BLUE Lake Golf Club member Cyril Price has once again achieved a feat few can boast in a lifetime, with the 94-year-old golfer shooting under his age for the 39th time.
He scored an impressive four shots under his age to finish the 18-hole public links course in 90 shots.
This accomplishment eludes most golfers for the length of their careers, but it is something Price is more than familiar with.
“I have done it quite a lot,” he said.
“Since Golf Link started I have shot 39 times under my age.
“It’s very rare.
“Don Bradman – the cricketer – could and Max Dale in Glenelg, he did.
“There was Ross Schultz in Naracoorte, he is in a nursing home up there now, he could play under his age.
“And I’m the fourth – the only four in the state who I have ever known.”
Price said he has also shot to his age around 20 times, while scoring just one over his age on a similar number of occasions.
He said he is confident with a “bit of luck” he will achieve his 40th time under age.
Formerly a member at the Mount Gambier Golf Club, Price made the move to the Blue Lake Golf Links where he has now been for over a decade.
“I was out there (Mount Gambier Golf Club) for about 40 years, but I have been up here (Blue Lake Golf Club) for 15 or 16 years now,” he said.
Despite his obvious talent for the sport, Price was no early bloomer, only taking it up after a friend asked him out for a game.
“I did not start young, I was about 40 before I ever hit a golf ball,” he said.
“A bloke said come around and have a game of golf, it’s a good sport.
“He took me out and of course it became a real disease – you cannot get back to it quick enough.”
When asked what drives his passion for the game, Price said it could be a lot more rewarding than other sports where you rely on a team.
“It’s not like football where you have got 18 people helping you,” he said.
“It’s only you and that little white ball and a four and 5/8th hole up at the other end.”
Despite being “through the grinder” at times in his life, Price said he still feels fit and will continue to play golf for as long as he is able.
In his youth, Price was also talented in a range of other sports, with table tennis in particular something he had a gift for.
“I have played a lot of sport,” he said.
“I have played A Grade cricket, I have played A Grade tennis and A Grade table tennis.
“I was also a fairly good skater and a fairly good ballroom dancer I suppose.
“I have been around you could say, I enjoy sport.”
Having never smoked or consumed alcohol, Price said he does not believe these factors are major contributors to his fitness at his age.
“Life’s a lottery I think,” he said.
“It’s like everything else, you get out of it what you put into it.”
With over 50 years of experience in golf, Price has also passed his knowledge on to others and said he has helped many people during his time in the sport he loves.
“It’s a good game,” he said.
“It’s the biggest humbler in the world, it’ll humble the very best golfers.
“It depends on the day and a bit of luck.”
