It was 7:30 a.m. at Overlook Golf Course and more groundskeepers than players were moving about. Hal Shartle tried to lower expectations before he placed his first ball on the tee.
“I’m a lousy golfer,” he said. “You’ll have to bear with me.”
The comment was more self-deprecating than true and the critique hardly seemed to matter. There were other reasons to be here squeezing in nine holes before the July heat became unbearable.
Shartle is part of a group called Parsormore. A collection of retirees who fill their summer months by navigating some of the area’s best courses.
The group, believed to be named by Dan Dilley, one of its earliest members, was founded in the late 1960s. The name, when broken up, reads Pars-or-more. A tongue-in-cheek reference to the scores that typically get posted. There aren’t many birdies.
“Not at our age,” said Bill Kleine, 81.
Parsormore has 62 members and operates with by-laws. One must play 25 rounds between April 1 and Oct. 31 to remain in the advanced section. The duffers gather twice a week and participate in five or six tournaments each summer.
The appeal isn’t to take a tiny pencil and write the lowest number possible on a scorecard. It’s something more human and basic.
“When you get older, you look forward to things as simple as playing 18 holes of golf and maybe getting a par or two,” Kleine said. “You throw a couple of bucks in and it’s fun to compete. It’s a mix of everything you enjoyed in life thrown into retirement.”
Golf, at this stage, is a way to push back the hands of time.
“To be in our group, if you want to be considered young, you need to be about 75,” said Pete Kleine, who is 87 and is Bill’s uncle.
One member of Parsormore stands out from the rest. Bill Kleine called Shartle his “role model.” He’s an inspiration for the other old timers.
That’s because Shartle is the oldest of them all. He’s 100.
Close
Don Rossi, left, watches a centenarian golfer Hal Shartle makes a tee shot while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle watches his ball in the air as he plays at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Shartle is wearing a shirt that commemorates his 100th birthday.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle watches his ball as he plays the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle drives a golf cart while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle pulls a club from his bag while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle makes a shot while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle climbs into a golf cart while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle tees off while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle watches his ball after a shot while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle’s ball stops on the green close to the pin while playing the front nine plays at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Don Rossi, left, watches a centenarian golfer Hal Shartle putts while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Al Shartle shows a score card from the “Parsormore Dilley Glass front 9 scramble/ back 9 scramble tournament” where he and Don Rossi finished second while playing at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle wears a shirt that commemorates his 100th birthday while playing he front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Members of Parsormore made balls to commemorate centenarian golfer Hal Shartle’s 100the birthday.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle, center, talks with Ken Chubb, left, and Don Rossi while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle takes a tee shot while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Don Rossi, left, watches a centenarian golfer Hal Shartle makes a tee shot while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle watches his ball in the air as he plays at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Shartle is wearing a shirt that commemorates his 100th birthday.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle watches his ball as he plays the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle drives a golf cart while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle pulls a club from his bag while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle makes a shot while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle climbs into a golf cart while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle tees off while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle watches his ball after a shot while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle’s ball stops on the green close to the pin while playing the front nine plays at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Don Rossi, left, watches a centenarian golfer Hal Shartle putts while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Al Shartle shows a score card from the “Parsormore Dilley Glass front 9 scramble/ back 9 scramble tournament” where he and Don Rossi finished second while playing at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle wears a shirt that commemorates his 100th birthday while playing he front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Members of Parsormore made balls to commemorate centenarian golfer Hal Shartle’s 100the birthday.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle, center, talks with Ken Chubb, left, and Don Rossi while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Centenarian golfer Hal Shartle takes a tee shot while playing the front nine at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
‘He’s fun to play with’
Shartle stands at 5-foot-3, 110 pounds and brings a bag with six clubs in the back of his cart. He plays briskly, like a man who doesn’t have time to waste or is perhaps late for an appointment.
On this day, he’s wearing a green T-shirt that was given to him by Don Rossi, one of Shartle’s frequent tournament partners.
It has Shartle’s birthdate, Feb. 10, 1925, on the front with the word: “Vintage.” On the back it reads: “100 years old and still swinging.”
The rest of Parsormore enjoys Shartle’s company.
“Hal is always great to be around,” Rossi said. “He’s always positive. He’s always encouraging. He boosts your morale. Sometimes I make mistakes and get upset. He gets your mood up.”
Rossi has one of the group’s lowest handicaps. Shartle has one of its highest. That’s why they’re often paired together.
At the Dilley-Glass tournament run by Parsormore last month, Rossi and Shartle combined to shoot 16 under par net, the lowest score over the first nine holes.
It was, Shartle said proudly, one of the greatest rounds of his life.
“Even playing my best golf, I never shot chips and putts like I did that day,” he said. “It’s one of those things.”
They played a shamble format. The best drive of the two partners was used before continuing from that spot. The duo relied on seven of Rossi’s shots from the tee with the rest of the work done by Shartle minus his 40 handicap.
“It was me hitting the long drive and then going to sit in the cart,” Rossi said. “I felt as useful as a snooze button on a smoke alarm.”
Shartle’s short game is remarkable for his age. On No. 4 at Overlook, he chipped from 60 yards within five feet and casually sank the putt.
These occasional moments of magic provide a thrill, but they’re only a small part of the experience. Shartle doesn’t worry much about how the ball travels.
“Heavens no,” he said. “I’m just out here to get exercise.”
Shartle graduated from McCaskey in 1942. His first rounds were played when there was a nine-hole course at Long’s Park and he became more serious about the sport in his 30s.
After high school, Shartle joined the Navy and spent his working years moving around the country as an engineer and an oil prospector. He didn’t return to his hometown until he was 79.
“I grew up here,” he said. “It’s pretty hard to beat Lancaster County.”
About two years after Shartle came back, he discovered Parsormore and has been part of it ever since. He appreciates the group and the group appreciates him.
“Golf is made up of simple things like good etiquette and good, quality conversations,” Bill Kleine said. “This guy carries his own on all of that. You’d think a 100-year-old guy would be the one to slow the group. Not him. He’s fun to play with.”
The members are relentlessly supportive. When Shartle put his tee shot on a par-3 on the fairway close to the hole, onlookers cheered like a gallery watching a player compete for a major championship.
“There’s a bunch of good guys in the group,” Shartle said. “It’s a good social group and I enjoy golf. It’s just nice to be in it.”
READ: August event set to honor legacy of legendary Warwick field hockey coach, wrestling official
Al Shartle shows a score card from the “Parsormore Dilley Glass front 9 scramble/ back 9 scramble tournament” where he and Don Rossi finished second while playing at Overlook Golf Course on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
BLAINE SHAHAN | Staff Photographer
‘You need to keep moving’
Shartle provided instant reactions to some of his swings. It was either, “That’s no good.” Or “that’s better.” Then he quickly moved toward wherever the ball landed.
As Shartle prepared to putt on the first hole, a groundskeeper, who presumably saw the 100 printed on the shirt, approached. The man marveled at Shartle’s age and ability to still be playing.
Getting to three digits worth of birthday candles can bring interesting responses. Shartle is essentially congratulated for still being alive. He doesn’t think about the eye-catching, round number that matches his years. Ninety-nine didn’t feel any different than 100.
“I’m very fortunate,” Shartle said. “God has been very good to me to live that long.”
Shartle and Rossi breezed through nine holes at Overlook in less than two hours. Ed Young, the president of Parsormore, rode along for some of the round.
One of the goals of the group is to relax the rules to ensure playing is fun. Shartle is allowed to tee off closer to the pin and even put a tee in the fairway to make his next shot easier.
Fitness and happiness are the primary objectives.
“You need to keep moving,” Young said. “If you stop moving, it’s all over. It’s important to be out. It’s important to exercise. I can’t emphasize that enough.”
Each round is a highlight of the week and all the rounds are a highlight of summer.
“We all have a passion for golf,” Rossi said. “After we play, we usually have a beer or two and talk about the putt that never sank.”
Shartle rolled home his final shot on No. 9, scooped up his ball and headed toward his cart. He drove himself to Overlook and he drove through all nine holes.
What did he think of this performance?
“I could’ve played better,” he said with a smile. “Believe me.”
Maybe next time, he will.
Members of Parsormore made balls to commemorate centenarian golfer Hal Shartle’s 100the birthday.
BLAINE SHAHAN | Staff Photographer
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.