Older golfers have been accused of being "leeches"

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Ok but don't whinge when your membership keeps dropping and you have alienated a good scource of income!
I agree with Scott of Tampa Seniors have the time and often the inclination to assist their clubs in helping with juniors etc ie including them in their competitions as guests to help with etiquette and general rules and uphold the tradition of the game.

- David Campbell (Leech), enfield, england

The Government should send seniors on state subsidised skiing and bungee jumping holidays to get them off the golf courses.

- John Jones, Hampton

They also clog up the grocery stores, and on and on. What to do... Put a time limit on holes (10 minutes for a pairing) and for those who take too much time because they walk...force them to rent carts. Make one day a week seniors day... use the slowest day and the slowest time when the course makes the least amount of money into a senior day. Use Senior day for reduced fees or as an inducement to keep the old folks off the course when those who still work for a living have time off to play (the weekend).
And everyone should have to pay the same the same fees. I realise that seniors' incomes are somewhat fixed but they shouldn't be treated any different than other age golfer. If the object is to grow the game then reduce the fees for the younger (under 21) golfers instead. They have much less money than the seniors. And will spend more as working adults in the future.

- Kathleen, Long Valley, NJ, USA

Golf is a mulit-generational sport and players old and young should be respected. I know so many senior players and many not only play the game better than some of these younger players - they also have a greater understanding of the traditions of the sport. Yes. There may be some changes needed to be sure clubs are healthy but do it with respect for everyone. I bet there would be a lot less young people on the links had they not been shown how to play by a senior player. And we're all going to be a senior someday so...

- Scott, Tampa, FL

Gee, Greg in Providence perhaps there is something you have a passion for and care about others might consider 'stupid' and lacking in value. I suppose you have strong opinions of what "everyone else" should find as having or not having value. Rather pompous of you, don't you think?

- Michael, Prague, Czech Republic

Once again, ill-mannered young brats are complaining about those who have made their pampered lives possible. They make driving motorcars a nightmare, they crowd the elderly out of lines, they constantly demand attention through ear-splitting volume of their music, and smirkingly call their poor breeding "attitude". They are so selfish and self-centered that they don't even realise that in another 20 or 30 years another generation will have come along that will build further on the oppressive rudeness, and they themselves will become victims of ageism. The ability to reproduce should be licensed, as most people don't take it seriously, and let the television raise their spawn. We keep increasing taxes to educate the monsters, and they keep getting less civilized and more predatory.

- Harvard Wind, Davis, USA

It must be nice to be young and spend all your time on the links whining about the speed of play while the rest of us work. The youth today are fat, lazy, and have no idea about respect. I didn't realise there were so many cry-babies in the clubhouse.

- Juan, New York, USA

I have always considered golf a gentleman's game, played and regulated by gentlemen. This churlish invitation to blatant age discrimination is contrary to the best traditions of the game and should be soundly rejected.

- Ken Hines, Pittsburgh, PA

Golf is about individual honor, tradition, personal challenge and above all a fellowship among like minded individuals. It is one of a small handful of sports that can be enjoyed multi-generationally. I took great joy in passing the game on to my son, who grew up with the game and now competes at the collegiate level. Through golf he learned not only about the importance of honesty and integrity, but at an early age, learned how to interact graciously with adults, including seniors. I guess as a "tweener" - a still working middle age man, I believe that it is this generational tie - senior to junior that makes golf the greatest game ever played. I have yet to run into a senior golfer that did not respect the game and a willingness to let faster players through. Maybe I am just one of the lucky ones - but I doubt it.

- Chris, Palm Harbor, Florida, USA

Solve the problem by taking these huge expanses of land that are wasted for this stupid game and using it for something of VALUE.

- Greg, Providence, USA

This is a fact of life......and I realise that I will not always be 24.

- Ty, Fargo, USA

There should be a rule requiring any golfer over 65 who shoots 15 over his age to be 'euthanised'. This will help keep the courses clear as well as take some of the strain off the already overtaxed British health care system. It will also encourage golfers to hone their skills throughout their playing days, if they want those days to be many.

- Mike, USA

Everybody is in a hurry. Either wait until the party ahead of you is clear of the hole being played and preferably teed off on the next hole. Golf is not a speed sport. Try walking.

- Ed Felton, Chattanooga, USA

My father took a 25 year break from golf to work and raise a family. As a retiree he is enjoying every day on the golf course.

- Margaret, Alexandria, USA

Golf is for old people
Let them play it
Tis' better for us younger people to take up something more interstinglike Bowling.

- Gentry Beanecutt, UK

Here it is the younger golfer taking too long. They line-up every putt just like Tiger AND Phil, taking forever. I've played with both younger and senior golfer (and woman golfers) and the younger ones play like the guys on TV. But they know nothing about etiquette, repairing pitch marks, raking sand, etc. And don't get me started on proper golf attire.

- Frank, Denver, Co, USA

We put the money into the game. As they say in Boston; tough!

- Tommy. Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

Everybody is in such a big hurry these days! While I do not condone taking too much time on a course, there are equally problematic folks that want to play speed golf and try to intimidate the leading party by hitting into them.

You inpatient guys: go play darts or go bowling, you have no place in golf.

- Deano, Phoenix, AZ

There just isn't a good excuse for 18 holes to take over 4 hours and usually should take just 3.5 hours on a busy day. Seniors should be allowed to play anytime they wish within club rules. It is the club's responsibility to marshall the course properly. If seniors can't keep it moving, they shouldn't be on the golf course. It's just commons sense and common courtesy.

- Tim Pyle, Camarillo, CA

Typical nonsense. A round of golf should be a fun and relaxing activity not a speed race. Let's see how these "younger" players feel about this when they get a little older.

- N, USA

The problem lies a short putt away from course management, and that breaks down to money. If golfing establishments would hire their marshalls, limit groups to foursomes, time-stamp starting times, and enforce the rules, there would be no problems.
People have not become rude... People have always been rude! The difference now is, the rudeness is accepted in the path of making the maximum buck.

- Chip Flatow, San Antonio, Texas

It's not hard: get a cart, move along, hit the ball, move along, and if you can't play at a reasonable speed, watch behind you and immediately let the able bodied play through.

Rules of Golf make it VERY clear: slower groups MUST let faster groups play through. And if you don't, know that we're making fun of you and making jokes every time you hack or miss a 3' putt.

- Wes Hagen, Sta. Rita Hills, CA

Why is it that golfers insist on pushing everyone through the course like an assembly line? You really can't enjoy the game when some idiot is yelling at you from the previous hole to keep moving, even though you really aren't taking your time. This game is so frustrating in itself that I've quit. So there, you have another empty space on the course.
Stupid game!

- Paul Stakun, Zephyrhills, FL USA

The older golfers have earned the right to play as often as they want and to take as long as they want. The problem with the current generation is they are too used to instant gratification in life. They need to put down that
non-fat no-foam latte and enjoy life.

- Obi Wan Kenobi, UK

Old golfers never die they only bung up the holes.

- Frank, England

If you think the UK is bad try out here. 5-6 hours a round in high season. I think the problem stems from watching golf on the telly. The professioonals play slowly, analysing shots and putts from all angles and forever marking the ball before putting out. They are doing it for a living but more and more club golfers do it without any benefit to their game and it slows everything down.
Finally, there is a total lack of etiquette out here. Hopefully there are still some manners back in the UK.

- David Keller, Scottsdale, Arizona

I have been playing for over 60 years. For 45 of those years I have raised a family worked hard in business and only been able to play at weekends.
Now in my eighties I am able to play twice-three times a week and leave weekends to the younger element. I always enjoyed playing with the older generation in the past as one learned a lot with regard to the rules and etiquite. A round of golf for a 4 ball took 3 1/2 hours and a 2 ball medal less.
Now it takes forever- 4 to 5 hours and the scoring is no better. Courtesy has gone and general behaviour has declined. I am certainly not against younger members, in fact I enjoy playing with them but there is certainly an aura of ageism coming into the game which was never there in the past. Oh well such is life!

- I Foster, Bromley, Kent

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