MY VIEW...

 THE GOLD TEES 

On Monday, I finally got the callback about my request to join a weekday Senior Golf League.

They didn’t have much information for me—just that my tee time was “8:32–8:40.” I had no idea what that meant, but who was to question a league that had been around for about 30 years.

As you know, I’m usually at the golf course early. I left the house at 7:15, planning to arrive by 7:45. Of course, construction on Sumner Ave and Route 57 had other ideas and slowed everything down.

I pulled into the parking lot at 8:05, thinking I had plenty of time. 

NOPE

As I put the car in park, I was greeted by my playing partner, Tom, who casually informed me, “We’re next on the tee box.”

No warm-up. No stretching. No putting green. Just straight to business.

I tossed my clubs into the cart and hustled to the first tee, trying to look calm while doing everything at double speed.

Fortunately, we soon found out our foursome was actually last off the tee, which bought me a few extra minutes—and a little dignity.

That gave me time to meet the group: all great guys, including a 90-year-old Korean War veteran who, I quickly realized, could probably still outplay me on a good day.

Playing from the Gold Tees is… nice. Really nice. Not only are you closer to the hole, but a lot of the trouble just disappears. This group also plays with a few “senior-friendly” rules:

• Gimme putts are standard (we never even touched the flag)

• You can fluff your ball onto the grass.

• Move your ball from roots and other interesting lies.

• Lost balls are just a one-stroke penalty with a lateral drop

• And bunkers? We politely decline those—just pick it up and drop it outside the bunker.

It’s a different game, but not in a bad way.

The league format is team-based, and we only play nine holes. Half the legue starts on the front nine, the other half on the back. Carts are paired opposite your opponent—though I didn’t even realize who I was playing against until after the round.

Tom tied his match against… another Tom, of course.

I ended up playing the Korean War vet—and managed to win with a 46. That included an 8 on the card, so let’s not get carried away.

After the first nine, there’s an optional scramble on the back. Everyone throws in $4, and every five weeks, the pot covers lunch for the winning team.

I’m still not entirely sure how teams are picked, but Tom and I teamed up with Gram to form a three-man group—and we got a fourth shot, which felt like a pretty good deal. Gram turned out to be another great guy, and together we managed four birdies and a bogey, finishing tied for first.

Not bad for a rushed start to the day.

Overall, the Senior League is great—relaxed, welcoming, and a completely different pace from Broken Joe Golf.

That said, I’m not quite ready to give up the full 18-hole grind or the camaraderie of our usual group.

But once a week, on a Wednesday, the Gold Tees aren’t a bad place to be.

Respectfully,

Broken Joe

Commissioner