How low could someone go?

[HawkeyeMS]

I think you've misread the question Hawkeye, it's not whether you could get that low FROM your current HP, it's whether after 12 months you put in 3 new cards and reached that level. Obviously going from your existing HP in stages it would be a whole heap harder, but tearing your HP up and keep playing and then after 12 months entering 3 cards, well thats a whole different ball game

I think you misread the question

The first one was how low could a 22-25 h'capper go given a year playing like a pro, which I answered in the first part of my post.

The second question in the OP was...

And slightly different question and perhaps easier to answer, where do you reckon you could end up if the opportunity was offered to you today with your current handicap? I think I could just about scrape in as a cat 1 player

which I answered in the second part

 

[Keeno]

Here's a link http://www.golfeneur.com/key-golf-stats-what-do-your-numbers-tell-you/

I think it's based on US handicaps but it should be fairly close to what you are after

This is quite interesting and fairly acurate for me except putting. I never get as low as 30 putts per round. I think this is has as much to do as my shots from 100 yards in not being that great. My best this year is 32 and is normally 35

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

If we're talking a 22-25 h'capper who has been playing of that mark for several years and is a regular golfer, they would do well to get to Cat 1, I would say getting to single figures would be an achievement.

For me personally, I think I would struggle to reach scratch from 6.5 in a year. You really can't underestimate how hard it is to go from 5 to scratch when you're only getting cut 0.1 per shot.

As Mr Hogan said and I quoted earlier...

Within six months - as soon as that - an average golfer who has applied himself intelligently should be coming close to breaking 80 or actually breaking 80

Clearly someone with natural talent etc could get to scratch, certainly Cat 1 - but we're not talking about that sort of golfer. So based on this - 6-9 h/cap in a year.

And I omitted to say - not sure if it's mentioned earlier - as we all know there is a world of difference between being able to play to say 9 over par and having a handicap of 9. I'm guessing our player may be able to play to 6/7 quite regularly by the end of the year - but may well have a handicap of 8/9. For most of the time your handicap lags your ability - year one for our golfer - then it can suddenly jump to become a stretch reflection of your ability - year 2 for our golfer.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Suprised a 9 capper only gets 7% up and down from greenside bunkers.

I'm not

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Cheers for that :thup:

Suprised a 9 capper only gets 7% up and down from greenside bunkers.

Looking at them stats it definately the MOM (moments of madness) column that is letting me down. :rofl:

I know 7 h'cappers who get up and down from bunkers less than that :whistle;

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I think you misread the question
The first one was how low could a 22-25 h'capper go given a year playing like a pro, which I answered in the first part of my post.

Oops - always dangerous to go down the misread/misquote route. The OP actually talked about following the regime of a pro (which is Hogan is talking about). Obviously quite different from playing like a pro.

I could get to Cat 1 - if the opportunity presented itself - and I could be bothered. But I don't think everyone one could - at some point natural inclination has to kick-in as a pre-requisite to achieving low single figures. Many with little or no natural ability may well get to low single figs - but cfor some it just won't be on - largely I would suspect because they wouldn't have the personality/mindset/mental aptitude

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I know 7 h'cappers who get up and down from bunkers less than that :whistle;

hmmm - 7% is 1 time in 14. That sounds about right for me. 4 greenside or close (<40yds) proximity bunkers a round I get up and down in two once ever 3.5 rounds? - yup - that sounds about right.

 

[JustOne]

Here's a link http://www.golfeneur.com/key-golf-stats-what-do-your-numbers-tell-you/

I think it's based on US handicaps but it should be fairly close to what you are after

Cheers for that link... shows I'm good at guessing LOL

I think they got the figs wrong for a 9 h/cap, GIR is more like 5 not 9. GIR for a 6 h/cap is about 7 and 9 GIR for a 4 h/cap (more guessing of course)

 

[USER1999]

If it's based on putting 3 cards in at the end of the year, then I think 5.5 is the lowest you can be. I don't think you can go in at cat 1 as. First handicap? Could be wrong though.

 

[JustOne]

If it's based on putting 3 cards in at the end of the year, then I think 5.5 is the lowest you can be. I don't think you can go in at cat 1 as. First handicap? Could be wrong though.

I think you can, but it has to be referred to 'County'.

 

[woody69]

I think you misread the question

The first one was how low could a 22-25 h'capper go given a year playing like a pro, which I answered in the first part of my post.

The second question in the OP was...

which I answered in the second part

Perhaps I phrased it poorly, but I actually meant you went through the process of submitting 3 cards to get a handicap again at the end of the year, not going through the rigmarole of playing the ton of comps required to get cut the 0.1 each time.

 

[guest100718]

There are endless blogs out there of people who have tried to get to scratch in a given amount of time. Most quit after a few months when they realize just how tough it is.
The ones that go the distance seem to plateau at about 15.

 

[woody69]

So what is your handicap at the moment?

21. My problem is typical of a high handicapper. I can't putt for toffee, far to many 3 putts especially if hitting the GIR the few times I do it. Average about 37 putts a round. And the finesse game when in from 100 yards or so. Instead of an up and down it's usually a 4 or 5. I think these are things that can be practiced, drilled and practiced and improved upon massively and save me a tonne of shots. I also have about 2 to 4 proper "duff" shots a round that a cat 1 player pretty much never makes (unless it's an terrible lie) that tend to disappear the more I play, so these can be eliminated for sure. Looking at my stats I can easily see the 16+ shots I lose that a cat 1 player wouldn't.

 

[CMAC]

The difference between a 13 h/cap and cat1 is enormous, go to a lower cat1 and the gulf has quadrupled.
Go to a scratch golfer and it's quadrupled yet again.

I don't think most people realise the gulf between single figs and scratch....


All due respect to the OP but your last post saying you can't putt for toffee rules you out of even attaining cat1 imo

 

[woody69]

All due respect to the OP but your last post saying you can't putt for toffee rules you out of even attaining cat1 imo

You're entitled to your opinion of course, but I disagree. Putting is a skill that can be taught and practiced and besides you get close enough with the approach usually you're a 2 putt away at most.

 

[Andy808]

I think I could shoot the odd round about 10-12 over but not on a regular basis.

 

[shivas irons]

21. My problem is typical of a high handicapper. I can't putt for toffee, far to many 3 putts especially if hitting the GIR the few times I do it. Average about 37 putts a round. And the finesse game when in from 100 yards or so. Instead of an up and down it's usually a 4 or 5. I think these are things that can be practiced, drilled and practiced and improved upon massively and save me a tonne of shots. I also have about 2 to 4 proper "duff" shots a round that a cat 1 player pretty much never makes (unless it's an terrible lie) that tend to disappear the more I play, so these can be eliminated for sure. Looking at my stats I can easily see the 16+ shots I lose that a cat 1 player wouldn't.

Look mate if you play off 21 and you think if you were a better putter you could be a cat1 player your wrong, you also state in your first post that you think you could become a cat1 player within a year if you followed the proper drills.How long have you been playing to get to your 21 handicap? .The only players who achieve cat1 status so quickly have a great natural ability for the game and it does happen, I worked with a chap that with 2 yeards of picking up a club was playing off 5.If you havent got that ability hit 50, 000 range balls over 10 years and you will proberly knock between 5-10 shots of your handicap like the rest of us

 

[shivas irons]

You're entitled to your opinion of course, but I disagree. Putting is a skill that can be taught and practiced and besides you get close enough with the approach usually you're a 2 putt away at most.

So how long have you been putting for then?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

You're entitled to your opinion of course, but I disagree. Putting is a skill that can be taught and practiced and besides you get close enough with the approach usually you're a 2 putt away at most.

Absolutely - put the work in and your putting will improve.

 

[TheJezster]

Perhaps I phrased it poorly, but I actually meant you went through the process of submitting 3 cards to get a handicap again at the end of the year, not going through the rigmarole of playing the ton of comps required to get cut the 0.1 each time.

It's ok Woody, some of us understood what you meant ;-)

Hence why I mentioned it to hawkeye. No bother tho, thanks for clarifying again.

Interesting topic.