Scratch?

[Hobbit]

Is scratch possible? By all means set it as a long term goal but set easier, short term goals to keep you focused. And they need to include more than getting from 14 to 10, e.g. hit 12/14 average over 3mths and/or a putting average of 31.

Is it harder to get from 5 to scratch than 10 to 5? First of all the obvious, you only come down 0.1 for Cat1 as opposed to the 0.2 in Cat2. Which then means you need twice as many good rounds. Then there's the smaller buffer zone...

That's the negative side of it taken care of but what about some reality to balance it up. If you've developed the swing/game to get down to Cat1 you will probably have several birdies in most rounds, which will tidy up the mistakes, and you will be decent at getting up and down.

Is it possible to get down there and balance the life outside of golf? 25yrs ago I was on the golf course or practice ground most days - married with a brood. My golf came first, second and third.... divorced!! In hindsight you can keep your Cat1, and I'll go to the kids sports day/Christmas panto/Dad's and lads scout trip etc.

Get the balance right and you could probably do both... choice is yours.

 

[Robobum]

I play in a number of mid am scratch events during the year - everyone is 35 and over, so they are, in the majority, in the same "job/ wife/ kids" boat as the OP.
The good guys who are off scratch and better seem to fit into 2 categories, both of which will have played thru their childhood:

1. They are single again, either thru choice or otherwise, and have time to dedicate a large slice of spare time to their games (playing & practice)
2. They have jobs that do not tie them to a desk/ shopfloor for every hour of the day. They manage to get out in the week at least once or twice as well as their weekend golf.

I'd lump in shift workers to the mix too.

 

[Birchy]

Its all about the clubs. Look at Rory, hes crap now

 

[bladeplayer]

Do you notice the best golfers in your club on the chipping greens, playing out of practice bunkers, I see them all the time. Why dont you see them?

Main Reason ? we dont have any chipping greens or practice bunkers ..

One of the big problems in our gaf is guys shooting the lights out & others geting .1 back for 36 points ... very hard to stay low at that rate