How low could someone go?

[Doon frae Troon]

Scratch in a year...absolutely no chance.
I have worked with many talented youngsters and it took over a year for what was then the British Age Group Champion to get from 3 to scratch. BTW he was 14 years old at the time.
I have seen a 16 year old get from 24 to 8 in 15 months.
He then found it difficult to improve on that.

 

[DappaDonDave]

Scratch in a year...absolutely no chance.
I have worked with many talented youngsters and it took over a year for what was then the British Age Group Champion to get from 3 to scratch. BTW he was 14 years old at the time.
I have seen a 16 year old get from 24 to 8 in 15 months.
He then found it difficult to improve on that.

You can however get from 24 to playing a par round in 1 year. Again, read John richardsons book "dream on". It's soon to be a movie.

It's difficult or near impossible to get from 24 to scratch handicap because of the rules around handicaps!

 

[Doon frae Troon]

There is a hell of a difference between playing to scratch and playing one round to scratch, as every single figure golfer on here will know.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

ive never heard about rose +6 but its just silly inconceivable golf to us hackers.

Harrington says if he plays his brother who is a 10 h'cap at his brother's course...

Paddy plays of the back tees and his brother off the whites, he'll give him 10 shots and it will be a good match
His brother plays off the back tees with Paddy he'll give him 16 shots and it will be a good match

If they play at a course that holds pro tournaments and Paddy sets the course up, it doesn't matter how many shots Paddy gives away, his brother won't win

 

[garyinderry]

There is a hell of a difference between playing to scratch and playing one round to scratch, as every single figure golfer on here will know.

so so so true!

 

[garyinderry]

Harrington says if he plays his brother who is a 10 h'cap at his brother's course...

Paddy plays of the back tees and his brother off the whites, he'll give him 10 shots and it will be a good match
His brother plays off the back tees with Paddy he'll give him 16 shots and it will be a good match

If they play at a course that holds pro tournaments and Paddy sets the course up, it doesn't matter how many shots Paddy gives away, his brother won't win

ive heard that current tour pros had plus handicaps before turning pro. who has had the lowest? surely rose didn't make it to +6 did he?

 

[HawkeyeMS]

ive heard that current tour pros had plus handicaps before turning pro. who has had the lowest? surely rose didn't make it to +6 did he?

I think Tiger was something stupid like +8 at 14 but that's the US system so not sure how that would relate over here

 

[harpo_72]

Depressing topic!! The handicap system will always hold you up. You cannot hand in 3 cards and get a handicap less than 5, from there you have to play enough rounds to shoot 50 under because you only get 0.1 deducted. You shoot the round of your life and because the comp sec ****** it round with his mates it becomes a non qualifier ... Etc etc etc...
So these challenges are pointless if you can get to 4 turn pro, you will lose 4 strokes immediately and then go from there. What is the point of a plus handicap anyway ?

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Depressing topic!! The handicap system will always hold you up. You cannot hand in 3 cards and get a handicap less than 5, from there you have to play enough rounds to shoot 50 under because you only get 0.1 deducted. You shoot the round of your life and because the comp sec ****** it round with his mates it becomes a non qualifier ... Etc etc etc...
So these challenges are pointless if you can get to 4 turn pro, you will lose 4 strokes immediately and then go from there. What is the point of a plus handicap anyway ?

You can but it has to be approved by the local union

 

[JustOne]

Yeh, if you rocked up to a new course and put in 3 cards - 67, 69, 66 they won't be giving you a 5 h/cap!!! :thup:

 

[Doon frae Troon]

My first handicap was 2 so it can be done.
I was a pro and in those days you had to wait a minimum of 5 years before you got your amateur status back. I was not allowed to represent the club or play in Open meetings and I chose not to play in the club championship.
I played in club events for 3 years and when I got my amateur status back I was off 2 which the County accepted.

 

[harpo_72]

Any one done it yet? Or will I have to try?.... Could be a while though if ever!

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Yeh, if you rocked up to a new course and put in 3 cards - 67, 69, 66 they won't be giving you a 5 h/cap!!! :thup:

They might if the SSS was 61.!!!