Gary Player eat your heart out! Scottish golfer makes incredible age claim

Ian Wilson survived a heart attack just last year – but that hasn’t stopped the avid golfer from teeing up at his beloved Craigie Hill.

The 86-year-old retired insurance salesman recovered from major surgery to become the oldest player to win the Perth club’s prestigious Frews Handicap Trophy in July.

Not only that, Ian has an astonishing claim that would make even Gary Player blush.

Born in Glasgow, Ian played off one in his prime, but is now a solid 10-handicap at Craigie Hill, where he has been a member since 1967.

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“I have always loved my golf since I became a junior member at Ralston, near Paisley, when I was 12,” he told the Perthshire Advertiser.

“I was also at Largs Kelburn before my work took me south and I joined Camberley Heath near Wentworth.

“I have always enjoyed playing Craigie Hill. I’m the second oldest member here behind Sandy McLaren, who is in his nineties and still playing in the Caley League for the club.

“I reckon I must have beaten my age more than 450 times over the years.”

Ian has some way to go if he wants to beat nine-time major champion Player, though.

“I still shoot par,” Player told bunkered last month. “I’ve beaten my age 3,133 times in a row. I want to try and get it to 4,000. Whether I can do it or not, I don’t know.

“Lee Trevino said, ‘What’s so good about that? You’re nearly 89 and you’ve got to shoot 17-over to beat your age!’ He said, ‘When you get to 95 and do it, I’ll come and say well done.'”

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Craigie Hill, which dates back to 1911, has recently submitted plans to reduce its existing 18 holes to a nine-hole layout and using the space to create a new sports and community hub.

“In a way I will be sorry because it has been an enjoyable 18-hole test in all my days here,” Ian, who is also a member of Crieff and, until last year, Elie, added.

“But I think nine-hole courses, with two tee options, are the way ahead given the limitation on young people’s time nowadays.

“We are looking to secure the future of the golf club of the golf club so it can be enjoyed for generations to come.”

One thing’s for sure, it will certainly help him add to his incredible achievement.

(Gary Player photo credit: Getty Images; Ian Wilson photo credit: Facebook)

Alex Perry is the Associate Editor of bunkered. A journalist for more than 20 years, he has been a golf industry stalwart for the majority of his career and, in a five-year spell at ESPN, covered every sporting event you can think of. He completed his own Grand Slam at the 2023 Masters, having fallen in love with the sport at his hometown club of Okehampton and on the links of nearby Bude & North Cornwall.

Associate Editor