He didn't play his usual nine holes, mind you, because he's been crook.

But when asked by the Lakes Mail if he could stand on the 10th tee at Morisset with a club in hand for a photo, he figured he might as well hit a few balls while he was there.

And he didn't disappoint.

One practice swing was all he needed to launch the balls straight and true.

"He's monotonous," playing partner Jim Rea said.

"He always hits them straight and stays out of trouble."

Mr Pearsall, of Bonnells Bay, celebrated his birthday on Friday.

His mates at Morisset Country Club held a morning tea in his honour on Wednesday.

"Up until recently I've been playing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays," he said.

Illness has kept him off the course in recent weeks but a comeback is imminent.

"I have plans to get back into it, and as soon as I'm well enough I'll be back playing."

And forget about a golf cart - Mr Pearsall prefers to walk.

He plays socially off a handicap of 36.

Six weeks ago he made birdie on the par-3 7th hole, chipping in for five stableford points.

Mr Pearsall played his first game aged in his 60s.

"My sons-in-law asked me to join them for a walk around the course at Dubbo while they played," he recalled.

At one point in that round, he was handed a club and invited to take a swing.

"I was hooked after that one game. I didn't have the time for golf when I was young. I was too busy," he said.

 THERE’S plenty Clyde Pearsall likes about golf.

Every shot offers a different challenge, there’s always some aspect of the game to work on, and practice leads to improvement, he said.

He’s learned the value of a good tee shot, and his putting and chipping have improved in recent years. 

‘‘But you’ve got to remember it’s only a game,’’ he said, smiling.

‘‘You’re not playing for a sheep station.’’

It’s a line his playing partners have heard plenty of times.

When asked to give us his best technical tip, Mr Pearsall thinks long and hard.

‘‘Don’t try and flog the skin off the ball,’’ he said, to the amusement of his golfing buddies.