By MATT NICHOLLS
RON Dixon is not your average competition golfer.
The 91-year-old “shot his age” for the 100th time at Wauchope last week – more than 15 years after initially achieving the feat.
Shooting your age is regarded as a badge of honour among golfers and most spend their lifetime trying to achieve it.
But Mr Dixon, who only took up competition golf when he retired, has his peers in awe on the fairways.
“All the boys made a big fuss of it when I shot my age for the first time. It was my 75th birthday and I shot 74,” he said.
“They said it was a great achievement, so I kept a record every time I did it.”
Mr Dixon plays weekly in the Wauchope Veterans men’s competition on Tuesdays, but it took him four months to go from 99 to 100.
“It is something I’m proud of,” Mr Dixon said.
Born in Tempe, which now borders the Sydney Airport, Mr Dixon spent much of his childhood in Carlton, helping his mother look after his young siblings.
In his early teens he would wake up at 1am to work on the milk carts.
Mr Dixon also spent a short time working for the post office before joining the Army in the midst of World War II.
Between 1940 and 1942, he served overseas, spending time in Egypt, Syria and Port Moresby.
“It was an eye-opening experience,” Mr Dixon said.
When his duty was complete, Mr Dixon returned briefly to the post office before working for the government.
He married Margorie in 1946 and they are still happily married now.
“We’ve got 11 grandkids and 13 and a half great grandkids … one is on the way,” Mr Dixon said with a smile.
As for golf, there are no immediate plans to stop playing.
“I still enjoy playing. I hurt my shoulder a little while back and I’ve lost most of my strength as a result, but I’ll keep playing for a while yet,” he said.
