Operation Scratch

O

OperationScratch

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operationscratch.blogspot.com
Hi guys/gals,

I am putting myself under the spotlight this year. I play off 15.7 and am planning on turning pro in 3 years. I know its easy to do that - Simply enter a tournement and sacrifice your amatuer status, but I mean play to a high standard and then turn pro. In the interim I am aiming at a scratch handicap (hence the name of my blog). I am posting this for 2 reasons.

1. All golfers want to get better and look for inspiration wherever it may come from. I myself have read books about guys having a crack at turning pro for a year to books about a guy that wanted to shoot level par a year after scoring 103.

2. I want to share all my knowledge gained through lessons and experience with the idea that anyone who wants to improve CAN, if they are committed enough. So by annoucing to the world my ambition I have no choice but to commit to it.

I am going to be keep accurate records of my lessons, practice sessions, fitness goals and matches played. My blog will be kept uptodate and I simply ask that if you want to support or join me then visit my blog by clicking here. I will be posting videos of things I am working on and sessions at the range aswell as video diaries. I expect this to be (at times) mentally draining and if you have any negative feedback, with all due respect I would rather not hear it. I am realistic and simply have a dream. I wont be giving up my day job, but I will be committing to this and have some fun along the way.

Thanks for listening.
 
You've been beaten to it. Tiger is already doing project scratch and to be honest is far more open about receiving critiscism. If you can't handle a few negative words on here what will you be like when the pressure is really on

Go on then, as I can't access blogs from my work machine, tell me how old you are and where you play
 
Getting to Single stats would be a huge achievement in one year, but Scratch, is imo, impossible.

The difference from me off 9/10, to people I know off Scratch, is quite frankly, light years.........

Good luck tho.
 
Homer, it's disgusting how some companies try and stop us from enjoying ourselves at work, so here you go.... :D

About Me
My name is Mark and I LOVE GOLF.

I am 32 years old and started playing golf when I was 13. I would like to think that the child like thrashing of a golf club has given me the grounding that most current tour pros attribute to their success, but sadly that is not the case. I soon gave golf up in pursuit of football and tennis, so although I have surrounded myself with sport from an early age I cannot honestly say that I am an experienced hardened golfer. From the age of 15-30 golf and me had many encounters that typically lasted a few weeks at a time and generally had no or little direction. I had my first lesson when I was 27 years old and due to money and time constraints did little to improve my game. About 2 years ago I embarked on a recurring dream to get as good as I could at golf and I ultimatley wanted to turn pro. This was not necessarily with the objective of waiting impatiently for Lee Westwood to join me on the 18th green, in the final pairing on the last day of the 2010 British Open at St Andrews so I could get on with holing my 2 footer that I had just nailed from 100 yards to win the championship. It had more to do with realising what could have been. I have said it already - I LOVE GOLF and I think I am pretty good. Let me clarify that. When I hit some shots there is a part of me that says I should be playing main tour golf, but there is another part of me that KNOWS that is ridiculous when I hit fats, thins, shanks and tops. I guess that puts me in the same boat as millions of other golfers out there that are and stay as weekend hackers. Over the past 2 years I have read over 25 books that cover every aspect of the game and even started a course of lessons which changed my swing from the self taught stack and tilt (not good) to something which resembled a fluid motion. Over that period of time I have gone from playing 18 holes in 28 over (mainly due to 3 or 4 major blow up holes) to achieving a handicap of 15.7. That was last achieved in May 2009 (sadly I rarely play in members competitions as I prefer to play early morning or with friends who cannot afford the membership fees). I have had the odd +9 round and have shot a couple over for a quick 9 hole game on my jack jones on more than 1 occasion. In October 2009 I decided enough was enough. Everyone I played with said I was a bandit for playing off 16. Was I? or did I just look like a pro that scored like a hacker? Not sure if that is even possible, but I wanted to find out and so after I moved house last year I hooked up with a PGA teaching pro at a Cranfield Academy and poured out my heart (with tears omitted). I explained my patchy relationship with golf and the many false starts I had. I knew that lessons were important and even more so was the need to stick with it, but I had also read that the average handicap worldwide is just NOT changing. This made me dubious, but I was still driven but my desire to achieve great things and a solid belief that I was not a 15.7 handicapper. The house move had taken from May-Sept'09 so I was fairly rusty. What has happened since then has inspired me to put my story together in the hope that I can inspire others with similar financial and time restraints to acheive great golf. Its only been a few months, but my plan and strategy will form the basis of this blog and I hope you enjoy the ride.

I have read book about guys that went from +33 to par in a year, guys that went from 28 to scratch in a year and dedicated themselves full time to the roll.

This plan named 'Operation Scratch' and am aiming to complete it within a year. More importantly although strict I am going to be VERY REALISTIC in the hope of getting others to join me in a similar quest or just to say "Stuff it, this year I am going to reduce my handicap"... If this sounds like you then hopefully we can improve together and you will learn from some of the tips and strategies that I will employ.!!!

Thanks for listening, watch this space and lets have some fun this year all doing the same thing - Getting Better!!!
 
Sorry but at 32 that ship has well and truely sailed. Unless you are prepared to dedicate the next year to playing and practicing every day and investing money is regular top quality coaching then it won't happen. I think there is certainly a single figure golfer in there but scratch is much harder to achieve.

There are a number of single figure guys on here, especially in Scotland and several from one course called Goswick in Nortumberland, and all will say that its very hard to shave those last few shots off and that most golfers will reach a natural plateau.

I'll have a look at the blog tonight but can't see it being done and as I say Tiger is already doing the same thing and going from 28 to scratch in five years
 
I personally think it maybe a step to far trying to get to scratch. Worth a go tho and good luck with it!

I’m setting myself a more realistic challenge of getting from 15 to single figure for start of next year golf calendar. Having only played golf for just over 2 ½ years at once a month and now become member of a golf course this yeah should make it reachable with lessons which I’ve never had and the right practice and plenty of more time on the course.

Once in single figures I know its much harder trying to shave off they single figures to get it down as a friend of mine has been trying for few year go from 5 down to scratch which has taken him 4 years with to even get to 2 with lots of hard work and ups and downs.

Again all the best and hope you realise your dream
 
Is getting to scratch going to be enough

Most pros on the tour would have a handicap of minus 4 ish
So to be able to compete you need to be able to score 4 under scratch regularly, on different courses, in all weathers and look good to attract the sponsors.

I cant talk as i have just had my first handicap confirmed at 26 and I would hope to be able to shave 10 shots off that over the next year/ 18 months, to me that is realistic.The next 5 strokes will be a mighty challenge.

However if you remain injury free, have the time, money, lack of family commitments, energy, drive and guts to totally devote every waking hour to Golf, then who is to say where you will end up.

By the way, if you are delusional, I have the number of a good shrink.

Good luck on your Quest
 
Oh I forgot to say
Please when you are doing a long post, can we have a few paragraphs inserted. makes it easier to read and not get lost

Fragger

Hows that for constructive criticism?
 
I'm being brutally honest here, like I was with the other guys. IMO you have diddly squat chance of getting down to scratch in the time period stated. Below 5 and turn pro then yes, scratch no.

I play off of five and my mate (JJF69)on here plays off of scratch. The difference between my game and his is not minimal. Its not only 5 shots. It's NIGHT & DAY! I consider myself to be a reasonable golfer but I do not have the ability to get to that level EVER, even with lessons, a year of solid golf etc. It takes a mental toughness and that wee bit extra.

Dont get me wrong I always want to improve and will always try my hardest but scratch is being a wee tad optimistic in my opinion.
 
I concur, scratch would be impossible in one year, shooting a level par round is do-able.

Having people from here follow your blog when it's your first post - impossible.
 
I wish you luck, but you'll need a huge amount of natural talent and the freedom to dedicate yourself as if it was your full time job for the next 3 years to stand ANY chance of getting to scratch imho. As has been said, just getting to 4 would be a more realistic target (didn't Poulter turn pro off 4 ?)
 
Hi there,

Maybe I should have clarified that point a bit more. I welcome feedback both positive and constructive (criticism), I was simply looking to get across that I dont want too many comments to dishearten me. I am realistic guys and am going to go for this, just didnt want any unnessary ridicule.

Obviously I did not want to bore the pants off people with all the info surrounding my plan but I will summarise the plan in a few words as possible.

Mon - 7-8:30 - Short Game Practice
Tue - 7-8:30 - 9 holes play
Wed - 7-8:30 - Long Game Practice
Thur - 7-8:30 - 9 holes play
Fri - 7-8:30 - Short Game Practice
Sun - 8-9pm putting practice at home

The short game practice will be mixed up with bunker play one day, pitching another, par 18 games around the green, repetitive iron play to targets on another day and some putting on actual greens.

As the mornings get lighter I will be moving to 18 hole games.

Facts:
(i) I live 5 minutes from golf course
(ii) My garden backs onto a small 70 field that I can use
(iii) I go to the gym or run/ride every morning before work and am simply replacing this time with golf practice.
 
I am not looking for people to follow the blog here, becasue I am going to do this anyway. With the modern technology available I thought it would be a good idea to note my progress. If anything it will keep me focused and kind of accountable to everyone no that I have put myself on a bandstand...

P.s. Project Scratch by 'Tiger' - Havent seen this but will make sure I have a good look..

Cheers

Mark
www.operationscratch.blogspot.com
 
Go for it, we all need a goal. I wish you the best of British but as I said I have my doubts!
 
Not necessarily posted at the OP, or any of the guys trying to knock substantial numbers of shots off their h/cap, but if it was just down to a couple of half hours of practice a week, and playing once a week, with the odd lesson thrown in, don't you think we would all be off 5 or less on here? Sadly, that just isn't so. Getting cut isn't a given, especially by large amounts.

Heck, I must be really bad at this game, because I have been playing for ages, and am nowhere near scratch (or 5 come to that).
 
I think this is an interesting project. If someone who was blessed with good flexibility, hand eye coordination and an ability to learn dedicated themselves, I reckon they could get down pretty low. Ideally a trust fund or a kindly benefactor would be there to deal with hassles like earning a living etc.

Becoming a pro is a step up again, even if only to sell Mars bars and play with the captain a few times a year.

Becoming a Tour pro is a huge step again, and is a big challenge even for hothoused would be Walker Cuppers. The probability of someone at a mature age getting there is extremely remote, but if you have the resources (financial and otherwise) good luck to you.

I played with a Tour pro who told me he started golf at age 14. He had a handicap of 3 a year later, +1 at 16 and +4 at 17. He hits the ball a mile (top 3 in distance), and although he said his short game needed a lot of work, it looked pretty damn good to me. He stayed on the PGA Tour for 2 years, narrowly keeping his card the first year, and lost it the second year. It is very very tough to get there, and maybe just as hard to stay.

You should set some interim goals, and if you do not achieve them, adjust expectations.
 
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