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<\/p>\nDr. Jerry Weis turned 90 in April and celebrated the way a lot of golfers would hope \u2013 quietly, then back to the course.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was actually low key. We went out to dinner and I had a very nice time with my soulmate,\u201d he says. \u201cDid I play golf? I don’t remember. May have (he smirked), but did I play well? That much I can\u2019t recall. That’s one of the perks of being 90. You can always say you don’t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The thing everyone at Vi at Bentley Village in Naples, Florida does remember is this: Weis recently won his eighth club championship, more than anyone in the community\u2019s history. That would be impressive at any age. At 90 \u2013 and after two open-heart surgeries and a knee replacement \u2013 it feels almost mythical.<\/p>\n
More Than a Club, A Community<\/p>\n
Weis lights up when he describes the place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s a beautiful senior retirement community, with a facility that sits on 156 acres,\u201d he described. \u201cHave an 18 hole par three golf course that\u2019s senior friendly, but it’s very challenging and picturesque with water on 12 holes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The golf program is robust, thanks to PGA Head Professional Stan Geer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of our residents, they’re still members at their other country clubs too, so they kind of bounce back and forth,\u201d says Geer. \u201cWe do about 28,000 rounds a year, run about 240 golf events a year, pretty much what you get at a typical country club just on a smaller scale. Around 380 active golfers throughout the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
The campus also leans modern, and Weis loves the practice tools.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a nice practice facility and two state-of-the-art simulators. Since we don’t have room on campus for a full range, we get spoiled by the simulators and don’t even need to go stand in the sun on a driving range.\u201d<\/p>\n
With such amazing amenities, of course, the \u201cyoung\u201d players keep showing up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople usually come in here when they’re about 75 or 85, and these club championships get more difficult every year when you have these 75-year-old flat bellies moving in.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, it only takes 30 seconds with Weis to learn he never shies away from competition. Right after inviting PGA.com to experience Bentley Village, he asked about handicaps and started calculating the number of strokes he\u2019d have to give.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cYou might outperform me, but you won’t outwork me,\u201d he says. That\u2019s always been his motto and it\u2019s reflected in his life story.<\/p>\n
Competitive Out of the Gate<\/p>\n
As a 12-year-old caddie, he earned his loops and the elders\u2019 respect with work ethic and a strong game. As one could imagine, you grow up quickly in a 1940s caddie shack. Some of those learnings left a lasting imprint.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt that stage, I wasn\u2019t planning on playing my whole life, but I certainly couldn\u2019t picture my life without golf \u2013 if that makes sense,\u201d he explains. \u201cThat really set the foundation for my competitive nature, in both golf and life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Weis went on to become a chiropractic doctor, blending his passion for both physical and mental health. Along the way, he came to recognize his own nature as a prototype \u201canalytical driver’ personality \u2013 logical, detail-oriented and results-driven.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess it\u2019s part of my DNA,\u201d he says. \u201cI love competition, I love challenges. And Lord knows that golf is the ultimate challenge. As hard as you try, but you never get it exactly right. For me, I enjoy practicing as much, if not more, than playing. It\u2019s the challenge \u2013 and then seeing the work pay off in the results.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m blessed with average ability, so the only option is to work harder.\u201d<\/p>\n
Geer sees the same thing every day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe does a lot of stuff correct with the golf swing, but as hard as he works at golf, he works that hard at fitness,\u201d Geer says. \u201cAfter playing, he’ll usually go down to the fitness center to stretch and work on balance \u2013 if he\u2019s not on the course, he\u2019s in the gym. On top of that, he is a very astute, educated person on the golf swing and course strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a PGA Professional, you watch certain people play and they never beat themselves. He’s definitely one of them. No matter how he starts in these club championships, come the final day he usually reels ’em in and surpasses them. It’s been fun to watch. He won’t tell you this, but he also plays golf eight days a week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Weis, with effortless comedic timing: \u201cThat\u2019s not true, I only play on days that end with \u2018y\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Roots of a Strong Friendship<\/p>\n
Geer has known Weis for his entire tenure at Bentley Village.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve been here 12 years now,\u201d he says. \u201cI think it was my first day in the office. He goes, \u2018Take a ride with me.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
They took a golf car out the 8th hole, where a long-standing tree partially covers the green. Weis pointed and firmly asked: \u201cWhat are you going to do about that?\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
\u201cI dunno, I\u2019m not an arborist,\u201d Geer quipped.<\/p>\n
Over the last decade-plus, the tree has survived three hurricanes and multiple assassination attempts from Weis.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve tried copper nails, salt and pepper, I\u2019ve tried everything!\u201d Weis says with a belly-rumbling laugh. \u201cBut yes, it’s still there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Geer\u2019s solution was elegantly simple \u2013 and sneakily PGA-Pro smart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI quickly found the superintendent and said on days of the week when Dr. Weis plays, put the flag on the right side of the green so we don’t have to worry about the tree.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI never knew you did that, Stan,\u201d Weis responded. \u201cI guess that was before you figured out I played on the days that end in \u2018y\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ouch.<\/p>\n
A Championship Comeback\u00a0<\/p>\n
The battle to come back was real. After responding beautifully to his second open heart surgery, Weis still wasn\u2019t sure he\u2019d be well enough to play in the 2024 championship. His mindset was clear: winning wasn\u2019t the goal, just the joy of having a club back in his hands and the flow of competition pumping through his veins.<\/p>\n
Then came the gut check.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe day before the tournament, I went out and played a few holes, took a few swings, and I said, \u2018You are a fricking idiot. This is not going to work.\u2019 So I packed it in and let someone else enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t sulk, instead he encouraged and watched as a friend soared. \u201cA very good golfer and close friend, Eric Thom, won the title. But coming into the last round, he was six strokes and didn\u2019t think he had a chance,\u201d Weis reveals, sharing a story that made Geer sit up in his seat. \u201cI said, yes, you do. Just focus on the next shot. Not the one before and not the one after it, just play the shot in front of you. And by golly, guess what? He did. I was more excited about him winning than had I won!\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
In all fairness, Weis had won the prior four years in a row, so maybe it was time to give someone else a shot.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Through the PGA Professional lens, we asked Geer what other golfers bouncing back from an injury or medical procedure can learn from Weis:<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was really good about listening to his own body, and knowing when not to push it too much. He plays early in the morning when it’s not too hot, he knows his limitations and he will not overdo it. He never has. He prepares much like he plays: He will not make the dumb mistakes that everybody else seems to fall trap to.\u201d<\/p>\n
The eight-time champ summed it up simply: \u201cIt’s always been my contention that the spoils in golf don’t always go to the best players. Quite often they go to the smartest ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rivalries, a Playoff and a Little Trash Talk<\/p>\n
Back in contention for 2025, this year\u2019s title was decided by a playoff. You guessed it: Weis squared off against his good friend and the defending champ, Eric Thom.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, on the first playoff hole, Eric hit a poor shot and that let me to win with a par,\u201d Weis says, humbly. \u201cThere are at least a half a dozen golfers here who are better than me. They just don’t know it, and I don’t think I’m obligated to tell them. Eric\u2019s probably one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you haven\u2019t figured it out by now, Weis is a master of the needle-with-a-smile. He enjoys a little banter on the course, and is never afraid to let his opponent know what he\u2019s thinking \u2013 before, during or after the match.<\/p>\n
\u201cI live for the trash talk, that\u2019s what makes it fun. Some people need to hear it, whether they like it or not!\u201d his infectious laugh bellowing again. \u201cSo, we were playing this two-ball match the other day, and our opponents are four down with four holes to go. You can imagine, I’m really talking trash at this stage \u2013 but I’m actually doing it to motivate them. I wanted a match!<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t you know it, they kept playing better and better; winning the last four holes and we broke even. And to me, that’s fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Occasionally Geer will join in on some of the matches, which Weis appreciates because he gets three extra shots from the 10th ranked senior golfer in the South Florida PGA Section. However, don\u2019t think for a second that the pro is safe from heckling.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese guys are tough. They may be 80 or 90, but don’t feel sorry for them,\u201d he grins and confirms the standard. \u201cIf I don’t shoot 5 or 6 under, I\u2019m losing and the next morning I\u2019m going to hear about it from everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) and Perspective<\/p>\n
Weis\u2019s North Star is his positive mental attitude.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s simple, I believe your attitude determines your altitude,\u201d he says. \u201cWe all have choices in life. You can choose to be a positive individual or a negative one \u2013 but if you just stay positive, it’s amazing what you can accomplish. That applies to life and golf. It\u2019s so difficult and such a challenge, you\u2019ll never perfect it. Hell, I saw Stan shank one the other day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Weis loves the power of positivity that\u2019s surged from Geer\u2019s golf program at Bentley Village. Over the years, he\u2019s watched countless 75, 80 and 85-year-old golfers join their community after giving up on golf for any number of reasons. Because regulation courses became too difficult, it was too expensive or simply took too long.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen they come here and they see what we\u2019ve built. They find a course that\u2019s challenging but friendly to them, and only takes two and a half hours. They find a community,\u201d he says, letting his voice quiver slightly on that last part. \u201cThey get excited about the game, they resurrect their golfing career instead of sitting in front of a TV watching other people play. What a deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a PGA Professional, we always take the mantra of growing the game, and here I get to do that by keeping people involved, keeping them active and getting back feeling the joy of camaraderie.<\/p>\n
Stan Geer, PGA Head Professional <\/p>\n
There\u2019s one other way Geer grows the game. During the holidays, Bentley Village is teeming with grandkids \u2013 with their miles of bike paths humming with the sounds of e-bikes and training wheels. Three generations come together to enjoy the outdoors, and golf is at the center of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis course is perfect for family golf,\u201d smiles Weis. \u201cGrandparents and their grandkids playing from the same tee boxes \u2013 what more can you ask for?\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u2019s Next With Weis<\/p>\n
Even with eight club championships, 21 holes in one and a Bentley Village course record (47), Weis is far from done.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI warned Eric that I’m coming for him again next year,\u201d he proclaims. \u201cIn fact, I\u2019ve already started my prep. You see when you’re not that good, you have to try hard. But it’s fine, what else do I have to do?\u201d<\/p>\n
When accused of sandbagging and down playing his ability, he quickly jabs back: \u201cI\u2019m just a realist. I\u2019m OK if someone is better than me. I\u2019m OK if they beat me. I\u2019m not OK if they out work me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond adding to his trophy case, there\u2019s a very specific side quest he\u2019s still pursuing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a lady here, Peg, and she is probably 97 or 98 years old \u2013 cute as a button and a wonderful woman. She claims to have 22 holes in one, and I want to beat her,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen I had 10, she claimed to have 20. When I got to 21, she had 22. If I get to 23, I think she’ll quit stretching the truth and admit defeat.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
One thing is clear, both Peg and Dr. Weis are shining examples of golf being a game for a lifetime. In his signature style of vivid storytelling, he offers advice for any golfer hoping to remain competitive in the face of Father Time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if you\u2019ve ever seen dog sledding, but there\u2019s an old saying: If you ain\u2019t the lead dog, the view never changes,\u201d he says with a wry smile. \u201cEven at 90, I still set goals and I\u2019m able to accomplish most of them. It\u2019s a simple recipe. Stay fit, stay active, keep stretching and work on your balance.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m having a really good ride, and I want to stay in front of the pack for as long as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dr. Jerry Weis turned 90 in April and celebrated the way a lot of golfers would hope \u2013…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":111402,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[566],"tags":[64,63,755,85],"class_list":["post-111401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-golf","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-golf","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=111401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111401\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/111402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=111401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=111401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=111401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}