It's one thing to shoot your age. It's another to do it consistently.
Jim Cranston, 80, and a member of Beacon Woods Golf Club at Bayonette Point, has been playing since the age of 12, long before graphite and titanium became part of golf's vernacular. Shooting in the 70s, without today's high-tech equipment, isn't a problem for Cranston.
Cranston, a former sergeant-major who served more than 20 years in the Marines, moved to Florida from Milwaukee 25 years ago. He grew up in Scranton, Pa., where he learned the game from his father.
"My dad played and I would walk around the course with him," Cranston said. "I just liked to go and play around. It was fun. I never had a lesson in my life."
He never tried to model his game after anyone in particular, though Cranston did keep his eye on Sam Snead, who had one of the sweetest swings in the game.
It has paid off, thanks to the development of a fine short game. Cranston said he never was long off the tee, banging it around 240 yards in his prime, and he now is down to about 220, but always straight.
His short game keeps him around par. He plays three times a week with a group of longtime friends and said he shoots his age around 65 percent of the time. He has three holes-in-one to his credit - his last in 2001 - and won the Beacon Woods club championship in 1987. He was runnerup twice before that.
Cranston said his back bothers him from time to time, but he still plans to maintain his schedule.
"I've been shooting my age since I turned 71," Cranston said. "I just hope I can keep going."
Cranston said he is impressed by today's professionals, but the game isn't quite the same.
"I'm amazed at the progression of the game," Cranston said. "The guys today have so much instruction and with the amount of instruction and the upgrade of equipment, it's different, but the players are kind of robotic."
Cranston no longer competes in the club tournaments, but his heart is still in the game
COMING UP: Junior Fox University will hold its camp for youths ages 7-14 at Fox Hollow Golf Club throughout June. Each session includes instruction, range balls, video swing analysis, course experience and awards. Cost is $99 for Fox Hollow members, $19 for nonmembers. Call (727) 376-6333.
Fox Hollow will host a ladies clinic from 10-11 a.m this month. The schedule: Monday, tempo and rhythm; June 14, iron game; June 21, fairway woods; June 28, driving. Cost is $10 per session. Call (727) 376-7317 for details.
Springer's Gulf Harbor Golf Club (New Port Richey) will charge $7 for all-you-can-play golf throughout the summer. There will be an additional $5 per player for cart fees for the par-60 course.
Beacon Woods will charge $25 fees throughout the summer.
Forest Hills Golf Club (Holiday) is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a $6 per player scramble on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The club also offers $14 greens fees, including a cart, for 18 holes throughout the summer.
Plantation Palms Golf Club (Land O'Lakes) will host clinics for players ages 8-17 June 22-25, and July 6-9. The program consists of five days of two-and-a-half hour lessons ranging from driving to putting and etiquette.
Fox Hollow Golf Club: Lou Swentek, 8th hole, 7-iron; Tony Tomes, 5th hole, 11-wood.
Heritage Pines: Dave Shields, 12th hole, 5-iron.
Springer's Gulf Harbor Golf Club : Wes Gregory; Daisy Cochran.
Timber Greens Country Club: Steve Dutton, 10th hole, 7-iron, Shirley Mummaw, 13th hole, 9-iron.
TAKING REQUESTS: We are expanding our Pasco County golf coverage to provide information on anything and everything that might be happening at your club. Please e-mail notices to jberlinicke@att.net
