Golfer Clive completes a remarkable century

Scoring a century on the golf course is not normally good news.

However, in the case of Blenheim golfer Clive Drummond, it is remarkable and entirely newsworthy.

The 87-year-old stalwart of the Blenheim Golf Club recently shot an 18-hole score equal to or better than his age for the 100^th time.

The feat, known as “shooting your age” has been a long-standing milestone for older golfers. Many worldwide have achieved it during their playing careers, but to break the magic barrier on so many occasions is truly rare.

Clive, who has been associated with the Blenheim club since 1982, when he first took up the sport, currently operates off a 16 handicap, but has been as low as six in the early 1990s.

He first equalled his age with a round of 71 in 2009 and has continued to defy the aging process ever since.

Club member Brent Baker has been keeping track of Clive’s achievements and the club plan to recognise his efforts in the near future.

In a recent newsletter, the club saluted their life member thus: “The chances of shooting your age in golf 100 times depends on many factors, including how good you are at the start, how long you play, and how your average score increases with age. If you're a good player who plays a lot of rounds each year, stays healthy, and plays into your 90s, you have a good chance of shooting your age at least once” - this quote taken off the internet.

“Well, our club has a few players who have shot their age, something to celebrate, but we must have one in a billion here because Clive Drummond has shot his age more than 100 times! - and he is nowhere near his 90s! Congratulations Clive.”

The man himself plays down his feat, suggesting he is not one for milestones and does not go out to play with the objective of shooting his age in mind.

“I just go out to try my best each round … if it happens, it happens,” says the sprightly octogenarian who usually plays twice a week.

“I play for exercise and to meet up with the other club members, for comradeship really. [Shooting my age] certainly hasn’t been my motivation to play the game, although I was aware I was approaching the century mark.

“I don’t worry about [shooting my age] as I get towards the end of each round, that doesn’t happen, the score just takes care of itself.”

After reaching the ton, one significant challenge remains for Clive – notching his first hole-in-one.

The motivation for an ace is exacerbated by the fact Clive’s wife Ngaire, also a Blenheim club life member, has achieved that feat twice.

“To get a hole-in-one would definitely be nice,” said Clive, “there is a little bit of rivalry between the two of us, but if it is to be it will be. There’s hope every time you play,” he adds.

The suggestion that as you get older the chances of shooting a score lower than your age improve raises a chuckle from Clive. “I’m not so sure about that,” he says.

Nowadays, Clive must play to his handicap in order to shoot his age, recently going around in 86 to register number 103 on the par-70 Blenheim course.

Given his passion for the game, consistency and philosophical attitude, it seems Clive has no intention of “acting his age” on the golf course any time soon.