LIKE SON, LIKE FATHER : Not Satisfied Being Just a 69-Year-Old Spectator, Roy Allen Sr. Joins His Boy on Cypress Golf Team

Roy Allen Sr. wasn’t content just to watch his son play golf for Cypress College.

He wanted to be closer to the action.

So the 69-year-old retired Los Angeles County electrician decided to go out for the team. Last season he failed, but this season, he made it. He now plays alongside his 21-year old son, Roy Jr., who is the Chargers’ No. 3 player.

“I love to play the game,” Roy Sr. said. “I would be out there to watch anyway, so I just decided to try and make the team.”

Roy Sr. plays in the sixth and final spot for the Chargers, who are in seventh place in the eight-team South Coast Conference.

Cypress has nine players and the three who don’t play challenge the sixth player for his spot each week. Roy Sr. has lost his spot only three times all season.

“About the only reason I can figure people are interested in us is because we are father and son,” Roy Sr, said. “We’re not the best golfers in the conference. We aren’t even the best on the team.”

Roy Jr. says he likes having his father on team, but admits it has put pressure on him.

“It’s good and it’s bad,” he said. “There’s always someone to buy me a hamburger and it’s fun competing with him. It’s just not fun losing to him.”

Roy Sr. has shot lower rounds than his son three times this season. One of those times was in a preseason tournament, when Roy Sr. beat Roy Jr. to make the team.

The Allens both shot their best scores of the season last week at the Upland Hills Course. Roy Jr. had a 75, his father a 78.

Roy Jr., who finished fourth in the Suburban League championship when he was a senior at La Mirada High School and was Cypress’ most improved player last year, claims it’s only a coincidence he’s lost some of his desire to play golf since his father became his teammate.

Roy Jr., who plays guitar for the Cypress dance and top 40 bands, finds music a lot more enjoyable now than golf, which has become increasingly frustrating for him.

“I’ve tried hard to work on my game this season,” Roy Jr. said. “It just hasn’t helped. I’ve had it with golf. It’s just too irritating a game. I don’t feel the competition against the other players. I only feel like I’m playing the course.

“Now, I don’t have any idea where the ball is going. Last year I could at least drive the ball in the fairway, but this year I can’t even do that.”

His lack of interest has been apparent not only to his father but to his coach, Bill Price, who said he wished Roy Jr. was more like Roy Sr.

“He (Roy Jr.) has spent too much time with is music and not enough on golf to be really successful,” Price said. “Golf is one big habit and if you don’t work at it, it will become frustrating.

“I wish Roy Jr. had the competitive spirit his father has. He would really be difficult to beat. “

Competitive spirit is something Roy Sr. has a lot of.

He was a standout baseball player at Roosevelt High School, graduating in 1935. After serving in the Navy in World War II, he signed with the Boston Red Sox in 1947 and played third base in their minor league organization till 1950.

He only started playing golf as a way to fill the void created after he gave up sandlot baseball in the mid 1960s. In 1968, at 52, he played his first round of golf.

Price was more than a bit surprised last season when Roy Sr. tried to make the team.

“When he first came out I didn’t really know what to think about it,” Price said. “I told him he would have to carry his own clubs, there were no carts and it was medal play (Low score wins and no handicaps are used). But he told me he thought he could do it. “

If for no other reason, Price, 54, is happy to have someone closer to his generation on the team. Roy. Sr also offers the coach an ally in their never-ending fight for musical taste.

“All the kids get out there with their rock and roll and sometimes Roy (Sr.) and I put our music on to battle them.”