Do you believe you can get to scratch?

[bobmac]

Family life does eat into practice time
''I just haven't got the time''
I get that..... priorities
But there is one thing more you need.

Sure, you can get kitted out with all the gear...lasers, remote controlled trolleys, 5 wedges all custom fitted, but the one thing you can't buy.......the love of practice.
If you don't enjoying practicing, you'll never get to scratch.
That means long and short game.

There are those who don't like practicing but are happy to use the handicap system to produce good scores and that's fine.
Then there's those who just bash 30 balls with their driver and that's fine.
But if you want to be a good golfer you've got to enjoy practising everything from putting right up to driver.

If you play with a good player, watch how many mistakes he/she makes.....there won't be many.

 

[Golf is fun]

That's the same with all sports. I've lost count of the number of times a pro, at any sport, has a brother 'that we should all watch as they are better', but is then never heard of again. There is something extra, probably work ethic or mental strength, which separates the very good to the special. You have to have that inbuilt talent in the first place, hard work alone does not get you to that place, but to lift you into the pro game, that takes extra.

In my experience of this a lot of it comes down to the added mental pressure, the younger sibling or child may actually be better, but spending most of your life to that point in the shadow can make it very hard to break out of. If they didn't have a famous and successful older brother/sister/mum/dad/other they may have actually succeeded.

 

[rksquire]

Getting to and remaining at single figures is a realistic target, but even that would involve more than simply playing once a week with no other golf activity - which has been my last 2 years. However, intend to increase this, as much as anything to try and increase my enjoyment again. I don't have much interest in scratch really - age, time and overall ability are limiting factors, my interest is probably is getting to back to a point where I really enjoy golf again. If I can get back to around 8 - 12 and sustain it I'd be very happy with that.

 

[AussieKB]

I agree if I can get up to 8 - 12 I would be very happy......

 

[Orikoru]

You can easy make SFs Ollie…after all, you’ve seen my SF game and if I can do it and maintain it…

It feels a whole world away. Even when I feel like I've played well at the moment I'm shooting low to mid 80s (on a sub-70 par course). I didn't break 80 all last year and for single figures I'd need to be breaking it at least half the time at my place.

 

[Slab]

As fun as the question is to ponder, we’re still spit balling about getting to a level where only about 1% of golfers ever get to . That’s less than the % footballers who tun pro or NCAA players that reach the NFL (so says google)

The practice practice etc will be crucial but i’d guess it’ll (very often) also need training, coaching, support & finances

 

[hambugerpete]

I'll see if I can get back to where I started the year first

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

It feels a whole world away. Even when I feel like I've played well at the moment I'm shooting low to mid 80s (on a sub-70 par course). I didn't break 80 all last year and for single figures I'd need to be breaking it at least half the time at my place.

Have faith my friend…you can

 

[jim8flog]

Has anyone tried to do it in a year ?

Yes! but I have forgotten what that year was

 

[jim8flog]

Family life does eat into practice time
''I just haven't got the time''
I get that..... priorities
But there is one thing more you need.

Sure, you can get kitted out with all the gear...lasers, remote controlled trolleys, 5 wedges all custom fitted, but the one thing you can't buy.......the love of practice.
If you don't enjoying practicing, you'll never get to scratch.
That means long and short game.

There are those who don't like practicing but are happy to use the handicap system to produce good scores and that's fine.
Then there's those who just bash 30 balls with their driver and that's fine.
But if you want to be a good golfer you've got to enjoy practising everything from putting right up to driver.

If you play with a good player, watch how many mistakes he/she makes.....there won't be many.

I look back at the time I spent practicing with the love you suggest which I did a lot in my 30-50s and now sometimes regret what it did to my body so much so practice is now out the question.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Yes! but I have forgotten what that year was

‘Scratch in a year’ folks pop up on here from time to time…sometimes giving a link to the YouTube channel on which they are going to record their progress. We tend to not get much in the way of posted updates…of course we are expected to go to their channel and subscribe to follow…no thanks.

 

[clubchamp98]

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.

For me, 1.8 is my lowest (under whs) but that flattered me. I’ve shot under par 3 times across the last 3 years but I rarely threaten level par. Usually late 70’s dipping into mid/low 70’s.

In my head, if I didn’t have a job and kid to ferry around everywhere then I think I could maybe get to 1 or 2 and then maybe touch scratch, but I couldn’t be there consistently.

Ditto.
It’s why I think scratch golfers posses a skill level as a natural gift.
No matter what was put in my mates way Kids Work ,booze, he could turn up Saturday and shoot level par.
He just had a natural ability that most don’t.

 

[clubchamp98]

I agree if I can get up to 8 - 12 I would be very happy......

I can feel a few GP cards coming .

 

[srixon 1]

Family life does eat into practice time
''I just haven't got the time''
I get that..... priorities
But there is one thing more you need.

Sure, you can get kitted out with all the gear...lasers, remote controlled trolleys, 5 wedges all custom fitted, but the one thing you can't buy.......the love of practice.
If you don't enjoying practicing, you'll never get to scratch.
That means long and short game.

There are those who don't like practicing but are happy to use the handicap system to produce good scores and that's fine.
Then there's those who just bash 30 balls with their driver and that's fine.
But if you want to be a good golfer you've got to enjoy practising everything from putting right up to driver.

If you play with a good player, watch how many mistakes he/she makes.....there won't be many.

30 years ago I loved practicing, especially my short game from strange lies and stances around the green. The only one I never really mastered was chipping from the sandy lie between the practice bunker and the green. Fortunately you don’t come across this much when out on the course.

 

[Piece]

I definitely think I could even now in my mid 50s. I still have the distance but playing 4 times a year and with no practice at all, won't get me anywhere near scratch. And TBH, I'm not bothered!

 

[Orikoru]

30 years ago I loved practicing, especially my short game from strange lies and stances around the green. The only one I never really mastered was chipping from the sandy lie between the practice bunker and the green. Fortunately you don’t come across this much when out on the course.

Hybrid chip!

 

[Tashyboy]

Family life does eat into practice time
''I just haven't got the time''
I get that..... priorities
But there is one thing more you need.

Sure, you can get kitted out with all the gear...lasers, remote controlled trolleys, 5 wedges all custom fitted, but the one thing you can't buy.......the love of practice.
If you don't enjoying practicing, you'll never get to scratch.
That means long and short game.

There are those who don't like practicing but are happy to use the handicap system to produce good scores and that's fine.
Then there's those who just bash 30 balls with their driver and that's fine.
But if you want to be a good golfer you've got to enjoy practising everything from putting right up to driver.

If you play with a good player, watch how many mistakes he/she makes.....there won't be many.

Odd you should Mention the love of practice. One of the oldest guys in our fuddle. Plays off about 2. He loves it. We rib him To bits about him
Ringing up the pro to unlock the gates so he can practice. He loves it and is getting the rewards.

 

[Orikoru]

Odd you should Mention the love of practice. One of the oldest guys in our fuddle. Plays off about 2. He loves it. We rib him To bits about him
Ringing up the pro to unlock the gates so he can practice. He loves it and is getting the rewards.

I enjoy practice sometimes - hitting at a Trackman with a virtual course - having a little putting match against someone on the practice green - but how much time can most people give to it? An hour a week is probably tops for me.

Chipping is something I never get to practise at all. There's not even a decent chipping area at my club so I wouldn't be able to even if I had the time. Practice in general is easier said than done I think.

 

[bobmac]

Chipping is something I never get to practise at all. There's not even a decent chipping area at my club so I wouldn't be able to even if I had the time. Practice in general is easier said than done I think.

Find a quite corner on the course in the evening, preferably the front 9, drop a few balls and spend a peaceful 1/2 hour chipping around a green. Earphones with your favourite music/podcast can help.....family permitting

 

[Orikoru]

Find a quite corner on the course in the evening, preferably the front 9, drop a few balls and spend a peaceful 1/2 hour chipping around a green. Earphones with your favourite music/podcast can help.....family permitting

This is the thing I guess. Before the little one was born I did occasionally get out on a summer evening for a quick nine, and whenever you have a tricky short game shot I'd thrown down an extra ball or two and have a couple of goes at it - no coincidence my best golf was around that time. Wouldn't really get the chance now. Will occasionally nip down for the putting green when the weather's nice though.