My grandpa is a die-hard baseball fan. From his childhood days watching the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field to years working at Angel Stadium, he could fill a library with the knowledge and memories he's collected from his decades around the game. I've been fortunate enough to hear most of those stories and take in more than a few games with him, but outside of playing catch when I was kid, the one thing I never really got to experience was playing baseball with him.
Golf is one of the rare sports where you can play alongside people of all ages, from juniors just learning the game to grandparents who’ve been playing longer than most of us have been alive. Playing with a grandparent isn’t just another round, it’s a chance to hear the stories, soak up the lessons, and share the kind of moments you’ll remember much longer than whatever you put on the scorecard that day. Here’s why:
1. The Rules Expert
Golf Digest
The SCGA prides itself on being an authority when it comes to rules, but I bet there are some people in the building here (myself definitely included) who could learn a thing or two from someone who's seen it all. No matter how much you read the rule book, there's sometimes no substitute for witnessing every possible outcome that you might come across on the course. Whether it’s clarifying if you get relief from a ball that ended up in a gopher hole or explaining what to do when your ball hit a power line running over the fairway, they’ve probably been there before.
2. The Human Rangefinder
Before the days of GPS apps and rangefinders, golfers learned to eyeball yardages and the best of them can still do it. When you've played a course enough times, you know just how each green breaks, where the wind blows at different points of the day, and can map out each hole from memory. Grandparents are masters of “it plays about 7 yards longer up this hill”, usually backed up with a story about how they once hit an perfectly drawn 7-iron to hole out for eagle back in ’76. It's like having your own caddie.
3. The Storyteller
Golf is about more than scorecards, and no one proves that better than grandparents. Between shots, they’ll share tales of famous rounds, legendary bad breaks, and maybe even the time they brushed shoulders with a tour pro. It’s entertainment and education rolled into one — and it keeps the walk between holes a lot more fun.
4. The Cheerleader
LPGA
Grandpa might not have ever thought he'd be called a cheerleader, but the fact is that he and grandma will always be your biggest supporters. There’s nothing like hearing “nice swing” from someone who’s seen there fair share of nice swings. They'll always be impressed by how far you can smoke a drive (and be sure to tell you they used to do the same). Grandparents tend to have a knack for encouragement, especially when the round isn’t going your way. That little reminder that “golf is supposed to be fun” can reset your whole day.
5. The Community Builder
At the heart of all of this is the fact that grandparents know that the most important thing is sharing the game you love. From their own grandkids to their fellow grandparents, they're are often the ones who keep golf communities thriving. Golf is built around multi-generational connections. Whether it’s organizing weekly games, running their home club, or just welcoming newcomers with open arms, grandparents know how to build lasting bonds.
Grandparents bring balance, perspective, and character to every foursome. They embody the traditions of the game while reminding us to keep it fun. And while they may not hit it as far as they used to or score as low as they did in their prime, they'll probably still give you a run for your money by using their Handicap Index and decades of experience. This Grandparent's Day, or any day, give the grandparents in your golf life their due because every round is better when they’re part of it.
