A golf club in New Mexico, USA has launched a championship exclusively for members aged 90 and over, highlighting how tailored events can help older golfers stay active, maintain friendships and retain a sense of belonging.
Brad Lardon, PGA director of golf at The Club at Las Campanas in Santa Fe, created the Legacy Club Championship after recognising that his oldest members would benefit from their own competition.
“A lot of folks, as they get way up there in age, sometimes feel forgotten,” Lardon said. “They have fewer friends than they used to, because not many of their friends make it into their 90s. We have to take care of these guys. They pay dues, just like the 50-year-olds, and they matter.”
The club introduced age divisions around a decade ago, with open, over-60, over-70 and over-80 categories. Four golfers aged over 90 were competing in the over-80 division, prompting Lardon to establish a dedicated event.
Jack Keely, Fred Klinghoffer, Paul Hoffman and Frank Hirsch, aged between 90 and 95, contested the inaugural 18-hole strokeplay championship in late September. All four shot their age or better, with Klinghoffer and Hoffman sharing the title after rounds of 88.
Each received a signed photograph of the group on the 18th green, reinforcing the message that they remained valued members.
“I wanted them to know we care,” Lardon said. “You’re still an important part of the membership.”
With the average member at Las Campanas aged around 70, the event underlined the role clubs can play in encouraging continued physical activity and providing regular social contact. For older golfers, a competition offers motivation to keep playing, while shared experiences and recognition can support mental wellbeing.
Lardon said the players’ commitment to looking after themselves had influenced his own outlook during his 11 years at the club.
“No matter how they feel, they take care of themselves,” he said. “It takes a lot of work to keep going as you get older. And the motto is, keep moving.”
He believes adapting the golfing experience is central to keeping members involved as their capabilities change.
“Golf is one of the few sports you can play until the end. Even if you hit it shorter than you used to, or your nerves aren’t what they were, you can still play. Move up a tee. Start at the beginning of the fairway. It’s a beautiful sport.”
“If you can help a guy go from 80 to 95, that’s 15 more years of giving him value and a reason to keep playing,” Lardon said.
He plans to repeat the championship next year and encouraged fellow professionals to introduce their own events, even on a modest scale.
“It could be a nine-hole day. It could be anything,” he said. “Do whatever you can to give them value as people, not just as members.”
The initiative offers a practical lesson for golf club operators: supporting longstanding members means providing opportunities to participate, alongside efforts to attract younger players.
A longer version of this article first appeared on The PGA of America’s website, PGA.com. To read the full article, click here.
The 2026 Golf Business Expo, which is taking place at Sywell Aerodrome on October 7, features a seminar panel featuring Anthony Blackburn, Michelle McGill and Aston Ward discussing ‘How Promoting Golf as Good for Health is also Good for Business’. For more details, visit www.golfbusinessexpo.com.