The CGA runs tournaments that cater to little kids, teenagers, young adults, middle-aged people, seniors and even super seniors.
But what about the septuagenarians, octogenarians, etc?
Well, seeing that golf bills itself as the game of a lifetime, the CGA is launching a pilot tournament aimed at the 70-and-over set — particularly those in good shape physically.
On Sept. 26 and 27 at CommonGround Golf Course, which is owned and operated by the CGA and CWGA, the yet-to-be-named tourney will make its debut. The 36-hole event, which will include gross and net divisions, not only will be limited to golfers 70 and older, but they’ll have to carry their own clubs for the two rounds. Not even push or pull carts will be allowed.
And if the tournament is well received, it could even become an official CGA championship in the future.
The event is the brainchild of John Golden, a two-time CGA Senior Player of the Year who, not coincidentally, will turn 70 this summer. Though nothing is settled, Golden suggested naming the tournament for the late Oscar W. “Red” Nelson, a former CGA Governor who carried his own bag while playing golf even into his 90s. Nelson was cited numerous times by Golf Digest for shooting his age.
“There’s so much focus on youngsters, but you can play this game your whole life,” said Golden, who swept the CGA Senior Stroke Play and Senior Match Play titles in both 1993 and “˜95, and who was paired with Jack Nicklaus at the 1996 U.S. Senior Open. “Why not demonstrate that with a tournament format? I can’t compete with 50-year-olds anymore, but I can compete with 70-year-olds. So I brainstormed with (CGA executive director Ed Mate) and thought this would be a neat deal. It gives golf the full spectrum, cradle to grave.”
Mate likes not only the age aspect of the tournament, but that it advocates walking while playing, and fitness.
“We want to promote golf as the game of a lifetime — from the time you can first walk until you can’t walk anymore,” Mate said. “That’s what golf does. The point (of the event) is not so much competition as it is exercise. So we’ll see what comes of this. We are the ones who run all of the state amateurs, so it makes sense that we do it. And we have a great venue (CommonGround, which is relatively easy to walk).”
Golden, a member at Bear Creek Golf Club in west Denver, regularly walks and carries his own bag.
“It’s about five miles (per round) and I have a small bag, so climbing the hills is a good workout,” he said. “I was a caddie growing up and I appreciate the relaxing nature of walking instead of riding in a cart. Walking is good preparation for your next shot; it gets you in tempo.”
Mate and Golden hope to get perhaps 16 golfers to participate in the pilot event, but they realize it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, especially when it calls for 70-plus-year-olds to walk and carry their own clubs.
“Everyone I talk to says it sounds great and I’d love to (play), but actually entering is another thing,” Golden said. “Some people say the format makes it too difficult for them. So I think (the pilot’s success) depends on word of mouth. But it”˜s in between fishing and hunting season, so “¦”
As a sidelight to the tournament plans, Mate said that CommonGround will erect a plaque citing anyone who verifiably shoots their age at the course.
“Every club has a hole-in-one plaque,” he said. “We’ll embrace a shoot-your-age promotion.”
