From 25 down to single figures in a year

[robert.redmile]

Hi - I'm absolutely convinced I can do this. I'm an obsessive by nature, cannot stand losing, and hate to be bad at anything.

I have bet my mate a weekend away I can do it. I've got until Dec 31st.

I'm practicing like mad, and trying to do this the right way - but as ever would welcome the input of the forum.

So, how do I go about this?

cheers, Rob

 

[D4RK1]

16 shots is a lot to lose. Good luck. Get some lessons and practice 10 hours a day. You should be fine ;-)

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Have a lot of natural ability and play lots and lots of golf

It's a very regular challenge and I guess the success rate is very very small

 

[guest100718]

Good luck, many have tried, and have given up after a month or 2...... From the ones i have seen give it the full year they seem to plateau around 13ish

 

[ger147]

Hi - I'm absolutely convinced I can do this. I'm an obsessive by nature, cannot stand losing, and hate to be bad at anything.

I have bet my mate a weekend away I can do it. I've got until Dec 31st.

I'm practicing like mad, and trying to do this the right way - but as ever would welcome the input of the forum.

So, how do I go about this?

cheers, Rob

Start saving, a weekend away could be expensive

 

[Oddsocks]

Hi - I'm absolutely convinced I can do this. I'm an obsessive by nature, cannot stand losing, and hate to be bad at anything.

I have bet my mate a weekend away I can do it. I've got until Dec 31st.

I'm practicing like mad, and trying to do this the right way - but as ever would welcome the input of the forum.

So, how do I go about this?

cheers, Rob

I'll donate £20 to the charity of your choice if you do it!

 

[Hacker Khan]

Get some new clubs

 

[guest100718]

Do you have a proper handicap? or just use an online tracker. I have seen the juniours at my place go from high 20s to single figure during a year, but they are juniors and play all day everday in the summer.

 

[User62651]

How long has it taken you to get from 28 to 25? If its a month great, if its 3 years oh dear.

Golf ability is mainly god given, sure you can improve but there's only so much lessons/practice will do.

 

[pbrown7582]

big ask good luck! yourtgoing to need to play a lot of comps so best keep most weekends clear.

 

[HickoryShaft]

Golf ability is mainly god given, sure you can improve but there's only so much lessons/practice will do.

So it's official then ....God doesn't like me !

 

[Duckster]

Few questions:

How old are you? How long have you been playing? How much money do you have to throw at lessons, range, playing and new gear? Can your mate choose a weekend abroad as Barcelona's nice.

 

[rosecott]

Have you worked out how many qualifying competitions you would have to (successfully) play in?

You should have started by now.

 

[Hacker Khan]

How long has it taken you to get from 28 to 25? If its a month great, if its 3 years oh dear.

Golf ability is mainly god given, sure you can improve but there's only so much lessons/practice will do.

After reading Bounce by Mathew Syed (well worth reading for anyone as it is a great book) I'd completely disagree.

The vast majority of people are good at things as the do more effective practice than anyone else. Yes you need to have some kind of coordination, but lots and lots of effective practice (i.e. not just hitting balls down a range ad nauseam) and lessons could get the chap there. But I agree that it is a very tall order, especially if he has a job, family, any kind of social life.

 

[londonlewis]

My advice is to buy this book and see if you can glean any advice from it. It can be done, of course it can and don't listen to anyone who says it can't. Good luck to you and let us know how you get on.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dream-On-Hackers-Challenge-Break/dp/0856408417

 

[CMAC]

yep, it can be done and has been by many-

 

[Fyldewhite]

If you are an absolute beginner to club golf and have just got a handicap then I think you have a chance as it's possible to get some fundamentals right and make massive strides in scoring.....coupled with a fair amount of natural ability. If you have been playing a while and are still off 25 then I don't think it's a realistic goal within 12 months.

 

[shortstuff]

I don't think you can play in enough qualifying events in one year. Or do you just mean playing one round in +9 or better? Either way, you likely to hit a wall at around 12-14. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[muttleee]

After reading Bounce by Mathew Syed (well worth reading for anyone as it is a great book) I'd completely disagree. The vast majority of people are good at things as the do more effective practice than anyone else. Yes you need to have some kind of coordination, but lots and lots of effective practice (i.e. not just hitting balls down a range ad nauseam) and lessons could get the chap there. But I agree that it is a very tall order, especially if he has a job, family, any kind of social life.

I'm sure hard work plays a big part but to be really good I think you need the head start that good sporting genes will give you. Would Tiger and Rory be as good as they are (or were, in Tiger's case ) if their fathers hadn't been very good players too (both off scratch in their prime, I believe)? You can argue that they spent more time practising because their dads were keen but if that's the biggest factor, there should be a few great players who are offspring of enthusiastic 24 handicappers. I wonder if there are?

 

[Imurg]

Have you worked out how many qualifying competitions you would have to (successfully) play in?

You should have started by now.

This is key...
If there are not enough comps to play in then you're on a hiding to nothing from the off.
And no matter how much you improve, you have to perform with a card in your hand.
Good luck.
Its by no means impossible but it takes a lot of effort