This article originally appeared in the August issue of NCGA Golf Magazine
By Erin Blaettler
On June 27, Jim Valenti, a member of The Villages Golf & Country Club in San Jose, shot his age for the 600th time, the latest accomplishment in a lifetime devoted to golf.
How does someone reach a milestone like this? The answer has as much to do with how Valenti lives as it does with how he plays golf.
Long before he reached 600, Valenti had already built an impressive record at The Villages, winning club championships in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2012. But his relationship with the game has always extended beyond competition. Valenti built a life centered around movement, curiosity and connection. He still works out regularly, plays golf, enjoys bocce and recently decided to learn Mahjong simply because he wanted to try something new. Rather than measuring life by the passing of time, he focuses on intentional experiences that keep his mind and body engaged, and his friendships growing.
It's a philosophy that extends far beyond how Valenti spends his time—it shapes the way he approaches life itself.
Ask Valenti the secret to enjoying golf well into his late 80s, and he won't talk about mechanics or swing changes. Instead, he'll talk about attitude.
After a poor shot, he doesn't allow frustration to linger. He pauses, thinks about what went wrong, and turns his attention to the next swing. He believes too many golfers let one mistake overshadow an entire round, becoming their own toughest critics in a game that's difficult enough already.
"Give yourself a break," he says. "Golf is just a game."
For Valenti, positivity isn't about ignoring adversity. It's about choosing not to let it define the next shot, the next round, or the next day. That mindset has carried him through decades of golf and become one of the foundations of a life filled with joy, resilience, and purpose.
The number 600 is extraordinary, but it's ultimately a reflection of something much greater.
It reflects a lifetime of choosing to stay engaged—with the game, with the people around him and with life itself.