The next year, two of his golfing buddies, Louis Rose and Jake DeYoung, did the same.

And the three haven't paid for a round on the Portland courses since, still using the worn and tattered passes they bought more than 60 years ago.

"It was a great investment," Dehen said.

DeYoung walks three 18-hole rounds during the week and another nine holes on Saturday. He even credits the pass for his longevity.

"Good genes and this lifetime membership," said DeYoung, whose mother lived to 101. "Belive it or not, that's a lot of exercise."

Rose figures he's paid an average of a penny a round. That's not bad, considering it now costs $19 a round to play during the week and $21 on weekends.

"If I had to pay greens fees, it would cost me $100 per month or maybe more," DeYoung said.

And they wouldn't be as active at that price.

"Heck no, we're cheapskates," said Dehen, who made millions as founder of Dehen Knitting Co.