"Thirty years ago, adviser Yeon Duk-choon was 80. Back then I was 50, and now I've somehow reached that same age."
Born in 1947, Oh Yoon-saeng turns 79 this year. Yet his face is full of vitality and his back stands upright. He still roams the fairways. He does not simply enjoy golf as a hobby but competes in professional tournaments. He was on the list of entrants for the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Grand Senior Championship, which opened Monday at Solago CC's Lago Course (par 72) in Taean, South Chungcheong Province. He is the oldest among the 75 competitors.
Even pros with graying hair took off their hats to greet Oh and ask how he was doing when they crossed paths. Oh said he comes out "for the fun of meeting his juniors." "There are three pros I often spend time with. Han Taek-soo and Moon Chun-bok are five years younger, and Moon Deok-soo is 12 years younger than me. The 'youngest,' Moon Deok-soo, handles miscellaneous tasks like booking practice rounds."
The Senior Championship, which began the previous day, is a tournament for players aged 50 and older, while the Grand Senior Championship that opened Monday is for players aged 60 and older. The Senior Championship marks its 30th edition this year, and Oh has competed since the very first tournament.
"Among the founding members of the Senior Championship, I'm the only one still competing. At the first tournament, I played in the same group as adviser Yeon Duk-choon, and it feels like just yesterday. That gentleman was short but hit the ball far. When I asked his age, he said 80. Inwardly I thought, 'Will I be able to play until that age?' And now I've reached that age."
The late Yeon Duk-choon (1916-2004), a former adviser, was "Korea's first professional golfer." He won the Japan Open in 1941 during the Japanese colonial period, and after retiring from active play, he nurtured younger players and laid the foundation of Korean professional golf.
Even when there are no tournaments, Oh goes out to the fairways about six times a month with his wife and friends. On his secret to staying healthy, he said, "I eat all kinds of food, but even when eating something delicious, I put down my spoon before I get full." Three or four times a week, he visits the gym and works out for two hours. As a result of such efforts, he has maintained his weight of 67 kg unchanged from his 50s until now.
How long will Oh be able to compete? "Even now I can drive the ball 180 to 200 meters. On par-4 holes, I hit the green in regulation 70 to 80 percent of the time. As long as my body holds up, I'll keep coming out and enjoy myself with my juniors."
