Not many golfers can claim they?ve shot their age over 18 holes.
Then again, not many golfers are Art Ross. In fact, there is a card on his golf bag from a recent charity tournament that says exactly that: “The one AND ONLY Art Ross.”
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“There is only one Art Ross,” said Joe Rahnis, the PGA pro and general manager at Diamond Ridge Golf Course in Woodlawn. “He is a great guy, and if you get to know him, what he can do at his age is phenomenal.”
Ross, 94, is a Randallstown resident, former City College standout athlete and former minor league baseball player who taught himself golf 50 years ago.
“One thing about this game is it keeps your mind working,” Ross said while playing a round Tuesday at Diamond Ridge. “That?s what I love about this game.”
Ross claims he made himself into an athlete, much like he did a golfer. In 1934, he signed with the Washington Senators, and after four years of playing in the club?s farm system, returned to the Baltimore area. From there, he spent 10 years playing for Bloomingdale in a local semi-pro league.
“He was a good athlete,” said Tuesday?s playing partner Dutch Hauser, 86. “He really was.”
He still is. Ross shot a 96 Tuesday at Diamond Ridge, just a week after shooting a 98.
“I?m just out here hitting the ball,” said Ross, who favors his 7-wood, no longer hits irons and has banned a driver from his golf bag.
“Hit a driver until you?re 86 or 88 and then throw it away,” Ross said.
Ross teases his playing partners about playing with a driver while he?s swinging away with a 5- and 7-wood.
“Wait until I find out what I?m doing,” Ross said. “Then I?ll be good.”
He?s still fiery at his age. On Tuesday, he threw some one-liners at Hauser, his buddy of 40 years, after one of Hauser?s tee shots narrowly missed the fairway.
“His $10 club ain?t doing the trick,” Ross joked.
Ross would know a little something about cheap golf clubs, though, having paid just $5 for his first iron when he was 55. He picked up four clubs ? a 5-, 6-, 7- and 8-iron ? from a local sporting goods store off Park Heights Avenue.
He?s also adept at finding good deals on golf balls, even to this day.
“He hasn?t bought a ball in 20 years,” Hauser said.
“Thirty years!” Ross shot back, noting that he finds stray balls along the golf course and driving range all the time.
Ross is also an accomplished dancer. He credited his dancing ability with landing him a few girlfriends over the years, particularly at the Westview Lounge in Catonsville.
“I was king over there for about eight years,” said Ross, who turns 95 on Halloween.
If his level of activity at 94 is any indication, Ross should be king for many years to come.
“If there were more people like Art,” Rahnis said, “the world would be a lot better.”
