Sensible Targets?

alldownhill

alldownhill

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I've been playing since last June although I had tried golf a few times over the last 15 years or so but never had the time to take up the sport.

I was wondering what is a sensible target to set myself that I could achieve by Sept 2011.

I joined a club (College Pines, Worksop) in Jan 2011 and I put 3 cards in for a handicap of 28.

I've played in 11 comps so far this season. I have managed 3 wins, 1 second, 1 third, 2 fourths and 4 mid-tables out of a field that usually consists of 20-30 division 3 golfers.

My handicap is now 24.2 and I'm 6th in the club order of merit.

I play 2-3 rounds a week and maybe practice short game an additional hour or so a week. My regular playing partners play off single figures.

What do you think I can get my handicap down to this season?

What do you think it will be by September 2012?

How long did it take you to get to your handicap and how much progress did you make per year?

Any tips also welcome!
 
Personally I wouldn't set too many targets. I did and it became an overriding focus to the detriment to my game. I over practiced, focussed too hard to shoot low and generally stuffed my swing and my enjoyment up for a while. Now I "try" and not worry too much and go out hit it, find it and hit it again and let the score and the handicap take care of itself
 
The way you are playing I dont think it sounds unreasonable to expect to come down a little further, however as Homer says, try not to set yourself absolute targets as you then concentrate on those instead of enjoying the game
 
Thanks Homer and Chris, sounds like good advice.

I do get a bit stressed trying to push myself beyond my limits at times. Although I really enjoy my time on the course and I guess I just need to be patient - a good metaphor for life!
 
You don't sound as though you need amy targets to be honest. Keep enjoying it as it seems to be working whatever your doing.

Sounds as though we have another Delb esq shark on the forum.
 
I'd say 4 if you give everything up, including sleep.

Handicap targets are no good, Golf is so variable overall, if I was you I'd set your sights on accuracy achievements, for instance hit 50 balls and count how many you got inside what you would call acceptable. The more success you have, the smaller the target gets. Same with putting, how many can you sink from 3 feet, 5 feet, how close can you put the ball from 30 feet etc. Every aspect of the game is measurable individually, when you improve on each one, your handicap will come down as a by product, that way you arnt concentrating on the bigger picture which spoils many's a card.
 
Sounds like you are doing very well.

If you are enjoying yourself and pushing for improvement, why worry about a target? Targets are good for people without momentum or ambition or in the right circumstances helping someone keeps their foot "on the gas".

You don't need to necessarily have one. I never did (for the first 2 or so years) and when I set myself one I stopped enjoying my golf.
 
Sleep is over-rated anyway!

Thanks for the advice, I'm liking the thin end of the wedge approach.

I see your point, it is easy to get bogged down with the big picture.
 
I would focus more on milestone targets, getting a round under 95/90/85 etc. Also things like 3,6,9 pars in a round.

Nothing too serious but things to keep it interesting. I like to remember my best 9 hole scores etc and keep working to beat them.

In the end the targets are not do or die, they are just extra things to keep you interested and hungry for golf.
 
I reckon anyone with basic physical skills and the ability to learn and time to practice a bit can get down to 8-12 handicap.

You have 3 division wins and a few other good finishes, so your handicap should fall steadily for a while. obviously it gets harder after a bit.

Maybe aim for 20 handicap by the end of this season, 15 next and 12 the one after?

I played with a Tour player once who started golf age 14 or 15, was a 3 handicap aged 16 and +2 aged 17. Then turned pro and reached the Tour. That might be the more aggressive plan. Plus handicap in less than 3 years?
 
I play off 22 and last year set myself a target of 18 but never got there. Done the same this year and still havn't reached it. I know I'm playing much better because I don't have to go and look in the trees for my balls no where near as much but my scores still aren't comming down.
 
I would focus more on milestone targets, getting a round under 95/90/85 etc. Also things like 3,6,9 pars in a round.

Nothing too serious but things to keep it interesting. I like to remember my best 9 hole scores etc and keep working to beat them.

In the end the targets are not do or die, they are just extra things to keep you interested and hungry for golf.
Click to expand...

Fair points, thanks. 92 is my best to date so I am hungry to break 90!

Still, the more i'm relaxed the better I play so I need to put these targets to the back of my mind more while I'm on the course.
 
I reckon anyone with basic physical skills and the ability to learn and time to practice a bit can get down to 8-12 handicap.

You have 3 division wins and a few other good finishes, so your handicap should fall steadily for a while. obviously it gets harder after a bit.

Maybe aim for 20 handicap by the end of this season, 15 next and 12 the one after?

I played with a Tour player once who started golf age 14 or 15, was a 3 handicap aged 16 and +2 aged 17. Then turned pro and reached the Tour. That might be the more aggressive plan. Plus handicap in less than 3 years?
Click to expand...

Thanks, interesting points. I guess I'm more interested in what kind of progress I will make over the next couple of years instead of target setting.

I agree with the notion that most people can reach a certain level through hard work and reflective learning.

What is the magic formula I wonder, 90% persperation/ 10 inspiration or there abouts I think to reach your full potential at golf.
 
Maybe I am in the minority here but using scores as targets alone is wrong.
There are days when we can go out, play badly and get a cut and then there are those days which are totally the opposite, play well but not score.
If you concentrate on each type of shot and percentages of success (ie how many times out of ten will this shot work, are there any better alternatives?), you will think your way round the course better and that will help you achieve lower scores.
I think being numbers orientated will blind you to knowing when to go for it and when to be conservative.
 
One of my work pals, very sporty, asked if I would take him onto the golf course, as our company had golf outings and he wished to participate.
First handicap 18, first year single figures and then down, very quickly, to cat one.
Right from the start he was able to appreciate the mechanics of the game and this, I feel, helped.

Sensible target? Dictated by time spent practising, knowing what you want to do, knowing how to do it (your single figure friends will help in that area) and your natural ability - I would call the latter bit 'a sportsman's eye' as it embraces timing, flexibility and balance!

Fifteen!!
 
It seems to me that you must be playing some really solid golf to be finishing so well and winning comps.

If you are enjoying the game let your handicap take care of itself - it does seem like ti will continue to fall if you keep playing the same way.

I've been cut from 27 to 22 so far this year and I suspect that's as far as I'll get for this year. I'd be more than happy being a bogey golfer (hcp of 18) based on me not being able to spend enormous amounts of time practicing.

Maybe in future years when the offspring are bigger and perhaps have an interest in golf themselves that'l change, but for the time being I just (try to) enjoy the game!
 
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