Home » 2,000 and counting: Desert golfer has perfected the art of shooting his age

2,000 and counting: Desert golfer has perfected the art of shooting his age

Ray Vanyo is a member at Mission Lakes Country Club, where he first shot his age 22 years ago.

Inagolf-crazedarealiketheCoachellaValley,withitsolderdemographic,theideaofagolfermatchingorbeatingtheiragefor18holesishardlyunusual.It’snotthatunheardofforgolferstobreaktheiragedozensoftimes,orevenhundredsoftimes. ThenthereistheridiculouslevelthatRayVanyohasachieved. The87-year-oldVanyo,aformerprofessionalplayerandaccomplishedamateurgolfer,hasshothisagemorethan2,000times.Tobeprecise,2,040,asoflastSaturdayafteraroundatMissionLakesCountryClubinDesertHotSprings,whereVanyoisamember. “That’seasy,”whenVanyoisaskedwhenhefirstshothisage.“Iwas65anditwashere(atMissionLakes).Solike2003.” Thesedays,Vanyoisplayingshorterteesthanhe’saccustomedtoathistwocourses,MissionLakesandSunLakesCountryClubinBanning,whereVanyolives.Theshortertees–5,334onSaturdayatMissionLakes–aretheresultofcarpaltunneldisorderandnowaboutwithsciaticapain. “Ijustcan’thittheballasfarasIwantrightnow,”Vanyosaid.“ButIthinkinNov