His most recent effort was in a club competition when he posted 26 points around the front nine and 34 on the back.

In a stroke round, he would have had just 77 shots.

Petty has been a member at Safety Beach Country Club for more than six years, and he's quick to rate the course as the reason why he manages to play such good golf.

"It's not a long course, but I really like the greens," he said. "Every time I've beaten my age, I've always putted well. The last round I had just 20 putts.

"I know most courses rave about their greens, but ours are the best you're going to get anywhere, I reckon."

Petty is no stranger to competitive golf. As a youngster he played off single figures at Box Hill Golf Club.

These days he still gets around on a tidy 17 handicap when playing at least twice a week.

The octogenarian always plays 18 holes without the help of a motorised cart as walking is an important part of his routine. He reckons it's also the reason he performs well: "Golf is a walking game. I'd like to keep walking for as long as I can.

"I don't like to think too much about having to play golf with a cart, but I know at age 83 a lot of people would consider me lucky to still be out there walking the course."

Living on the Safety Beach estate makes getting to the course easy. Petty certainly enjoys being able to break his age, but he's not taking things too seriously.

"I don't practise. For me, golf is just about fun and Safety Beach is a great club because of the good people there.

"The golf and playing well is just a bonus and if I do it [break his age] again, it just gives me another good reason to get out there and enjoy it one more time."

Safety Beach Country Club professional Andy Rogers teamed up with the club's food and beverage manager Pam Harford to claim the Coca Cola Invitational. The pair posted rounds of 46 and 41 points over 36 holes on the Royal Pines course on the Gold Coast.

The event is a two-person competition where the club pro and a manager compete in a state competition before going to the national final. Rogers and Harford finished fourth in the Victorian championship at Settlers Run in Cranbourne South to earn their spot.