Everyone gets a little bit older every day. That is a fact of life. A little older, a little stiffer, and a little wiser.
Golf is funny, because you need so many things to play well, and experience is a big part of the game. That said, how do players balance getting older and stiffer and still take advantage of their years of experience – how do people play great golf at any age?

We asked Dakota Golf Management’s Tom Jansa, age 46 and the recently-retired Terry Comstock that very question.

How do you two, as professionals, balance age and experience?
Tom: One of the great things about golf is that you can be competitive among a large age group. Our group that plays on Wednesdays ranges in age from 25 - 65. Many amateur golfers start to play better as they reach middle age since they have more time to play. And if they have focused on learning how to improve their course management and emotional balance, they are able to get more out of their games.
Terry: I am a big fan of stretching and some strength training. Tiger Woods has proven the importance of both. He is the first to combine flexibility, strength, and technique in the game. It’s funny, however, that he would still be just another player if he were a mediocre putter or he did not possess great determination. We need to keep a golf journal and write in it what we think about and work on. Go back to it from time to time and see what has been working. Experience is very important in playing because it should give us a sense of feel. This in turn should help us with the length of our swing as we get closer to the hole. However, most of us try to hit the ball either softer or harder and therein lies the root of many problems.
Do you have any favorite stretching routines?
Tom: I think that the most important muscles to work on with stretching are the muscles of the back and shoulders. You need to be able to make a complete turn and if your back and shoulders are stiff, it really shortens the swing.
Terry: We are all headed towards rigor mortis. So keeping joints and muscles as limber as possible for as long as possible is a good goal. Do I have favorite stretches? Yes, but anything we do is good. Start by walking a fairly fast paced mile to warm up. Then just start stretching any muscle groups you want and keep at it. Stretching sessions should last at least 15 minutes and if you spend that amount of time you can get in a lot of great stretching. My strength work does not include weights, just crunches, push ups, and lunges. I also do isometrics, working arms against each other as many ways as I can think up.

How has power changed the game, and what to do if a player is not a long hitter?
Tom: Several factors have combined to make the ball go farther. Balls and clubs are highly engineered for distance; course conditions have helped with shorter grass and firmer fairways; players are physically stronger; and swings are better with kids starting earlier and playing more. The added length has obviously made courses shorter and some courses have stretched their yardage out to accommodate. But for the average player playing from the regular tees, the game itself remains pretty much the same. You still have to get the ball in the hole. The shorter hitter who is more accurate and has a great short game will overcome the distance disadvantage a good deal of the time.
Terry: Thick tomes have been written on the subject and it is still a mystery. Power and length have changed the game at the highest levels but not much I think at the average golfer stages. Direction in the long game and distance in the short game are still very important and they can negate power for the average Joe.

How can equipment help?
Tom: It is an advantage to be able to play with equipment that is suited to your physical makeup, swing speed and other swing characteristics. Almost all of the top line manufacturers have a club fitting program and some new clubs can be adjusted to meet the needs of a golfer on a day to day basis.

Do you think that players get better every year, regardless of age?
Tom: Yes, the same driving force that produces improvements in other sports and human endeavors is at work in golf. Better instruction, more avenues for competition, more access for young players and more tools to help you improve have produced better swings and better scores since I have been in the game.

On a scale of 1-5 (being the lowest), please rate and comment on the following:

Experience
Tom: 3 - Assuming that you have had good self awareness and attitude, experience can be very valuable. Just because someone has played a lot does not mean they are experienced. To gain experience, you must constantly focus on the process and not the outcome, both in practice and when you play.
Terry: 3 - I think golfers need to understand ball flight rules, work on their balance as they swing, and leave their frustration somewhere else.

Course Management
Tom: 2 - Good self awareness of your own game and abilities is essential. Too many players lie to themselves or have an unrealistic mental image of their abilities.
Terry: 5 - Course maintenance has improved so much and soft spikes have made the greens putt so much better.

Equipment
Tom: 5 - While it can be very helpful, you still can’t buy a game. No amount of great equipment can overcome poor technique or attitude.
Terry: 4 - Equipment can be a hinderance especially if it doesn’t fit. The golf ball has changed the most in my lifetime. A beat up range ball is probably a better ball than the most expensive ball of 40 years ago.

Power
Tom: 4 - Power is only good if you can maintain your accuracy. And without a short game or course management, it becomes somewhat irrelevant. The woods are full of big hitters, as they say.

Short Game
Tom: 1 - If you want to be the best at any level, develop the best short game. 80% of practice time for most players should be spent on the short game.
Terry: 1 - I would say having a good short game is the quickest way to improvement for most people. It is, however, the last thing most people work on or think they need help with.