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
