13.7 to 6 by end of year?!

[Scottjd1]

I am a similar handicap and have ambitions to get to low single at some point too - but as someone who had a handicap worked out on golfappwhatever.com for a while ages ago its a world of difference at a club.

You mention 'white tees may be harder' I think you underestimate, the positions are often harder lines into the fairway and then you are hitting in 4/5 irons rather than 8/9 into par 4's. Its the world of difference. Then you take into account CSS that will reduce the amount you are cut by - I wish you all the best but would urge you to join somewhere and play in a few comps and get a marker to score you and see how you do - maybe re-align your expectations and timescales.

Until you regularly shooting mid 70's in comps any reduction you get will be relatively low you need to be patient and keep working hard.

Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[stef92]

Must say this is very similar if not identical to my "hopes" for the year. Of course it is possible, but not without some serious work. My advantage is my perception of golf has changed a lot recently. I am playing on a very very tough course for two thirds of the year, in tough conditions, off scratch against cat 1 golfers (sometimes +2!) therefore it is sink or swim!

I have already managed 1.2 shots off this year… but my course is a doddle relatively, (although no pushover). In fact in the recent medal I left 6-8 shots out there.

The ideal is as close to cat 1 as possible, the reality is if I have a really good season, single figures, and if you make that it is still a worthy attempt! I would be more than happy!

No matter how cliché it may be, "if you aim for the heavens, if you miss you'll hit the stars…"

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Our very own Dishy went from12.something to 6 this year so yes, it's possible.

You'll have to play some golf.

Dishy cleaned up at our place. He won three honours board comps and then got a cut in the annual handicap review.

 

[sawtooth]

I'm playing off 13.7 at the mo. Will be 12 in the summer when I straighten out my Driver again!
I’m looking to get down to 6 at the end of the year. I think this will be some challenge but can do 9 holes a fair few times in 3 over. Just not 18 as yet. What do you chaps think? Feasable?
Ive shot 3 over and been 2 over after 12 on another occasion. My other aim is to hit a double+ free round. This will certainly help!

If you can play now to the above standard in a medal competition then yes its conceivable to get down to 6 if you are totally committed and are learning the right things. On the other hand if that scoring is from friendlies with your mates then I think 2-3 years is much more realistic. Still good stuff but medal play is a different ball game as many will testify.

To give you some idea I dropped from 13 to 9.6 in 18 months with a fair amount of playing time in that period. IMO if I were a betting man I would probably lay bets at 100/1 that you would get to 6 in that time.

I tell you what though, theres no better motivation (if you needed any that is) than someone telling you that it cant be done. Good Luck!!!

 

[FairwayDodger]

Sounds pretty ambitious but don't let all the doom-mongers put you off. If you work at it it's got to be possible! Good Luck!

 

[AMcC]

I think it is very unlikely but wish you all the best in your quest anyway.

One way to get there quicker would be, what was and may still be Rule 19 . Play consistently well and be reassessed, that will certainly help.

 

[JustOne]

where does it say he's not a club member?

I did 18 to 5 in one year, practiced everyday even in the rain, played in opens as well- so its possible if you can spare the time and work at it

Yep, I did something similar, it's doable. I played golf every day for 18 months. I don't think once per week and a couple of buckets at the range will do it unless you work with someone who knows what they're talking about. I've heard a few 15yr olds who made it to scratch after 2 years, but you only get out of this game what you're prepared to put in.

 

[garyinderry]

obviously everyone wants to be as low handicap as they can. i dont see why this guy is in such as rush to get to 6. 2summers ago i was a non-mover at 16. this past year i have improved somewhat and got down to 11 and finished the year at 12. what im saying is enjoy comming down through the shots and dont be in any rush. i think i got to play one rounds while i was at 13. i had two second places in a row during our open week and was cut accordingly.

 

[Oddsocks]

JO, I just googled your above reply and it explains why your so demotivated

Googled 18 months solid golf - reply was every blokes heaven
Then googled 18 month solid golf with smiffy - reply was and quote " poor git"

 

[alldownhill]

Can you give me a prediction please Tommo? I am playing off 20.5 at the moment

What age are you.. 41

How long have you been playing.. 14 months

What was your first HC.. 28

How often do you play.. 1-2 times per week

Do you just play or do you practice as well.. 2-3 times a week

Give me the answers and I will tell you what your HC will be by the end of this summer.

 

[upsidedown]

Yes it's possible as I've done it BUT I play in NEw Zealand where our handicaps are based on every round we play not just qualifiers.
Also I had been on 9 and slipped out to 13 as hadn't played much for a year whilst we built our house. But with practice , a few lessons and playing 3-4 times a week I got it down to 6 in 10 months.

Go for it and good luck

 

[MadAdey]

Good luck mate you will need it with that quest. If you did it 12 months from now that is going to take some doing. I magine if you were 4 under your handicap every time you played a competition. Your handicap would drop something like this. 12.5, 11.3, 10.5, 9.7, 8.9, 8.1, 7.3, 6.5, 5.7. If you are playing a par 72 assuming that the SSS and CCS are the same at 72 each, your gross scores would look something like this...... 82, 81, 79, 79, 78, 77, 76, 75, 75. Do you think you could go out and shoot those scores in 9 competitions before the end of the season without gaining any naughty little 0.1's back?

Best of luck to you mate. I hope you do it and prove us all wrong. I would say 2 years is more of a reasonable target. You forget that when your handicap comes down to single figures it does get harder. You may be able to shoot some good scored from your handicap when knocking round with your mates, but in a comp off the back tees with a bit more pressure on you.

 

[garyinderry]

. You may be able to shoot some good scored from your handicap when knocking round with your mates, but in a comp off the back tees with a bit more pressure on you.

another excellent point. how many rounds have you seen people muck up on the back nine when the pressure is on and the mind starts to wonder towards the prizes.

 

[CMAC]

That doesn't make sense when you look at your sig.

Target handicap 9....... only 4.9 to go

It does if he plays off 4.1 :thup:

IS the CORRECT answer, well done Gareth:thup:

 

[CMAC]

Yep, I did something similar, it's doable. I played golf every day for 18 months. I don't think once per week and a couple of buckets at the range will do it unless you work with someone who knows what they're talking about. I've heard a few 15yr olds who made it to scratch after 2 years, but you only get out of this game what you're prepared to put in.

totally agree, plus it gets seriously harder to maintain after 5 especially if your only playing twice a week

 

[MadAdey]

I think you may be putting too much pressure on yourself mate. How about doing it in 2 stages. Aim to get to single firgures and then take it from there. IF you can get yourself into single figures this and maintain then it nothing to be scoffed at. To get all the way to 6 you are going to have to probably play 15 comps this season. You will also have to play another 3 or 4 times a week and spend time practicing. Big commitment but go for it mate. Get into your new club and put a copy of your handicap certificate up. Then keep us all posted through the season and tell us how you are getting on, how much time your a spending practicing and how often you are playing. It would be interesting to see you improving.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Well my handicap is at the moment a bit vague. I had to hand in 3 cards so I did and they were wht I thought my most average ones!
I was given 15 although I expected it to be 14 (SS69?) that was in about May.
I have had better rounds since (3 over etc.) and not bothered handing any in as the club is just a public crown course with naff all organisation or competitions. I will however be joining a proper club shortly.
Not sure what I will be given at the new club. 13.4 is now my current hadicap from golfshot app since my weekend round.

Where have you been playing and where are you joining. The course will have a big say in whether you get there or not. Personally I don't know that you will but I admire anyone who sets themselves targets and then gets there so I hope you prove me wrong.

What I do think though is that whilst the short game and a solid putting stroke are vital, the overall game has to be good too. You can't keep relying on the short game to make scores and expect to get significant cuts too. Obviously the lower you go, the more you have to play well every time. I'm not sure you'll get enough competitive play in the time frame to allow you to get there either and factor in the bad rounds and the 0.1 increases.

Why not have a chat with your pro when you get to your new club. Explain what you want to do and see what he suggests for getting there. Good luck

 

[Bash]

I'm playing off 13.7 at the mo. Will be 12 in the summer when I straighten out my Driver again!
I’m looking to get down to 6 at the end of the year. I think this will be some challenge but can do 9 holes a fair few times in 3 over. Just not 18 as yet. What do you chaps think? Feasable?
Ive shot 3 over and been 2 over after 12 on another occasion. My other aim is to hit a double+ free round. This will certainly help!

Strangely enough, I too am off 13.6 (from 19 a year ago). I've completed the front nine 3 or 4 over probably 8 or nine times last year and my best results over the full 18 are 6 over off the yellows and 8 over off the white tees.
My aim though is to get to an 11 handicap this year. (I doubt I'll ever get down to 6. High single figures in a few years will do me nicely)
Good luck with your target, but it seems a bit ambitious. Hope you prove me wrong

 

[EIW1219]

Thanks very much for all the great advice chaps.
Yes it is some challenge. Maybe you are right and I will not make it. Yes there are some good points I probably have not thought through. Maybe wise not to think about them too much though? Anyhow it won't be for the lack of trying.
I feel a little of the groundwork is there already from this past year. Some of my best scores were in societies (bandit!) and I have played a few off the whites, which I prefer to play as some of my shorter hitting friends struggle with more than I do. (I always suggest playing off the whites only for excuses to be batted back!)...

 

[HawkeyeMS]

My tuppence worth.

Possible? Yes, everything is possible
Likely? No, I don't think if is. I've just come off the back of a season where I only failed to shoot buffer or better 7 times. My handicap dropped 2.3 so you're up against it.

Good luck though, it will be one hell of an achievement