Time vs reward?

[barrybridges]

At the weekend I had a chat with my club pro following my lesson. He said he was pleased with how I was progressing and that there was a good golfer in me waiting to get out (damning with faint praise!!).

Anyway, he said that with practice and time I should set myself a goal of getting down to low teen figures. He then said that realistically he doesn't feel someone like me would get lower because I didn't have enough time to devote to things given work commitments. In particular, he said that getting down to single figures and maintaining it would be highly difficult for those balancing work/family.

I guess my question is: how true is that statement for others?

Is single figures generally only possible for those who - for example - might be retired and play daily?

Is there a 'limit' beyond which family/work prevents most people from reaching?

Or is this rubbish?

I guess what I'd be interested in is how much other people devote to their golf vs their handicap. Do you need to play 4 times a week to get down to single figures? Conversely, if you only play once a week, what's the best you should aim for?

 

[bladeplayer]

Everybody is different same as all sports , some are natruals & get good with minimum effort others can practice as much as they like & will improve but never get to single figures .. for me i will try get to the range & the putting green at least once a week & lowest ive ever got to was 8.2 . hope to get back to 8 this year , struggling tho .. mayb ive found my level

 

[Oddsocks]

baz, theres quite a few single figure players here who give the impression that they practice very little. im sure a couple only play once a week.

 

[Aztecs27]

It's all very subjective.

Some people have a natural ability for golf/sport in general. My best friend sickens me. He plays to a good level of any sport he's ever played without even trying. Just comes naturally. He plays golf once every 2-3 weeks these days, and even when he was "obsessed" he'd play twice a week if he was lucky...But he's never had lessons, never really practiced (other than playing rounds of golf) and easily plays to his "official" handicap of 12, but regularly shoots lower than that.

Other people have to work harder. Of course, the more time and effort you put in to practicing and playing, the better and more consistent you will become.

 

[barrybridges]

But I suppose when you were off 8.2 how often were you playing?

I understand that some people are naturally good (trust me - I'm not one of them as I'm crap!) but I guess I'd be a bit despondent if someone said to me 'you won't get lower than 10 because you don't have the time to play as much as you need to'.

Given that I play perhaps three times a month but get out on the range (grass, not mat) at least 2 - 3 times a week, I don't know what a reasonable goal would be.

 

[upsidedown]

It's a tricky one. Cant think of any single figure players in my club who are " family guys' i.e young family .

They're all like me late 40's onwards or young lads not yet married or no kids yet.

I got down to single figures when I was divorced so had no ties and was lucky enough to find Mrs Upsidedown was also a golfer.

When we built our house out here my game suffered from lack of games and practice but now back on track and hope to go lower , but might be hard as heading into winter now, although have got 3 weeks in UK in June / July.

 

[bladeplayer]

But I suppose when you were off 8.2 how often were you playing?

I understand that some people are naturally good (trust me - I'm not one of them as I'm crap!) but I guess I'd be a bit despondent if someone said to me 'you won't get lower than 10 because you don't have the time to play as much as you need to'.

Given that I play perhaps three times a month but get out on the range (grass, not mat) at least 2 - 3 times a week, I don't know what a reasonable goal would be.

Was prob playing 6/7 times a month , but was on the range 3 times a week at lunch time . playing 3 times a month it will be tough, id say once a week would be minimun. I think theres a positive in there tho, if the Only reason stopping you geting down was time it means you have the game you just dont have the time ,, take the positives from the round whether it good or bad , negative crap belongs in the bin . STOP saying you are crap mate coz this is going to affect you. it will affect you subconsiously whether you believe it or not , you are learning & trying to improve , so the crap word is banned .. so if you are asked your official answer is WORKING ON MY GAME

 

[BROOKIE]

I'm one of those guys,who thinks,the more rounds you play,
the better you get,I dont like the driving range,because its
boring,I dont want to talk about where my hands should be
on a certain part of my swing,I just want to connect with the ball properly,so I practice on the golf course,and for me its working....at least till now

 

[USER1999]

I know people who have played for 30 years, twice a week, and will never break an 18 handicap.

I know guys who play once a fortnight, never practice, and are cat 1.

Yes, the more you play you increase your chances, but every one has a level they will struggle to get beyond. For most, that comes way before single figure handicaps.

A lot of my mates don't really care anyway. They think I'm wierd, but then they are probably not alone.

I got marooned on a 12 handicap for 20 years, and thought that was it, but now I am down to 9, without really doing much different.

 

[Region3]

I play once a week, sometimes twice, and go to a range about a dozen times a year.

I'll have a hit on the practice green before a game but that's it, and I don't practice chipping because our chipping green is pointless.

 

[lobthewedge]

Would say in a week I get about 3 hours practice, be that on the range or course, and at least 1 full round on a Saturday.

I would love to play more and reckon I could get down to 1 or 2 if I did, but I have a young family and they have to come first.

Of course everyone has a natural limit to their ability, but I would say that by using time well and practising effectively most people off 14 and under could aim at single figures.

 

[USER1999]

A lot of it to me is a mental thing. Bottle to an extend. Handling the pressure of comps to shoot a good score to get cut down there. It is something that is hard to practice.

A mate of mine can't chip or pitch. Really can't. And yet on the practice ground, he's fine. On the course, even when not in a comp, he would be better off from 50 yards laying up backwards to leave a full shot in. Mentally, he is not able to do it.

 

[kev_off_the_tee]

I'm a strong believer that the more you put into something, the more you get out of it.

I can only play golf once a week due to work and family commitments. I think this seriously hampers my chances of significant improvement but because I'm aware of this, I'm not too disheartened these days when I put in a high score.

Granted I want to get better and it is inevitable that I will, but only to a certain standard. I can hit a 300 yard drive or land an 8 iron a foot away from the pin, but only at times.

I genuinely think that playing time brings consistency. I'd be happier hitting a 200 yard drive in a straight line every time rather than the rare smasher.

 

[Mongoose]

I dont know any really good golfers (say regularly shooting in the mid-70's with some low 70's rounds) who at some stage didnt practise and play excessively. They may have done this years ago, but it does seem that to play at a highish standard one does have to invest a huge amount of time (and effort) at some stage in ones golfing life. To play good golf, (say shooting low/mid 80's) I dont think that excessive level needs to be done but does require regular play, and some degree of commitment in terms of technique, pracice and equipment, will accelerate the progress and the level of overall ability. Bottom line is the more you want to improve the more time you need to put in. And once you get to Cat 1, its about the only way to really improve further. If time is an inhibitor then be happy to play to a good level, as thats a significant achievement considering how difficult the game is.

 

[EZprophet]

I also believe that you get out of golf what you put into it. Nobody ever gets to a low handicap without putting a fair bit of work in at some point or another.

I practiced pretty much every day when I was a kid and got down to a 6 handicap. Then when I gave up the game and would play 3/4 times per year my handicap went up to 11/12.

Nowadays I go to the range 1-4 times per week (one of them a lesson) and play 1-2 times per week as Im trying to improve. If I didnt practice at all I have no doubt that I would get worse, not up to 11/12 as Im a way better player now than I was as a kid, but I reckon something like a 6 or 7.

 

[CrapHacker]

Forget what everyone else can, or can't, do - you'll only end up giving yourself false limits of expectation.

You are doing fantastically well getting your handicap down as quickly as you are atm.

The important thing to do is to make sure you enjoy the game for it's own sake, not just while you are improving.

Because I'm pretty sure that one day you'll reach your best handicap, but be capable of playing lower occasionally, and no matter how low that is, you'll want it to be lower - 9 handicappers will have played the odd scratch round, 6 h/c have played under par, etc. I reckon most golfers, the better they get, the more frustrating the game becomes.

One day you'll reach your level, depending on the time you can commit, and your natural talent. But for you that day's a long way off.

 

[Evesdad]

How much time is Needed on average, I too have a wife and two children so not too blessed in the free time dept. I like to play as often as I can so maybe one evening and weekend round. This doesn't really leave alot of time for practice. So what should be concentrated on? And how long? I know I need to work on ball striking as this is a major weak point. I don't plan on trying to get to single figures I would just like to be decent and challenge the course, that may change the lower I get!