Oldest swinger in town?

10:25am Thursday 1st February 2007

RAY BURROUGHS meets Frank Reynolds, a man whose passion for golf shows no sign of waning.

THE recent wet weather would have been enough to send most golfers scurrying for the clubhouse - but not 83-year-old Frank Reynolds.

Such is the Stratton man's love of the game that he's straight off to grab a bucket of balls and bash away at the driving range of course!

And if that's not enough, he then sets off for the gym!

The energetic pensioner is a senior member at both Highworth and Broome Manor and plays as many times as he can.

With his handicap of 21, Frank is still competitive when he plays with senior colleagues in competitions.

"I play to win but I don't mind losing, it is just a good sociable game. My biggest ambition is to play to my age, that's my target," he said.

Frank has already managed that holy grail for all golfers - the hole in one.

He recalled: "A few years ago at Broome Manor we were following a group of Swindon Town footballers and I hit a decent shot over the water on the sixth.

"It landed on the green and rolled into the hole.

"In true Scottish tradition I didn't have any money in my pocket that day to get a round in at the clubhouse.

"Anyway it would have been bad for the footballers drinking alcohol in midweek!"

Colleagues at Highworth won't let him get away with that again, although they do have great admiration for the octegenarian.

Geoff Marsh who plays regularly with him, said: "He's just got so much energy.

"He is good value for his handicap and we all enjoy a round of golf with him.

"He is always trying new ways of improving his golf but if he ever gets a hole in one playing with us we will make sure he has some money in his pocket, we wouldn't let him get away with it again!"

Golf has always been part of Frank's life, having caddied at his local course in Gullane in Scotland while still at school before saving up to buy his first golf club - a five iron.

"It was always my intention to be a professional golfer and the feeling has stuck with me all my life,'' he admitted.

"I still feel now at my age I would like to be a pro - I think I'm going back to my second childhood!"

In a varied career, he was steward at Frilford Heath Golf Club in Oxfordshire before moving to Wiltshire.

"It was hard work looking after and catering for anything up to 60 golfers a day, though I really enjoyed it,'' he added.

Not that golf is his only interest. As well as his visits to the gym at Broome Manor he also plays indoor bowls at Westlecot.

"I have a go at cycling, rowing and a bit of weightlifting, in fact I try and go round all 24 pieces of equipment in the gym,'' he said.

"The one I haven't tried yet is the treadmill. I feel the benefit of the exercises and I'm almost a stone lighter than when I left school.

"I play bowls every Monday morning at Westlecot and really enjoy it, then I go straight out and play 18 holes.

"The bowlers think I'm mad!"

But golf remains his real passion, Europe's Ryder Cup win over the United States in Ireland last September being a particular fond memory.

He added: "I have met Ian Woosnam a few times and several of the pros. Woosnam is a smashing fellow and all the golfers play their guts out for him.

"Arnold Palmer was always one of my heroes and when I was a youngster - they used to kid me that I looked like him.

"And I'm a big fan of David Howell.

"I think he has got a better swing than Tiger Woods, I really do, and better than Ernie Els and Vijay Singh - in fact several of the top boys.

"However I think Tiger is magic, he's got that great will to win."