USGA Rules Book word for word?
The youthful golfers are certainly fun to watch. The power in their swings and the creativity of how they can manipulate a shot is fascinating. But, the stories of the Legend Tour players are just as fascinating as the best swing on the LPGA tour. These 120+ women have a combined 750 wins including 84 majors. In addition, there are 14 World Golf Hall of Famers and Solheim Cup veterans. And maybe they can’t totally torque their back like they did 30 years ago, but there’s something to be said for experience. They can still fade the ball perfectly. They can still land a flop shot on the green with precision. And take a look at some of the impressive average driving distances on the scorecards. Legends golf is as good as any golf out there.
Watching the Legends play has totally convinced me golf doesn’t stop at a certain age. I see the same in my mother. I also see it in the study which found competition and results lead to enrichment and feelings of achievement in senior women golfers. All of these women have the desire to continue to play. Yes, they have different reasons, but the motivation is there.
And as I talk with them and watch them, I see the wisdom of the aged golfer. But, what I also see beneath is the fire of competition which has never burned out.
References
Berlin, K. and Klenosky, D. (2014). Let me play, not exercise! Journal of Leisure Research, 46(2), 127-152.
The Legends Tour – Official Senior Tour of the LPGA
Feature Photo: Hollis Stacy
Story Photo: Juli Inkster
Photos by Rick Sharp and Kay Bagwell courtesy of the Legends Tour
