CLEARWATER, Fla. — A lot of golf has been played at the 101-year-old Clearwater Country Club.

A lot of golf played by 101-year-old Len Grimsley. 

What You Need To Know

  •  Len Grimsley was born July 24th, 1921

  •  Grimsley tries to play twice a week at the Clearwater Country Club

  •  Grimsley served in World War II with the British Navy

  • He believes staying active is what has kept him living so long

“I’ve never had a lesson in my life,” said Grimsley as he lines up a drive. 

Club pro Greg McClimans takes a look at his grip and asks, “This the Vardon Grip? Harry?”

“You’ve heard of Vardon,” said Grimsley. 

He smiles because Harry Vardon won the U.S. Open, but he did it in 1900. Grimsley remembers Vardon from when he was a kid. 

“July 24, ‘21,” said Grimsley, when asked his age. “1921. Yeah, getting old.”

Old or not, he still plays golf twice a week. 

“These are gimmes with the guy I play with,” he said as he warms up on the putting green. 

Grimsley loves playing golf, loves being outside and believes keeping active is what has kept him living so long. 

“Oh yeah, definitely. Can’t think of anything else, because I eat all the wrong things, drink all the wrong things. I use salt like crazy,” said Grimsley. 

He celebrates his good shots and often curses his bad ones with a ‘Oh man.’ 

He also doesn’t mind stopping and pausing for a Rob Roy, his drink of choice. At the Country Club bar, he sips on his cocktail and recalls his time in World War II. 

“Yeah, I was just 18 on September the 3rd, 1939, when Germans marched into Poland, and then England and France declared war on Germany,” said Grimsley. 

He served for the entire length of the war with the Royal Navy. 

In 1947, he got a job on the Queen Mary, then moved to America after marrying. 

“I have been lucky. I have had a great, great life. No regrets,” said Grimsley. 

These 101 years have been good and full of memories and mementos. 

“Birthday card from Queen Elizabeth and I feel honored,” he said. He got it right before she passed away. 

Back out on the course, he and his friend Bill drive up to a par three. 

Right before he tees off, a few guys come over to shake his hand. One man is 93 and Grimsley calls him a ‘young fella.’

The group laughs, and then Grimsley tees off. He hits it right onto the green. 

“He is a golf hustler,” laughs his buddy, Bill. 

“I got a bad bounce,” said Grimsley as he walks up to his ball, feet from the hole. 

He lines up the putt, and then exclaims as the ball rolls in. 

“Ey! A bird!” he said. 

A birdie at any age is good. To Grimsley though, the score is just another number.

“I don’t keep score anymore. I just go by how many balls I lose. If I only lose five balls, that is a good day,” he said with a smile. 

Grimsley admits he hasn’t thought about his 102nd birthday too much yet, or made plans. He said he just wants to get to it at this point.