Realistically....

[leaney]

Hi all,

I've been playing golf for 3 weeks now and I want to set myself a target handicap for next summer.

I've had a couple of lessons and have my grip, stance and most of my swing sorted.

I hit 125 balls down the range, every other day and will play most weekends. I can drive a ball to 270 but not always straight and I can sometimes be very good with my irons.

So if I set myself a target of a 18 handicap by next June... would that be realistic and doable?

 

[RGDave]

I've had a couple of lessons and have my grip, stance and most of my swing sorted.

Good luck with that.

In all seriousness, 18 is easily doable by next June.

 

[leaney]

Well I know what it is that I need to do or my swing. It's just that I'm not always consistent but with practice hopefully I'll that will change.

 

[RGDave]

Well I know what it is that I need to do or my swing.

Like I said. Good luck with that.

 

[G_Mulligan]

Work on your short game as much as possible and if you work hard you will do it.

Good luck and enjoy

 

[palindromicbob]

Work on your short game as much as possible and if you work hard you will do it.

Good luck and enjoy

+1

You seem to be very focused on your length of drive but the green is what will dictate the handicap no point getting on the green in 2 if you are going to 3 putt.

I'm really looking forward to August when the short game practice area is due to open on my course. I'm aiming to reach 18 over the next year myself having started in November (really only got playing regularly in March when I joined a club). Just got my first handicap of 21 so I think dropping 3 is a nice achievable goal.

 

[philly169]

I would get out on the course and see how you get on..

Its all well and good being able to stonk it 270 yards, but what if it doesn't go straight and ends up in a bunch of trees, do you chip out, punch forward or hope that hitting it may land you on the green but could go to far into the hazard, damn dropped shot.

My handicap is 23 and I was playing some poor golf, only since having a few lessons and being out on the course and playing competitivley have I managed to sort my self out.. Now seem to be shooting +6 on the front 9.

 

[G1BB0]

unless your course is very long a drive of 200-250 is plenty, its the second shot and around the greens/putting that costs shots (I know as thats my area of pantsness atm)

I regularly get on the green or therabouts in 2 or 3 but the amount of times a duff chip and 3 putts ruins it...

I wouldnt set a target just yet personally, just enjoy it, work on all areas steadily, play regular and it will come down accordingly

good luck

 

[RGDave]

unless your course is very long a drive of 200-250 is plenty, its the second shot and around the greens/putting that costs shots (I know as thats my area of pantsness atm)

Good comment. When I could realisticaly get near par on a good day, I still hit 2 or 3 irons/5 woods off a lot of tees. Those would go between 190-225 (not far, I realise) but 225 leaving a 125 9 iron into a 350 par 4 was bread and butter golf for me. My "oldest" course (1993-1997) had a 350 par 4 dog-leg which most players took on over the trees on the direct as-the-crow-flies route. OK, so sometimes they'd only have a 60-80 yarder left (old tech drivers) but the cost of a bad shot was guaranteed bogey. I remember that hole, anywhere right of the flag would feed down towards the flag, putting for birdie most weekends.....

happy days....w.t.h. happened??