From 25 down to single figures in a year
- Thread starter robert.redmile
- Start date
virtuocity
Tour Winner
Remember that you have 10 supplementary cards you can submit each year as well. Be sure to use these on calm, clear days when you have a good chance of taking on the course.
U
User62651
Guest
9 isn't that a low handicap but you'll need a decent short game which is reliant on feel through practice as much as technique so focus hard on short game for big hcap gains. Many players hit in the 70s with average long games.
robert.redmile
Assistant Pro
9 feels low to me maxfli!
cant believe the response, and all it does is give me more energy to achieve this!
There are 2 types of people I've met in life. The "I can't" and "I can".
well I fall into the latter, and I will do All I can to achieve this.
if I fail, it won't be because I didn't try, it will be because of some other reason. But, I will have fun trying to get there.
Given the interest, how do we set up a " can Rob do it poll?" !! Lol.
and to everyone who has said they will donate if I do it, please send your donations to "get connected" a charity for young people having a tough time when I do, "do it"(and post proof please!!!!)
i'll give them 100 quid if I don't. On top of the weekend away that I've promised.
cant believe the response, and all it does is give me more energy to achieve this!
There are 2 types of people I've met in life. The "I can't" and "I can".
well I fall into the latter, and I will do All I can to achieve this.
if I fail, it won't be because I didn't try, it will be because of some other reason. But, I will have fun trying to get there.
Given the interest, how do we set up a " can Rob do it poll?" !! Lol.
and to everyone who has said they will donate if I do it, please send your donations to "get connected" a charity for young people having a tough time when I do, "do it"(and post proof please!!!!)
i'll give them 100 quid if I don't. On top of the weekend away that I've promised.
Simbo
Tour Rookie
Utter horse manure!!
If you think you can do it, you're half way there already mate!! A good attitude is an extra club in your bag.
It's a big ask, no doubt, keeping up the enthusiasm, staying injury free, getting good weather all comes into it. But IMO for someone prepared to roll the sleeves up and get stuck in it can be done, 9 is a good level handicap and a big target to aim for, but like has been said once you get to 12/13 it will become more difficult but 12/13 can be done with a pretty ropey swing, no offence to anyone, lol. Staying positive, Perseverance and determination is required here.
Sometimes playing opens helps as the standard scratch for visitors tends to be a bit higher, making it easier to get a cut.
People with big goals achieve big things!!
Nlincsfinest
Newbie
You can't knock the lads desire but get your wallet ready!
Nlincsfinest
Newbie
Play with players that are better than you on a regular basis to help you along
Markw
Head Pro
I am not sure you will carry this out if my experience and your current scores is anything to go by!
I started taking golf seriously at the same age as you, 44 and only played now and again. I was also a ex county league footballer, same height and weight as well! same as you, not rich not poor and had lessons, got clubs that helped me, ping g2's, not sure how they compare in forgiveness to your irons but I can tell you there is a lot more forgiving drivers which you need than the callaway xhot, I briefly had one but nowhere near as forgiving as say a callaway FTIQ or FTIZ, I still use the FTIZ at a 7 handicap now, to me the best driver ever made. Anyway, I was a night worker at the time, played 4 times a week and had monthly lessons and my handicap came down like this from initial 23 from 3 cards entered...
Year 1 - 23 down to 13
Year 2 - 13 down to 11
Year 3 - 11 down to 9
Year 4 - 9 down to 6
Year 5 - 6 up to 7!
when at 10+ handicap I was having to score 74-75 rounds to chip away at the handicap but it was worth it.
Best of luck in your quest.
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stevelev
Journeyman Pro
Is there any way rob can just play in as many comps and games as possible but then ask for an independent review of his handicap right at the end of the challenge.
Just a thought because if he is shooting sub par on most qualifiers by a good amountthen his handicap may get to around 12 or 11, with an annual review slashing another couple of shots he could be in with a shout.
It would be good for someone using the forum to make such a big change, plenty do exceptionally well every year. Lets all get behind him, keep his belief and motivation and hope he does it so more will try to follow.
Just a thought because if he is shooting sub par on most qualifiers by a good amountthen his handicap may get to around 12 or 11, with an annual review slashing another couple of shots he could be in with a shout.
It would be good for someone using the forum to make such a big change, plenty do exceptionally well every year. Lets all get behind him, keep his belief and motivation and hope he does it so more will try to follow.
Merv_swerve
Challenge Tour Pro
This is accurate.
davemc1
Journeyman Pro
Really interests me this thread. I'm the same handicap as yourself and want nothing more than to be better. However reading the amount of commitment needed is something I'm probably not going to be able to touch.
Are goals are light years away tho. Right now I'd be happy playing to 25 as I'm really struggling. My aims are just to end the year lower than I've started it.
as others have stated, good luck and keep us all informed :thup:
Are goals are light years away tho. Right now I'd be happy playing to 25 as I'm really struggling. My aims are just to end the year lower than I've started it.
as others have stated, good luck and keep us all informed :thup:
Merv_swerve
Challenge Tour Pro
I think it's a stretch to be honest.
As someone who started of 28 and is now on 10, I can give a informed opinion on how it goes to drop down and lose a lot of shots.
Even recently I dropped a lot from 24 to 12 in just over a season and last year got from 12 to 10. I think both were equally tough and count them as both excellent achievements. You need some really good scores, preferably a couple of ESR's along the way.
As has been said before the lower you drop, the harder it is to get down. Your buffer gets smaller and margin for error is diminished, and the reductions are less per shot. Just how aware of the handicap system are you? I'm not even sure you can drop that much in a season. Ideally you would have been smashing the winter comps and get a nice big cut from an annual review, give you a head start from day 1 of qualifiers.
All else I can really say is bloody good luck fella and all the best!
As someone who started of 28 and is now on 10, I can give a informed opinion on how it goes to drop down and lose a lot of shots.
Even recently I dropped a lot from 24 to 12 in just over a season and last year got from 12 to 10. I think both were equally tough and count them as both excellent achievements. You need some really good scores, preferably a couple of ESR's along the way.
As has been said before the lower you drop, the harder it is to get down. Your buffer gets smaller and margin for error is diminished, and the reductions are less per shot. Just how aware of the handicap system are you? I'm not even sure you can drop that much in a season. Ideally you would have been smashing the winter comps and get a nice big cut from an annual review, give you a head start from day 1 of qualifiers.
All else I can really say is bloody good luck fella and all the best!
robert.redmile
Assistant Pro
I know it's a stretch! But I play with a couple of brilliant mates who both play off 9.
And whilst they are infinitely better than me at the moment, and their games very slick, neither of them appear to playing at a level that seems unattainable and beyond me.
I watch them and think " wow, these are really good golfers, I can't wait until I'm that good" NOT " omg, I will never be that good"
in summary, a 9 handicap whilst a massive stretch and difficult goal to achieve, it seems to be achievable - and one that I will achieve by the end of the year.
rob
And whilst they are infinitely better than me at the moment, and their games very slick, neither of them appear to playing at a level that seems unattainable and beyond me.
I watch them and think " wow, these are really good golfers, I can't wait until I'm that good" NOT " omg, I will never be that good"
in summary, a 9 handicap whilst a massive stretch and difficult goal to achieve, it seems to be achievable - and one that I will achieve by the end of the year.
rob
Jimbop90
Assistant Pro
The way I see it, from what people have said regarding the difficulty in getting cut that much, and from yourself and how committed you will be plus your sporting background. My prediction is that by this time next year you will be shooting in the 70's 80+% of the time, but you might not make it on officially being a single digit player.
I'd be very interested in keeping up with your progress though, and of course wish you all the best!
I'd be very interested in keeping up with your progress though, and of course wish you all the best!
rustyb
Hacker
Rob,
Good luck i have no idea whether you can do it or not but I love the attitude. I have a very similar personality to yours, i started playing regularly in October and my mates and wife think im obsessed. And I probably am. but that can be a real advantage sometimes especially when you want to acheive a goal. Are you going to play in a load of competitions? or are you just tracking online?
Good luck i have no idea whether you can do it or not but I love the attitude. I have a very similar personality to yours, i started playing regularly in October and my mates and wife think im obsessed. And I probably am. but that can be a real advantage sometimes especially when you want to acheive a goal. Are you going to play in a load of competitions? or are you just tracking online?
D
Deleted member 17920
Guest
You seem to have a real positive attitude, that's cracking.
Just make sure you keep spending quality time on the putting green, this should improve your scores no end.
Also I know it's not easy but try and not to put unnecessary pressure on yourself in qualifiers, what will be will be, more pressure and your going to find yourself with a load of 0.1s back in no time at all.
I really hope you do it, I think its a tall order but definately not unachievable if you keep form through the whole season. Good luck.
MC72
Assistant Pro
A good out starting point for you would be to go out and play a couple of what I'd call "assessment rounds". Play 18 holes of golf as you play at the moment, don't do anything but play your current game but you need to take note of a few things; 1) how many fairways you hit 2) where your second shots are going
3) how many putts you take 4) where your misses go with respect yo the green 5) how many par 3 greens you hit. Please note that nowhere have I mentioned how far you hit it as that's nowhere near as important as "where" you hit it.
After the assessment round/rounds take a look at your own stars and this will tell you what your weaknesses are abc allow to start prioritising what needs fixed first.
I think you'll find that keeping the ball in play is your issue right now but that'll change as you improve. There's older guys
at my course who play off 6 and 7 and they're neither long nor particularly great strikers of the ball but they're never off the fairway, and their approaches and short game are reliable and their overall game very consistent.
If you're crap off the tee sort that first. Possibly by leaving the driver out the bag for a while whilst you practice to get better with it. If you're not hitting a lot of greens check where you're missing as it may just be alignment. Overall understand why you're not getting oar on each joke and thus way you'll truly understand why you're off 20 something just now.
I would suggest prioritise getting consistency off the tee, consistency with your putter, then work in your irk s and shirt game. As you get better you're shirt game will back e mire and more important. Just my own personal feeling, but a good short game may only partially benefit you if your big problem is carving balls OOB or into trees off the tee.
I think you can do it but it's not endless aimless hours at the range that will get his there, it'll be practising what you know is causing you shots.
Good Luck and keep us posted on your progress
MC72
3) how many putts you take 4) where your misses go with respect yo the green 5) how many par 3 greens you hit. Please note that nowhere have I mentioned how far you hit it as that's nowhere near as important as "where" you hit it.
After the assessment round/rounds take a look at your own stars and this will tell you what your weaknesses are abc allow to start prioritising what needs fixed first.
I think you'll find that keeping the ball in play is your issue right now but that'll change as you improve. There's older guys
at my course who play off 6 and 7 and they're neither long nor particularly great strikers of the ball but they're never off the fairway, and their approaches and short game are reliable and their overall game very consistent.
If you're crap off the tee sort that first. Possibly by leaving the driver out the bag for a while whilst you practice to get better with it. If you're not hitting a lot of greens check where you're missing as it may just be alignment. Overall understand why you're not getting oar on each joke and thus way you'll truly understand why you're off 20 something just now.
I would suggest prioritise getting consistency off the tee, consistency with your putter, then work in your irk s and shirt game. As you get better you're shirt game will back e mire and more important. Just my own personal feeling, but a good short game may only partially benefit you if your big problem is carving balls OOB or into trees off the tee.
I think you can do it but it's not endless aimless hours at the range that will get his there, it'll be practising what you know is causing you shots.
Good Luck and keep us posted on your progress
MC72
Val
Ryder Cup Winner
We've seen these challenges before and the biggest issue is the poster never comes back so whether you do it or not at least update us.
Best of luck
Best of luck
ADB
Journeyman Pro
Why not start a blog
I am sure you have plenty of motivational ammo in this thread, but you shouldn't underestimate the difference between shooting 9-over off the yellows with your mates and playing to a single figure handicap off the whites in competition....it really is different gravy.
Best of luck for the year and remember that good course management and shot selection is equally as important as technical proficiency - some would say more so.:thup:
sawtooth
Tour Winner
IMO you should invest in some lessons and learn and establish some very good basics very quickly. If you just practiced like crazy with what you have now with probably bad habits, a poor grip (potentially), etc then you will improve a bit but it will only get you so far.
Personally I think this is probably the main reason why golfers can get to mid handicap OK but then find it very difficult to break into single figures. Too many grained in bad habits and faults in the swing to get the consistency needed. Best to start as you mean to go on.
Personally I think this is probably the main reason why golfers can get to mid handicap OK but then find it very difficult to break into single figures. Too many grained in bad habits and faults in the swing to get the consistency needed. Best to start as you mean to go on.
