Oliver rolls back the years
Age is no handicap as 86-year-old ex-club president seals a popular Captain’s Prize win at Malahide
HANDICAPS are designed to create a level playing field so that everyone feels like that have a chance of landing that coveted captain’s prize. So given the somewhat fraught reaction on social media channels to the introduction by CONGU on January 1 of the new maximum competition handicap of 54, it was heartening to see the joyous reaction to a 32-handicapper winning the Captain’s Prize at Malahide last weekend at the ripe old age of 86.
In order to prepare for the proposed introduction of a World Handicap System (WHS) from 2020, a new Category 5 for Men and Category 6 for both Men and Women was introduced earlier year.
It led to complaints from some quarters – mainly the low-men who fear they will never again occupy the winner’s rostrum – that the bandits would have a field day.
Of course, nothing could be further from the truth.
The new handicaps are designed to encourage golfers who might be getting on in age and waning in ability to get out and play more often and feel they could still be reasonably competitive.
After all, many had been stuck on the maximum handicap 28 for years with nowhere else to go.
As Jerome Clancy, the Convenor of the National Handicap Committee for the GUI and the ILGU said in January, “There are a lot more men and women in their 70s, 80s and 90s who still want to play golf and they want to be tested in their own category.”
In others words, it’s all about boosting participation in a game that is struggling to keep its head above water.
Little wonder then that there was great rejoicing at Malahide last weekend when Oliver O’Farrell, who celebrates his 87th birthday next Monday, claimed Captain Jim McMahons’ Prize at the 57th attempt.
Playing off a handicap of 32, Oliver took to his buggy – he’s had two hips and one knee replaced – and followed up his 38 points in the qualifier with another 38 points on the final day, playing in the penultimate threeball.
President of Malahide in 1991 and one of the club’s most popular characters, his score of 76 was hailed the winning tally once the final threeball had finished.
Oliver and his wife Bunny received hearty congratulations from all and sundry and he was just sipping a celebratory whiskey in the bar when rumblings of a possible playoff emerged.
It turned out that one of Oliver’s partners, 21-year old David Smith – an Intermediate member playing off 12 – had incorrectly cut himself one shot from the qualifying day.
And so a three-hole playoff between 21-year old David and 86-year-old Ollie ensued with the senior member enjoying a five-shot advantage.
At the first playoff hole, Ollie played a miraculous shot from behind a tree, finding the green go one point up.