From 25 down to single figures in a year

[Slab]

Good luck to you, if there's a sweepstake I'll guess you'll reach 15 handicap

But whatever you reach try to enjoy the golf
(hating playing badly/losing aren't always good traits to have when trying to improve)

 

[john0]

Getting down to single figures isnt easy, and in some cases can take many, many years.......can't it Homer?

 

[apj0524]

Good Luck, I made a promise to myself to get below 15 from 25 last year and despite playing 2 ~ 3 times a week and practicing at least twice a week did not manage it, run out family good will and competitions. I am sure you are younger and more talented than me, but I would say, it is difficult to say the least

 

[muttleee]

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

That book is slightly misleading imho as the author played off 15 as a teenager, so he wasn't a "typical" 24 handicapper in that he already knew he had the ability to go a lot lower than that.

 

[patricks148]

I don't think its impossible, it won't be easy though.

I went from never playing before/ getting a handicap of 24 then getting down to 12 in 3 months.


it took me another 2 years to get to 9

 

[robert.redmile]

Wow! great response, thanks!

Ok, i'll be as honest as I can be.

1. I'm 44, 6ft 1, and 16 and half stone.
2. I've always been pretty good at sports - played county football and rugby. And was first team captain at Lincoln Rugby club until 3 years ago. Played in first team until I packed in at 41. If I set out to do something I usually achieve it.
3. I'm not rich, but not poor, so I can chuck a few quid at it (already have!!)
4. I play Taylormade RSi 1 irons, daddylonglegs 2 putter. Calloway X Hot drivers.
5. I've been having lessons, and will continue to do so.
6. On the range I'm pretty good.
7. On the course I'm poor. My range game rarely translates to the course.
8. I have recently started to read avidly both the mechanical and mental side of the game I think the mental game is key for me, due to my "personality issues"!! lol.
9. I play off 25.4 but have not had a review since October, since then I've practiced a lot.
10. I shot 90 at the weekend, and felt I played badly - it was off forward tees and winter greens so not sure the usefulness of this as a barometer of my skill.

I think I can shoot mid eighties as soon as we get off winter tees and onto proper greens.

I'm setting myself up to to make a fool of myself, but I'm 100% convinced I will do this barring serious injury.

 

[drewster]

Someone mentioned the 12 wall. My guess is that it will take you much longer to get from 12 -single figures as it does from 25-12 ! Either way this is a huge task and just make sure that you enter a many Qualifying comps and opens as you can. I'll take 16 in the sweepstake .

 

[robert.redmile]

ps - its an entry into the Woodhall Spa Central England England foursomes plus room I've bet.

And I cannot win the prize - I either pay for the weekend, or we go halves as I don't want to win anything, just want to achieve my goal.

And I started playing last summer.

 

[Oddsocks]

Getting down to single figures isnt easy, and in some cases can take many, many years.......can't it Homer?

Here from fishy fishy fishy

 

[Dan2501]

Good luck. You're going to need it, it's an incredibly ambitious target. I'd advise doing a lot of research, and reading/watching all the material put out by The Dan Plan, John Richardson, and to give a perspective on how hard it's going to be, take a look at http://www.youtube.com/user/scratchinayear. He started off as a 25 handicapper, trying to play a scratch round. He started well, was updating his youtube regularly, and playing a lot of golf, but as it got towards winter he's fallen off a lot, and his best round is 17 over so far, and he has 3 months left. Golf is hard.

 

[User62651]

You didn't say how long you've been playing golf just you haven't had a review since October- did you start golf in 2014?

I went 36 to 9 in 2 seasons as a junior, then 11 to 6 as an adult in season 3. Never got much better than that as once work etc kicks in you've had it! That was with a lot of practice, next to no lessons, terrible equipment and no golf in winter.

1 season is tough but not impossible. Handicap secretary can cut you down if you're clearly a bandit so I don't think you need as many comps as others have suggested. There are also abundant open tournaments which qualify for handicap you can enter unless they have handicap limits which would exclude you.

 

[MendieGK]

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.

Also need to remember that they are getting stronger every day too. thats a key part of it.

 

[Duckster]

Someone mentioned the 12 wall. My guess is that it will take you much longer to get from 12 -single figures as it does from 25-12 ! Either way this is a huge task and just make sure that you enter a many Qualifying comps and opens as you can. I'll take 16 in the sweepstake .

This is very true! I came down from 24 to 16 in one year. Then 16-12 the year after and have been yo-yo ing between 10 and 13 since. Still not cracked the single digit handicap, but aiming to this year after finally following my own advise and getting lessons!

 

[MendieGK]

Personally i dont think its possible, theoretically you would have to get cut pretty much every round you played, and exceptional scoring adjustments would slow you down big time as you'll need to suddenly drop additional shots to get cut.

when people ask me about handicaps my view is this

difference between 25-18 - not massive - bit of course management and regular playing - its fairly easy
18-12 - slightly bigger
12-9 - a big difference
9-5 - same as 12-9
5-scratch - HUGE
Scratch to Pro (proper pro) - WORLDS apart.

This is just MHO and i wish you all the luck but i dont see it.

 

[FairwayDodger]

It's a big ask but not impossible, as others have said.

Whether you succeed or not it'd be interesting if you report back on progress. You might get a few snide remarks but I think most would offer advice and encouragement....

Good luck with it. Anyway, what you doing posting here - you need to hit the range!

 

[robert.redmile]

It's a big ask but not impossible, as others have said.

Whether you succeed or not it'd be interesting if you report back on progress. You might get a few snide remarks but I think most would offer advice and encouragement....

Good luck with it. Anyway, what you doing posting here - you need to hit the range!

I do - about 4 times a week, and play at least once, sometimes twice. And think about the game more than any normal person should!

I have a great wife, and our lifestyle allows us to do pretty much as we like. My wife rows, and is pretty keen on fitness, so she never gives me a hard time - my daughter only needs me as a "taxi service" and I carry my clubs with me in the car, in case I can snatch an opportunity!

I really appreciate the advice, and if you don't mind will update with my progress - it will act as a driving force for me, and when I get stuck, which I surely will, i'll need your encouragement!

 

[MendieGK]

I do - about 4 times a week, and play at least once, sometimes twice. And think about the game more than any normal person should!

I have a great wife, and our lifestyle allows us to do pretty much as we like. My wife rows, and is pretty keen on fitness, so she never gives me a hard time - my daughter only needs me as a "taxi service" and I carry my clubs with me in the car, in case I can snatch an opportunity!

I really appreciate the advice, and if you don't mind will update with my progress - it will act as a driving force for me, and when I get stuck, which I surely will, i'll need your encouragement!

Make sure you enter all of the matchplay events at your club too! just to really annoy all the members already moaning about your handicap

 

[Rumpokid]

Drive it 300 yards and you'll be fine...

 

[Hacker Khan]

I do - about 4 times a week, and play at least once, sometimes twice. And think about the game more than any normal person should!

I have a great wife, and our lifestyle allows us to do pretty much as we like. My wife rows, and is pretty keen on fitness, so she never gives me a hard time - my daughter only needs me as a "taxi service" and I carry my clubs with me in the car, in case I can snatch an opportunity!

I really appreciate the advice, and if you don't mind will update with my progress - it will act as a driving force for me, and when I get stuck, which I surely will, i'll need your encouragement!

Also try and remember it is supposed to be a pleasurable pass time. You admit having an obsessive personality and you sound pretty hard core with regards to what you do and plan to do. So make sure you are actually enjoying the journey so to speak.

 

[Dan2501]

Do you have GAME Golf? Be interested to track your progress on there I'm personally trying to break 85 this year. My best round so far is 92, and been playing seriously about 18 months, and will be using GAME Golf to track my improvements. It would be a decent investment if you're looking to seriously improve. There are a load of us on here that use it, and it's great for tracking your scores, and working out where you need to improve.