From 25 down to single figures in a year

Simbo said:
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
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Sorry, I still stand by my original statement. I'm not "picking on him" (please don't think I am) but take Homer as an example. Nobody on here has as much commitment, enthusiasm or sheer "bloody mindedness" as him. He eats, sleeps and dreams golf. I have never, ever, met anyone with as much enthusiasm over ANYTHING than Homer. He is OBSESSED with getting down to single figures and spends almost every spare moment trying to achieve this goal. If anyone deserves to do it, it's him.
But how many years have we all watched him fail, despite his practice regime and countless lessons, and he was off 10 to start with!
If Rob manages to get down to single figures from his current handicap in a year, I will donate £100.00 to the charity of his choice. No problem. I'd love to see him do it, it would be £100.00 well spent.
But I honestly do not think it is possible in that time scale, no matter how commited he is.
 
I always think that one of the first things you need to learn is course management. You got to learn how to keep the ball in play and not loose silly shot through reloads.

Get some one lessons now and get those changes bedded in before spring comes. When April arrives you need to hit those comps and hit 18 by May. Same again during May and get down to 14/15. Then you still have 3 months to knock those last few shots off to hit 9. But to get cut fast enough in reality you are going have to have a few rounds in the mid 70s.

Ive said many times about someone I played with at Spalding. He got from 25 to 12 in a season, but he was having lessons and playing 3-5 rounds a week. He stopped at 12 because the golfing season ran out on him. He played nearly every competition that season and just couldn't play enough to get cut fast enough to hit single figures.
 
Smiffy said:
Sorry, I still stand by my original statement. I'm not "picking on him" (please don't think I am) but take Homer as an example. Nobody on here has as much commitment, enthusiasm or sheer "bloody mindedness" as him. He eats, sleeps and dreams golf. I have never, ever, met anyone with as much enthusiasm over ANYTHING than Homer. He is OBSESSED with getting down to single figures and spends almost every spare moment trying to achieve this goal. If anyone deserves to do it, it's him.
But how many years have we all watched him fail, despite his practice regime and countless lessons, and he was off 10 to start with!
If Rob manages to get down to single figures from his current handicap in a year, I will donate £100.00 to the charity of his choice. No problem. I'd love to see him do it, it would be £100.00 well spent.
But I honestly do not think it is possible in that time scale, no matter how commited he is.
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I thought you were in sales?
Don't they teach you PMA
 
Good luck. I think it will be tough in a year. Two would be more realistic and do-able.

I'm one of those who plateau-ed at 10-12 for 2 decades before a run of good scores this year got me down past the magic 9.4 line.

As others have said it is partly about the system as much as your golf. It would be interesting to see what sort of scoring pattern/progession is needed given the number of qualifiers/supplementary rounds you are planning on. What would you need to be shooting to lop off the necessary .4s, .3s and point .2's? Might help you understand what you actually need to do and give you some interim milestones/targets.

Whatever you do good luck. Main thing is to enjoy doing it. If you love golf it doesn't matter what your h'cap is.
 
There also now the benefit of the ESR, which we don't have in Scotland. I think that is a factor in your favor as well.

when i went from 24 to 12 for those 3 months i didn't work and played 5 times a week and when i wasn't playing i was chipping balls in the garden.

There was a guys started the same time and at the same handicap, he went for lessons from day 1, he was still a higher handicap after the first year but 2 years later he was off 3 where i was only just getting to 9.

he gave up after that as he couldn't get lower than 3 which would be enough for most.
 
Jimbop90 said:
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!
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I would argue that most 6-7 handicappers dont shoot in the 70's 80% of the time...... let alone 9!(on a par 72 course)
 
Getting at least two ESR's is going to be crucial. I went from 20 to 13 last season, getting an ESR made that possible without playing a vast number of qualifiers (probably about 10 or 11), I then ran out of season to go lower. Not sure I would have done though.
 
Good luck. I think 25-9 is possible, I've gotten from 28 to 12 in 3 years, I didn't play or practice regularly and had a newly born daughter in the same period, which has made golf quite irregular. So I like to think I could have succeeded in a similar challenge if I'd played twice a week with a bit of practice in-between. It's also more difficult up here in Fife due to the lack of any qualifying comps between October and March, so I think it'll be easier if your club has a longer season.

It's interesting to read the opinions on the difficulties of getting from 12 to 9 as that's my goal (or better) for this year.
 
lovin' the level of interest!

a few points of order...........

Scunthorpe is only 150 miles north of London, its more midlands than north, and the warmth emitted from the Steelworks allows us to bask in above average temperatures than cities on the same meridian - our course has only been closed I think for 4 days this last year, and is in incredible condition for the time of year!

I started playing in June last year, but took things more seriously from November as the level of banter and mickey taking from my friends became unbearable - new clubs, lessons, reading, gadgets etc.

Latest game change improvement tool to land in Lincoln is an "orange whip" from the US PGA - very excited to think I can practice in my garden every night! (this on top of my power band, and yellow wrist gadget thingy which I cant work out how to use yet)

I've also read "golf is not a game of perfect" by Bob Rotella in the last week, and have bought the whole series, as well as audio books which I can listen to whilst travelling on my job.

I have managed to get next week off, and in between ferrying my daughter will be able to play 3 times next week, plus practice every day.

For those that have promised to pay charity when I do it, I thank you - my chosen charity is "get Connected", which helps young people having a tough time.

Putting remains my nemesis, and I can't get to the practice green before dark, so this is part of my focus once we get the clocks turned forward and we get some light nights - for the moment it's all about pitching and chipping.
 
Jimaroid said:
Good luck. I think 25-9 is possible, I've gotten from 28 to 12 in 3 years, I didn't play or practice regularly and had a newly born daughter in the same period, which has made golf quite irregular. So I like to think I could have succeeded in a similar challenge if I'd played twice a week with a bit of practice in-between. It's also more difficult up here in Fife due to the lack of any qualifying comps between October and March, so I think it'll be easier if your club has a longer season.

It's interesting to read the opinions on the difficulties of getting from 12 to 9 as that's my goal (or better) for this year.
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Jim , i can't see you not getting lower that 9. you have a good swing ( in fact a very good swing) hit the ball a good distance and can putt.

You may have the same problem i did in that you play at more than 1 course.

When is was off 12 i was a member at 3 golf clubs one an easy parkland with the CSS always 1 or 2 under Par and a links always 2 over par.

I play a lot during the week at the easy parkland that didn't demand accuracy or a great short game. At the weekend i would then rock up for a medal at the links and struggle to get anywhere near my handicap.

It wasn't until i ditched the parkland i started getting better at links golf and once id had a season of just golf on one course my handicap came down. went from 12 to almost 8 that year.

That might not be the case for everyone in this situation, but one course helped me understand what i had to do to get lower scores better.
 
I'd like to introduce myself as one of robs regular playing partners and the chap he has the bet with. What a great response to his article and so much positivity is great. He honestly is obsessed with the game and on achieving this target. I pity his family at times and even mine when he's texting me at obscure times with his ideas and scores! I know he will read each and every one of these posts and take it all on board. I look forward to updating you all from this side of the fence!
 
OP, you're clearly a skilled sportsman and this will be you're greatest asset - you understand what it takes to do well at a sport. IMO you'll need to get skilled at several elements basically in the following order:

1. Managing yourself and your way around the course with the game you have on a specific day
2. Short game - putting and chipping
3. Have a decent shot off the tee; driver, 3 wood, hybrid; makes little difference as long as it gets you down the fairway 200ish yds relatively reliably
4. Decent distance control with wedge shots (those 100yds and less shots)
5. Reasonable bunker play - getting it out and on the green
6. Ironplay - ignore the long irons, use hybrids

You've a tough task but it's doable if you play a ****load and learn what works for you. Lessons will probably help but they're no substitute for hitting balls and learning how to make it work for you - they can accelerate the process but I know plenty of successful players who've had none. Watch other successful golfers and see how they get it done. Many ways to skin a cat as someone said.
 
robert.redmile said:
lovin' the level of interest!

a few points of order...........

Scunthorpe is only 150 miles north of London, its more midlands than north, and the warmth emitted from the Steelworks allows us to bask in above average temperatures than cities on the same meridian - our course has only been closed I think for 4 days this last year, and is in incredible condition for the time of year!

I started playing in June last year, but took things more seriously from November as the level of banter and mickey taking from my friends became unbearable - new clubs, lessons, reading, gadgets etc.

Latest game change improvement tool to land in Lincoln is an "orange whip" from the US PGA - very excited to think I can practice in my garden every night! (this on top of my power band, and yellow wrist gadget thingy which I cant work out how to use yet)

I've also read "golf is not a game of perfect" by Bob Rotella in the last week, and have bought the whole series, as well as audio books which I can listen to whilst travelling on my job.

I have managed to get next week off, and in between ferrying my daughter will be able to play 3 times next week, plus practice every day.

For those that have promised to pay charity when I do it, I thank you - my chosen charity is "get Connected", which helps young people having a tough time.

Putting remains my nemesis, and I can't get to the practice green before dark, so this is part of my focus once we get the clocks turned forward and we get some light nights - for the moment it's all about pitching and chipping.
Click to expand...

Try putting on a carpet at home.
Being able to hole out regularly from 6ft will help enormously.
With regard to your course, up to a point, how often its closed has little relevance. Its how many qualifiers you can play in. The course and weather more ght be fine over the winter but if the qualifiers stop: n October then you have your work cut out.
As a Cat 4 player you come down 0.4 for every shot below CSS so its not unusual to knock several shots off the handicap quite quickly. Once you get to Cat 3(21?) you go down 0.3 per shot. Once you hit Cat 2(12?) Its only 0.2 per shot....so it gets harder - so you need to get going asap.!!
To get 9.4 from 12.4 bounded to be a cumulative 15 shots under CSS with no 0.1 increases..
Believe me, that takes some doing. ESR's help but they drop you quicker so you have to play better yo maintain it.

Good Luck
 
Nlincsfinest said:
I'd like to introduce myself as one of robs regular playing partners and the chap he has the bet with. What a great response to his article and so much positivity is great. He honestly is obsessed with the game and on achieving this target. I pity his family at times and even mine when he's texting me at obscure times with his ideas and scores! I know he will read each and every one of these posts and take it all on board. I look forward to updating you all from this side of the fence!
Click to expand...

I genuinely hope he manages it but it is a very tough challenge, early improvement can be very rapid, the final fine tuning from say 15-9 might be his hardest time.

My efforts to get from 12 to single figures pale in comparison.

I will also pledge £50.00 to his charity if he manages it.
 
robert.redmile said:
Putting remains my nemesis, and I can't get to the practice green before dark, so this is part of my focus once we get the clocks turned forward and we get some light nights - for the moment it's all about pitching and chipping.
Click to expand...


By yourself a putting mat for the house if you dont have a suitable carpet. If you do have a carpet practice 4-5ft putts to a tee, it will. If you do that the hole will feel massive on the course.
 
Good luck Rob, highly doable in my view as you seem to be genuine [unlike many of the BS merchants that seem to embrace golf]

Some wee pointers.

Ignore all scores except medal rounds played off back tees. The only true pointer to improvement.
Double the amount of practice you think you need, the other 50% on the short game only.
When practicing off grass/sand, play the ball as it lies [don't tee it up on a tuft]
Try to play with low handicappers only.
 
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