If you’re looking for some good odds on the golf course, Mike Asztalos is as close to a sure thing as you’ll find. At 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, a floppy hat hiding his bald head and knee-high flesh-toned stockings protecting varicose veins, he’s not exactly an intimidating figure as he strolls to the first tee.
But mention Asztalos in Pinehurst Resort golfing circles and it’s as if you’ve engaged in a conversation about Ben Hogan, Sam Snead or Jack Nicklaus. Asztalos is not a professional golfer, doesn’t blast his drive 300 yards or is one of the Sandhills teenagers dreaming of making it on the PGA Tour. In fact, Asztalos is rather sheepish about his remarkable golfing accomplishments and often wonders what all the fuss is about.
“Maybe I’m a little behind the times biologically,” says the 86-year-old Asztalos, who has shot his age or better more than 1,200 times. Asztalos first shot his age when he was living in his home state of Wisconsin- a 67 at the age of 69. But since retiring to Pinehurst in 1995, Asztalos has been able to record the feat more than 120-130 times a year-most since reaching his 80s.
Asztalos chuckles when asked if it’s easier to shoot his age or make a hole-in-one, which, by the way, he has accomplished five times in his 73-year golfing career, which started as a 12-year-old caddie outside of Milwaukee. “A hole-in-one is kind of an accident,” he says. “I think shooting your age takes a little more.”
A large portion of golfers aren’t good enough to even think of accomplishing the feat, while the small percentage of talented golfers who might be able to shoot their age often see their talents diminish drastically as they become seniors, let alone into their 80s. And the scores posted by Asztalos are legitimate. The foursome he plays in putts everything outing (even from 6 inches) and they play the regular men’s tees, which measure at least 6,000 yards.
When the Pinehurst Legends Championship rolls around in October, Asztalos will be defending his title-for the sixth straight time. Founded in 2005 by Pinehurst member John Bennett, the Legends Championship is a unique event that includes resort golfers who are 80 years old or older. Last year, a 90-and-over division was formed that included seven players. Asztalos shot 72 in 2005 to win the first Legends Championship, and followed his titles up with winning rounds of 72, 71, 75, 74 and 76 as the only gross score winner in the 6 year history of the event.
Asztalos’ golf game is simple, just like his life. No cell phone, no computer and wife Marjorie has never driven a car in 63 years of marriage. She also doesn’t play golf.
At 86, Asztalos admits he thinks about passing away, just not on the golf course!
Excerpts from an an article by David Droschak, Pinehurst Magazine.
