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Article: Every Shot Counts. But age is just a number!!

Every shot counts. But age is just a number!

 

In a game where every shot counts and the outcome of each shot can be the difference between success and failure, golfing achievement is undoubtedly difficult to attain. How reassuring then for someone to remind us all that golfing achievement is indeed possible and that, in golf, age is just a number.

This is the story of John Davies, a member of Peterborough Milton Golf Club, England, who defied his age to record one of golf’s rarest accomplishments. Many see the hole-in-one as the ultimate golfing achievement but, whilst this is undoubtedly a major event in any golfer’s life, there is an even more extraordinary achievement which even fewer people have ever managed. The achievement in question is to shoot an 18-hole score that is less than your age and it is this that 72-year old, John Davies was able to attain during the regular weekend ‘Swindle” competition at his local club.

John is a veteran of the game having taken up golf in 1972 and whilst very much a senior in the eyes of the game he is still more than capable of mixing it with the best at the club maintaining a steady handicap of seven around Peterborough Milton’s par-71 layout. On October 31st 2009 however John rolled back the years, defying both his age and the challenging parkland layout at Peterborough Milton to record a stunning gross score of 69 (-2) and beat his age by a full three strokes. Consistency was the order of the day as John made light of breezy conditions to complete a round which included three birdies and just a solitary bogey.

“It has to go down as one of the rounds of my life and one of my finest achievements in the game.” said John about his round. “I was two under at the turn and that’s when I thought about the chance to go under my age but didn’t say anything to my playing partners to keep the pressure off.” But the pressure didn’t seem to faze John who recorded his third birdie of the day on the par-4 14th and, despite a bogey at the very next hole, finished the round in solid fashion with three consecutive pars.

John is a long-time user of Titleist golf balls and it was a PTS SoLo that helped John to this magnificent feat. “I’ve always liked to use Titleist golf balls, particularly in competition rounds, and love the combination of soft feel and distance offered by the PTS ball.” The ball combined with another piece of Titleist equipment, a Titleist Vokey Design 58° Wedge, to provide John with a highlight-reel moment. On the par-4 18th John’s ball found a greenside trap but, with his round on the line, John trusted in his equipment and held his nerve for a superb up-and-down “I have a lot of confidence with my Vokey Wedge and knew that if I committed to the shot the ball would do the trick.”

So what are the secrets to John’s success? Well, he points towards a healthy lifestyle and plenty of practice but the modest Welshman is also more than happy to pay credit to others that have helped his game. A key influence on John’s golf over the years is former European Ryder Cup player and Captain Mark James. Mark and John are long-time friends and have played many rounds of golf together. John has certainly picked up the odd tip from Mark along the way “Playing with Mark so regularly has definitely helped my golf, he was always telling me to work on a full turn of the shoulders and releasing the club – so that’s what I concentrate on.” This tip certainly seems to work for John who aside from this achievement has also recorded eight holes-in-one during his 35 years playing the game.

One thing is for sure; John’s round should act as inspiration to us all. It proves that age is no barrier to golfing achievement and reminds us that, whilst the game can often frustrate, there will always be a day when it all comes together. On the day it all came together for John and every shot counted, it is no surprise that a Titleist ball was there every step of the way. John, like so many before, placed his faith in the #1 ball in golf to deliver this most remarkable of achievements and Titleist is very proud to have played a part.

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