How far can I go playing once a week max?

[iku]

I started playing just over one year ago, got my first hc (21) in spring and took it down to 16 during the summer. I had 26 consecutive days off in June and I probably played on 20 of those, sometimes two rounds on the same day, that month I managed to break 80 several times and had my PB. Then a new job arrived and I can't play anymore during the week, I have and want to spend at least one day of the weekend with the family so I'm left with playing one round per week when I'm lucky. This definitely affected my game even if I try to stopo at the range one evening every week. Now breaking 90 is my goal and had a couple of nightmare rounds, 116 last Sunday to make an example.

I have a strange feeling about it as I know I could do much better if I only had more time so sometimes I get really frustrated.

My question is: does playing only once a week mean that it will take longer to get better but I'll get there or I have to wait for retirement (35 years!!) to see some decent round again?

 

[Monty_Brown]

Truth is we are all different, which may not be exactly helpful to your question...

But in theory, yes it's possible to keep getting better playing only once a week, depending on how good your swing is. I've seen players maintain a Cat 1 Handicap with only a couple of games a week, but that is only maintaining a standard of play that was originally achieved thorugh a lot of hard work and long hours. And they were extremely talented, which helped

In my experience, it's possible to keep the swing fairly well grooved without playing loads, but it's the short game where things suffer - particularly touch and feel. It's quite possible you'll hit it well, but score badly, as the short game gets rusty.

 

[brendy]

116 shots? would you not just have picked up on the horror holes, reporting scores like that wont do your confidence any good. I play once a week at the moment and am of 7.6. It all depends on how solid your short game is, everyone has an off day with the driver/irons, you cant get round with a terrible short game.

 

[granters]

This is exactly the same situation i'm in. Used to be a good golfer, low single figures,, after putting in the hours when i was younger, but my short game just isn't up to scratch these days due to a max of 1 game a week. I have maintained my game tee to green and my swing hasn't suffered, but round the green is where i lose most of my shots. I just accept it, i still get the odd day where it all clicks, but without regular short game practice you won't improve much handicap wise.

I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens, but i almost expect to 3 putt 4 or times. Today i hit driver 14 times and missed the fairway twice, once only due to a poor line. It's only the last few years that made me realise how important the short game is. But as long as you enjoy it, i certainly do even though i can't hit the heights i used to

 

[iku]

I agree with the comments about the short game. That's certainly the area of my game where I've lost something. I hit my drive short (200-250) but decently hitting more than 70% FIR. Because of my relatively short drives the GIR are not amazing, last time I kept some records I think they were just below 40% so my short game was very important as I'm a good putter (I 3-putt max once per round and my average is 31).

What I've lost is confidence in the yardage of my clubs particularly under 100 yds.

I will try changing the way I hit the balls at the range: instead of wasting half trying to hit the net I will go more for the 50-70-100 yds targets.

Thanks for the comments chaps, have a good game this weekend.

 

[G1BB0]

I have changed my range strategy, driver has been dropped for the time being and just doing a few with the longer clubs particularly 3 wood and 2 & 3 hybrid. Mostly concentrating on my 150yds (7 iron) and in clubs. ALso been practising off a low tee for my par 3 distances at my course as rarely par them let alone leave myself a birdie chance and feel I can definitely pick up a few shots extra playing them well

good luck

 

[RGDave]

What a tough question. I tend to slip backwards (up) if I only play once a week. One game and one range keeps me on an even footing. Anything above that and I start to get half decent. If I range and do some short game too, then the old sombrero might come out of the wardrobe....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I tend to go backwards if I don't play regularly or hit balls. Timing goes and old habits quickly resurface. Fortunately I don't have a short game worthy of the name so it makes no odds if that goes through not playing

 

[RGDave]

Actually, thinking about it, we're all way off target.

The real answer is about 250 miles, give or take.

 

[MikeTimbers]

I've just checked and I played 7 rounds this year but still play to 13. I do practice a fair bit and there's an excellent little 9-hole par 3 near me (Pedham Plac, Kent) which I've been round maybe five times. I tend to drop the ball on the teebox so as to simulate approach shots from good lies, rather than tee-shots.

And, yes, I put in a lot of work in previous years to get a swing that mostly repeats but suffer hugely around and on the green.

Can you do it? Depends on how good your swing is, really.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think you may get down on one round a week but it will be a very inconsisten year. For me, I'd need to put a range seesion per week in too even if it is just a bucket to work on my pitching and distance control. I admire your sentiments for wanting to ration your golfing time and suggest you just go out and enjoy the one round per week without attaching too many expectations to it. If you have a good week then great and hopefully it'll be in a comp and if you chop it round there is always next week

 

[RobbOnTheRock]

I'm in the same or similar situation, I can only play once a week, I am able to hit balls into a practice net at home whenever I want.

When I go home to aberdeen, I intend to play 9 holes once mid week during the summer and a full 18 on a sat or Sunday morning. That I would will be the very max I could hope to achieve.

Still better than working!

 

[BTatHome]

I play once a week at the moment and am of 7.6. It all depends on how solid your short game is, everyone has an off day with the driver/irons, you cant get round with a terrible short game.

This could easily be my post as I play once a week for most of the year (maybe more if I'm lucky over summertime) and I'm 7.7

hardly any practice apart from hitting half a dozen balls before playing. But if I do practice then it'll probably be wedge play and putting.

 

[Snelly]

Truth is we are all different, which may not be exactly helpful to your question...

But in theory, yes it's possible to keep getting better playing only once a week, depending on how good your swing is. I've seen players maintain a Cat 1 Handicap with only a couple of games a week, but that is only maintaining a standard of play that was originally achieved thorugh a lot of hard work and long hours. And they were extremely talented, which helped

In my experience, it's possible to keep the swing fairly well grooved without playing loads, but it's the short game where things suffer - particularly touch and feel. It's quite possible you'll hit it well, but score badly, as the short game gets rusty.

Well said. I completely agree with your view.

 

[iku]

This could easily be my post as I play once a week for most of the year (maybe more if I'm lucky over summertime) and I'm 7.7

hardly any practice apart from hitting half a dozen balls before playing. But if I do practice then it'll probably be wedge play and putting.

How long have you been playing for? What age since?

 

[pendodave]

My own experience is that somewhere in the eighties is about the best I can manage.

I've been playing for about 4 years. I've practiced a fair bit and have managed a couple of games a week in the last couple of years, but only weekly for the most part this year.

Yesterday was pretty typical. Pretty good tee to green, a couple of duff chips, three three putts due to poor pace control over longish (but not that long) putts. Finished up with 87, with more sharpness around the green would have been around 82.

Other weeks, I might work a bit on the short game, but then the long game packs up and I end up with an 85 by a different combination of bad shots. About one in 6 I'm low eighties.

There's so many components to the game that you really need to spend a lot of time on the range AND a course for a couple of years at some point in your golfing life to hone the range of skills AND consistency needed to get to single figures (IMHO of course).