Tom Galloway (98) still playing in Scottish Alliance championship
Old golfers never die, they just keep on playing in the Scottish Alliance championship!
Competing in this week's (Tuesday to Thursday) 54-hole event, hosted by Moray Golf Club at Lossiemouth are 98-year-old Tom Galloway from Dunfermline and 86-year-old John Edmiston from Burntisland. They must breed them to last in Fife.
Tom, a regular at the event, announced in 2000 that he was playing in his last Alliance championship. But he keeps coming back for more.
Eight years ago, he celebrated his 90th birthday by playing three rounds of golf in one day! He endeavours to play golf at least three or four times a week.
Galloway did not take up golf until the age of 62 when he took early retirement from an Edinburgh brewers.
“I decided to retire early the day I heard that one of my colleagues who had worked on until he was 65, died a day or so after he retired,” said Tom.
“I made up my mind I was not going to sit about the house. I had to take up some activity that guaranteed getting me out and about and golf seemed to fit the bill.
“I went to evening classes to learn the game. I did get down to four of a handicap within two years of starting."
Aberdeen Hazlehead Golf Shop staff professional Colin Nelson, who partnered Tom in one Alliance championship, said later:
“The man’s a marvel. He never held us up at all and you could see that on a links course with a lot of run he could still play a fair game, even in his 90s. It was a privilege to play with Tom Galloway.”
The final twist in the remarkable story of Tom Galloway is that he was born in 1910 at HMS Ganges, a Royal Naval training station in Suffolk, the son of an artillery instructor. Tom served in the Royal Air Force in World War II.
He has never smoked or touched alcohol in his life _ despite being a chief brewer! But he does not eat fresh fruit nor vegetables apart from potatoes.
“Steak and potatoes is my favourite dish. Can’t get enough of it,” says Tom.
John Edmiston tees off in his first round over the Moray New course at 9.01am tomorrow. Tom Galloway is also play the New course, at 11am.
Among the leading candidates to win the Scottish Alliance title this week over 54 holes are two former winners, Caldwell professional Craig Everett and Forres amateur international Bryan Fotheringham.
Competing in this week's (Tuesday to Thursday) 54-hole event, hosted by Moray Golf Club at Lossiemouth are 98-year-old Tom Galloway from Dunfermline and 86-year-old John Edmiston from Burntisland. They must breed them to last in Fife.
Tom, a regular at the event, announced in 2000 that he was playing in his last Alliance championship. But he keeps coming back for more.
Eight years ago, he celebrated his 90th birthday by playing three rounds of golf in one day! He endeavours to play golf at least three or four times a week.
Galloway did not take up golf until the age of 62 when he took early retirement from an Edinburgh brewers.
“I decided to retire early the day I heard that one of my colleagues who had worked on until he was 65, died a day or so after he retired,” said Tom.
“I made up my mind I was not going to sit about the house. I had to take up some activity that guaranteed getting me out and about and golf seemed to fit the bill.
“I went to evening classes to learn the game. I did get down to four of a handicap within two years of starting."
Aberdeen Hazlehead Golf Shop staff professional Colin Nelson, who partnered Tom in one Alliance championship, said later:
“The man’s a marvel. He never held us up at all and you could see that on a links course with a lot of run he could still play a fair game, even in his 90s. It was a privilege to play with Tom Galloway.”
The final twist in the remarkable story of Tom Galloway is that he was born in 1910 at HMS Ganges, a Royal Naval training station in Suffolk, the son of an artillery instructor. Tom served in the Royal Air Force in World War II.
He has never smoked or touched alcohol in his life _ despite being a chief brewer! But he does not eat fresh fruit nor vegetables apart from potatoes.
“Steak and potatoes is my favourite dish. Can’t get enough of it,” says Tom.
John Edmiston tees off in his first round over the Moray New course at 9.01am tomorrow. Tom Galloway is also play the New course, at 11am.
Among the leading candidates to win the Scottish Alliance title this week over 54 holes are two former winners, Caldwell professional Craig Everett and Forres amateur international Bryan Fotheringham.
Title-holder Graeme McInnes (Murcar Links) is a late entry as is Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club professional Neil Colquhoun.
The entry has risen to around 100, thanks to 20 or so late entries.
*Picture of Tom Galloway above, by Cal Carson Golf Agency, was taken five years ago when, of course, he was playing in a Scottish Alliance championship at Newmachar.
*Picture of Tom Galloway above, by Cal Carson Golf Agency, was taken five years ago when, of course, he was playing in a Scottish Alliance championship at Newmachar.
Labels: Alliance
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Monday, October 06, 2008
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