Non golfer to scratch in a year could it happen ?

[Deleted Member 1156]

and beleive you me smelly knows what he's talking about when he says the journey from 10-4 and from 4-0 is like chalk and cheese!!!

That is exactly my point and it is what everyone on here who thinks it can be achieved doesn't seem to understand.

 

[sydney greenstreet]

Given that something like 90% of golfers will never break 80,.

67% of statistics are made up.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

90% of golfers don't take 4 hour lessons 3 times a week for a year as per the OP question which is what I thought the other guy was still talking about when he changed the handicap from scratch to single figures.

As of today My handicap is 6 (5.8) the lowest Iv ever been is 5. I played for 2 years or so when I was 15, i stopped playing when I was 17, I never swung a club for 15 years after that. Took it up again when I was 32 and joined a club, got my first handicap which was around 13 or so, can't really mind tbh, got into single figures in the next couple years, again I can't remember exactly how long, Iv played off 6/7 for the last few years and beleive you me smelly knows what he's talking about when he says the journey from 10-4 and from 4-0 is like chalk and cheese!!!

And is 90% really that stat on how many golfers fail to break 80??????

You're right, I was forgetting the OP.

As for the percentage, I've read anything between 5 and 20% of players break 80. HDID show the average score is 91.7, it would be interesting to see their stats of how many players have ever broken 80 but I don't suppose it is all that high.

I was one who agreed with Snelly, anyone who thinks the OPs scenario is possible is deluding themselves.

 

[Mr A]

I think it could be possible. I seem to remember hearing about a guy who could hit the ball miles, he had never played golf before but had a natural ability to really smash the ball. After a few trips to the range it was suggested he enter a local competition to see how he would measure up against good players. He struggled with his short game and putting, but his raw power was enough to see him scrape his win. He turned pro after that so it's hard to know if he would have got to scratch as an amateur, but he did win the Tour Championship on his first appearance, beating McGavin by 1 stroke.

 

[Simbo]

That is exactly my point and it is what everyone on here who thinks it can be achieved doesn't seem to understand.

Yep, I'm agreeing with you, scratch-possible yes-anything is possible- but it's extremely extremely unlikely, but single figures-yep not that hard.

 

[Simbo]

I think it could be possible. I seem to remember hearing about a guy who could hit the ball miles, he had never played golf before but had a natural ability to really smash the ball. After a few trips to the range it was suggested he enter a local competition to see how he would measure up against good players. He struggled with his short game and putting, but his raw power was enough to see him scrape his win. He turned pro after that so it's hard to know if he would have got to scratch as an amateur, but he did win the Tour Championship on his first appearance, beating McGavin by 1 stroke.

Very good!

 

[Curls]

I think it could be possible. I seem to remember hearing about a guy who could hit the ball miles, he had never played golf before but had a natural ability to really smash the ball. After a few trips to the range it was suggested he enter a local competition to see how he would measure up against good players. He struggled with his short game and putting, but his raw power was enough to see him scrape his win. He turned pro after that so it's hard to know if he would have got to scratch as an amateur, but he did win the Tour Championship on his first appearance, beating McGavin by 1 stroke.

Top marks

 

[Big D 88]

I think it could be possible. I seem to remember hearing about a guy who could hit the ball miles, he had never played golf before but had a natural ability to really smash the ball. After a few trips to the range it was suggested he enter a local competition to see how he would measure up against good players. He struggled with his short game and putting, but his raw power was enough to see him scrape his win. He turned pro after that so it's hard to know if he would have got to scratch as an amateur, but he did win the Tour Championship on his first appearance, beating McGavin by 1 stroke.

Im reading through your post thinking this guy is talking utter tripe...

Very good post :thup:

 

[guest100718]

Actually I think Tim Henman has gone from 5 to scratch in a year. He was off 5 at last years Pro Am at Wentworth and this year off scratch.

 

[Foxholer]

Can't remember the name of the book but this Irish guy set a task of hacker/non-golfer to a level round in a year - that is certainly possible

Paper Tiger by Tom Coyne?

 

[slicer79]

I think it's called Dream On by John Richardson

 

[Robobum]

I've been a Cat 1 golfer for the past 12 years. In that time I have gone from 5 to 2 (and back to 3).

This year I have practised more than I have in the previous 11 yrs - I have only played to scratch in comps twice this year.

Getting to scratch = bridge too far.

 

[vkurup]

I think it is possible and it has been attempted by loads of folks before. It depends on the raw material aka yourself and the efforts that you put into it (time, money etc). Some examples below

http://scratchtoscratch.wordpress.com/about/

http://novice2scratch.com/

 

[guest100718]

Neither of those 2 got anywhere near being a scratch golfer.

 

[patricks148]

I think it is possible and it has been attempted by loads of folks before. It depends on the raw material aka yourself and the efforts that you put into it (time, money etc). Some examples below

http://scratchtoscratch.wordpress.com/about/

http://novice2scratch.com/

Of course its possible, its just unlikley

Same as me winning the lottery, its possible, but as i've never ever bought a ticket.... its unlikley

 

[GeneralStore]

Robobum, out of curiosity, how many hours on average do you practice and play per week?

 

[Robobum]

Robobum, out of curiosity, how many hours on average do you practice and play per week?

2 or 3hrs practice, play once or twice.

 

[guest100718]

Of course its possible, its just unlikley

Same as me winning the lottery, its possible, but as i've never ever bought a ticket.... its unlikley

The odds of winning the lottery are probably a lot better than hacker to scratch in a year....

 

[GeneralStore]

2 or 3hrs practice, play once or twice.

Thanks, that doesn't seem anywhere near the amount of time that some others on this forum are putting in. Putting personal ability aside, quality of practice must play a huge part

 

[CMAC]

Robobum, out of curiosity, how many hours on average do you practice and play per week?

2 or 3hrs practice, play once or twice.

Just to add to this, the best season I ever had I practiced 5 times a week and played as well, I felt I could do anything with the ball and knew where each shot was going, got to 2.7, I had basic knowledge of the swing and no idea about clubs/shafts.....

Now I play once possibly twice a week in summer and 'proper' practice once if I'm lucky(work/family/responsibilities).......to get low, really low you need to be playing this game frequently, not only that but you need to be practicing the right thing