If the “Fountain of Youth” really exists, it may be at the Canongate golf courses in Fayette and Coweta counties.
Jim Bennett seems to have found there what DeSoto never could, because 83 years of age he plays golf like a 20-something.
Bennett’s personal best score at Canongate One is 64 which he shot playing in the weekday modified Stableford competition, commonly referred to as “dogfight.” As recently as three months ago, Bennett fired a 6-under par 66 at Canongate One, confounding and amazing his fellow competitors.
Golf professional Andy Pittman has played hundreds of times with Bennett and still marvels at his uncanny ability to score.
“He is truly remarkable,” said Pittman. “It doesn’t matter what club he is using from what distance because he is just as accurate with all of them. I would match him against any 80-year-old golfer in the entire world.”
Pittman told of a stretch in last August when Bennett logged 19 rounds. None of his scores during that stretch were higher than 69.
“The day after Jim’s 80th birthday party, he and I played and for most of the round I had the lead,” said Pittman. “I thought I had him beat. But he is so competitive that he birdied the last five holes in a row to win the match.”
Another time on the back nine of the Lee 18, according to Pittman, Bennett was five under par for three holes – an eagle on 10, a birdie on 11 and an eagle on 12.
“He never feels pressure and he has no weaknesses as a golfer,” he said.
Bennett credits much of his great play to the short irons, especially the wedges. “Wedge play is the name of the game; hitting it close enough to one-putt,” he said.
But he is also an excellent putter, in spite of sometimes unsteady hands due to Parkinson’s disease. Bennett can often be seen practice putting on the greens around the clubhouse.
The silver-haired Bennett has lived with wife Janet in Peachtree City since 1978. Although he had taken up the game as an occasional player many years before, he did not begin to play golf seriously until he retired from the FAA in 1984.
Relying on his natural athleticism, he quickly developed into a highly competitive golfer playing mostly at Flat Creek, Braelinn and Canongate One. Practicing a lot was a habit made easier by the fact that since retirement, he has worked part-time at all of those Canongate courses. He presently supervises the cart barn at Canongate One in Sharpsburg.
Bennett has become somewhat of a living legend in Canongate lore and shows no signs of slowing down. His many golf buddies and professionals alike are both respectful and envious of his talent.
But golf talent aside, Bennett is also a nice guy willing to help out friends at a moment’s notice. One Canongate member talked about Bennett voluntarily repairing wheelbarrow tires. Another member, John Tkaczuk said, “On more than one occasion he helped wife Lynn with golf lessons, especially when she was just starting out. He could not be a better guy.”
