AddisonRoad
Active member
What stops people from getting to scratch or single figures etc is mainly ability
Are you saying you don’t think I can get to scratch?
What stops people from getting to scratch or single figures etc is mainly ability
Are you saying you don’t think I can get to scratch?
Sounds great that you have identified weak areas and have a plan to work on itCurrently: 11.3 - I am almost certainly at a plateau right now. I don't see me getting any better without improving the swing and being a more consistent ball striker, that is a work in progress (isn't it always). There are some low hanging fruit there too, whilst I am a good putter (Arccos has me gaining strokes on a 5 index for example) - I'm sure there's adjustments that could be made. My bunker shots need work, and my short approaches and chipping is poor and needs a bit of work - I'm sure all these things could save me another two or three strokes a round. Distance is another thing - whilst I agree with some that it's not everything in golf, I'm not sure averaging 210-220 carry with little roll out is good for me especially when most of the time I play with guys who are 30 yards plus past me and when I play society comps or other comps we are off the back tees. Me gaining distance will be a combination of better ball striking ability/swing technique and fitness/strength. The other thing that holds me back is my physical fitness and limitations. I need to be more athletic (again a work in progress).
It's alot of work and in my mid 30's I can only put so much time into it all. I am seeing a coach once a month and we have been working on the swing and technique mostly with irons and approach shots. We will transition to short game stuff come March time. I am in the gym and working on my physical fitness as well as 3 practice sessions a week a the range. I doubt scratch will be possible for me. I think 3-5 range is possible but as you can see quite a bit of work to do to get there.
The plan to get better is basially:
- Better ball striking/swing technique for better approach shots to hit more greens in regulation
- Continue at gym to work on physical fitness, including mobility and flexibility work alongside strength, power etc
- Transition to short game/putting work in March to sharpen those areas up ahead of the 'season' kicking off
I am hoping for a good year - I worked really hard last year and dropped 5 shots, and I've already put a ton of work in through the winter so hopefully start to see the fruits of that come March/April time. It has been a challenge mentally to tell the truth.
Nope.
Currently 8.4
If a few things improved I could possibly max out around 6.
Part of it isn't just the skills/techniques, it's the mental wherewithall to play golf at that level of excellence for 18 holes.
Plan to get higherBeen down to 6 could possibly get to 4 or 5 with a few good rounds.
Getting to scratch would take far too much effort for me, hate practicing at the best of times
I actually plan to get higher this year, 12-14 is a nice handicap range
To win opensPlan to get higher![]()
Given how they've lowered our course ratings even further, I'd now need to be shooting 75 or lower just to get to single figures. So I've gone from no chance to a cat in hell's chance.
The definition of manipulation!To win opens![]()
One where you get a choice of 9 iron PW or sw to go with your putter by the sound of itWhat course do you play?
Might take a couple of years but you might need to push it up to 15-18. Only being 6 shots above your true handicap will mean you will need a belter of a day to win an open.To win opens![]()
Not if his 4bbb partner does the same.Might take a couple of years but you might need to push it up to 15-18. Only being 6 shots above your true handicap will mean you will need a belter of a day to win an open.
The same could be said about the old system. And in both cases, there would have to be several people failing to follow the rules on multiple occasions for it to happen.I was listening the Chipping Forecast and they were discussing how a returning golfer got a very low handicap after submitting 3 cards, where two were high scores and 1 was low.
So it seems that under a new system, the easiest way to scratch is to quit your membership, get the hcp lapsed and then get three cards of which one should be low enough to give you a scratch index.
Disclaimer: I do not endorse any hcp manipulation, this is just pointing out the “quickest” way to scratch![]()
Getting to the green is challenge enough for youAre you saying you don’t think I can get to scratch?
It’s so difficult.
Looking at the scratch and better players at my club, I think that you either have to start golf young and achieve it whilst you don’t have many other commitments, or you can achieve it later in life if you have the time to practise and play a lot.