Trying to get from hcp 21 to single figures in less that 12 months!

[garyinderry]

unless you are a big hitter off the tee who has a piss poor short game I think it will be a step too far. basically your short game will dictate how low you will go.

if you keep it in play and get up and down on average once out of every two attempts you have a chance. that is the kind of consistency required.

when practicing. throw 10 balls around the green and try and get up and down with 5 of them. when you are doing this you are on the right track.

 

[Imurg]

I've been a mid 20's handicap player forever, despite lessons, playing a pretty regularly etc etc.

This is the crux..
If you've been playing regularly,having lessons and are still a mid 20's handicap, what are you going to do differently to cut your handicap by 15-20 shots in a year..?
It would different if you'd only just started playing as significant improvements can be made quickly. But you've been playing "forever"............
Good luck but, as others have said, set a more realistic target of, say, 18 this year, 14 next etc etc
Slashing a handicap by 15 shots in a year and then staying there and playing too it is asking a lot.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I'd make an exception and read your blog. 'Confessions of an Alfa driving, pairs board comp winner'

Triple fixed

 

[pokerjoke]

Really maths isn't my strong point

Did you write a blog??

Reading the OP is also not one of your strong points either
He asked for anyone who had done similar,a high handicap to low singles.
I think CMAC fits that criteria,imo.

Im in the camp of it can be done.
Good luck with your quest.
I do agree blogs are boring

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Possible if you have recently started playing, aged between 15 and 19 and have natural talent.
Otherwise very unlikely in your case as your CV is not looking too good. Four years at 20 handicap seems to be an obvious indicator.

 

[NorfolkShaun]

Tough ask but very best of luck hope you do it. :thup:

 

[need_my_wedge]

Liverpoolphil went from 16 - 5 last season, I believe. I heard something about playing every day, or hitting 200 balls if not on the course.

On the other hand, I set myself a target of 19 down to 15, and despite playing 3 or 4 times a week, wound up back .3 at 19.3....... Did have a mid-season putting issue that ran for about 4 months, only fixed it in October, that didn't help because I missed soooooo many putts shaving the hole, all because of a slightly off angle causing me to hit the ball on the up stroke.......was a huge cost in comps.... Now it's fixed, gonna try the same target again this year and hope it improves. One other thing I learnt last year, was not to ride myself too hard, spent too much time in comps worrying about how to recover the lost putts, rather than just accepting it and playing the next hole for fun, kind of lost the enjoyment, but the determination kept me going, slightly detrimental methinks. Over the last couple of months, I seem to have gotten over that, and am easier able to get on with the next shot without worrying so much about the dropped bogey before, am playing a lot better for it.

Hope that's of some use.

If you want to blog it, do so, even if you're the only one who ever reads it, it will just be something for you to refer back to, especially if you have some success. Don't worry about all the old boys on here who suggest its self indulgent and not worth it. A blog is just an online journal that happens to be open for anyone to read, and you can lock it down if you want. It's easier in this day and age to do it electronically, rather than keep hoards of paper journals. Was never into writing diaries as a kid, but using Facebook for example, is quite fun to look back on stuff.

Enjoy your year, give it a try and don't worry about the outcome. You'll never know if you don't give it a shot.

 

[User20205]

Reading the OP is also not one of your strong points either
He asked for anyone who had done similar,a high handicap to low singles.
I think CMAC fits that criteria,imo.

Im in the camp of it can be done.
Good luck with your quest.
I do agree blogs are boring

I was just having a Foxy moment, and being pedantic. He may argue 18-5 isn't the same as 21-5 for the sake of accuracy. Therefore to say 'I have done it' isn't correct. It's 81% correct:ears:

But I don't really do pedantry, just thought I'd try it for size.

 

[User20205]

Triple fixed

Why have you made it less funny????

 

[Beezerk]

Best of luck mate, wish I had your drive.

 

[User20205]

Best of luck mate, wish I had your drive.

Are you the fella whose getting down to single figs for HFH this year ??

 

[Beezerk]

Are you the fella whose getting down to single figs for HFH this year ??

Not me mate, I'll be happy with getting down to 15

 

[User20205]

Not me mate, I'll be happy with getting down to 15

That's what I like a bit a realism, none of this flying to the moon in a rocketship made of a fairy liquid bottle and pipe cleaners.!!

Even though I would read a blog about that

 

[davidy233]

Starting from the same handicap as the original poster I couldn't envisage getting to single figures on my home course unless I found an extra thirty yards on each club (would still be well below forum average).

If he's a relatively big hitter then it's possible, because then it's down to consistency of ball striking, course management and a decent short game - they are all the bits I've improved vastly since starting taking lessons and playing/hitting balls a lot more than previously.

I reckon I can knock four or five off my handicap now but I'd doubt I can take it much further than that, and I'm sure as hell not setting a target, that's what screws up lots of people.

I'd actually had a look at his blog before this thread started, don't see the problem with someone documenting his progress/or lack of - I'll read just about anything to do with golf at the moment.

 

[Khamelion]

Are you the fella whose getting down to single figs for HFH this year ??

That will be me.

@Kenny or Kevin.

Back end of last year I got my first HC, 17.1, I did it, so at the Help 4 heroes day I could have an official HC, at the end of the day while sitting with a few people, including Bill Elliot who writes the back page of the GM mag, Bill asked what my aspirations were for 2014, I told him I would be in single figures with 12months ready for the 2014 H4H day.

Bill wrote in his column:

"Presently off a serious double-digit handicap, he insists he'll be in single figures this time next year. I'll let you know. No laughing at the back"

The quote coming from someone who knows many of the great golfers, past and present, so does he think I can do it, he didn't say, but his look said it all and just how hard a task I have set myself.

About me, I started playing again August 2010 with a coupe of rounds, in Feb 2011 I bought a fitted set of clubs and started having lessons, next month I'll have been playing regularly for 3 years and will have had regular lessons throughout that period, along with tens of thousands of balls hit at the driving range.

I'll be entering comps at my course this year in order to get my HC lowered, but I'm not deluding myself, I know it won't be easy.

Over the 3 years since I started playing my swing has changed dramatically, I had so many really bad habits all grooved in, ingrained deeply in my brain and muscles that correcting things was not going to be an over night fix. Trying to reprogram my brain and muscles to do something new and different to what they were used to has not, sorry, is not easy. It takes a lot to keep heading down the correct path and it's so easy to slip back to old habits, I look at it as taking 2 steps forward and 1 step back.

But, as I have said to those who have listened and those who have read what I have said and written, I am determined to get from 17.1 to single figures and it's not a case of, if, I do it for H4H this year, but, when, as in what month before H4H I do it.

It will happen.

I've got to get to single figures for H4H, as there are quite a few people on this forum who have said they will donate to the charity should I achieve the goal.


Edit: - I'll keep tabs on your blog from time to time, I would say good luck, but luck doesn't come into it, sheer determination is what you'll need

 

[CMAC]

its only 9 shots, not like it's 13 shots or anything

 

[User20205]

That will be me.

@Kenny or Kevin.

Back end of last year I got my first HC, 17.1, I did it, so at the Help 4 heroes day I could have an official HC, at the end of the day while sitting with a few people, including Bill Elliot who writes the back page of the GM mag, Bill asked what my aspirations were for 2014, I told him I would be in single figures with 12months ready for the 2014 H4H day.

Bill wrote in his column:

"Presently off a serious double-digit handicap, he insists he'll be in single figures this time next year. I'll let you know. No laughing at the back"

The quote coming from someone who knows many of the great golfers, past and present, so does he think I can do it, he didn't say, but his look said it all and just how hard a task I have set myself.

About me, I started playing again August 2010 with a coupe of rounds, in Feb 2011 I bought a fitted set of clubs and started having lessons, next month I'll have been playing regularly for 3 years and will have had regular lessons throughout that period, along with tens of thousands of balls hit at the driving range.

I'll be entering comps at my course this year in order to get my HC lowered, but I'm not deluding myself, I know it won't be easy.

Over the 3 years since I started playing my swing has changed dramatically, I had so many really bad habits all grooved in, ingrained deeply in my brain and muscles that correcting things was not going to be an over night fix. Trying to reprogram my brain and muscles to do something new and different to what they were used to has not, sorry, is not easy. It takes a lot to keep heading down the correct path and it's so easy to slip back to old habits, I look at it as taking 2 steps forward and 1 step back.

But, as I have said to those who have listened and those who have read what I have said and written, I am determined to get from 17.1 to single figures and it's not a case of, if, I do it for H4H this year, but, when, as in what month before H4H I do it.

It will happen.

I've got to get to single figures for H4H, as there are quite a few people on this forum who have said they will donate to the charity should I achieve the goal.

It's not impossible, CMAC and Liverpoolphil have shown that. Bill played with you, and he doesn't sound too confident

You've put a bit of pressure on though, and you've really got 7 months of qualifiers

 

[User20205]

its only 9 shots, not like it's 13 shots or anything

Or 16

 

[Beezerk]

That will be me.

Single figures? After nearly hitting me with THAT shot

 

[CMAC]

Or 16

or 8