What level could haveyou reach?

[jamielaing]

What level could you have reached?

Purely a hypothetical but thought it may be interesting-

I stopped playing golf when I was 19 through other distractions (rugby which helped me to achieve both beer and women) and came back to the game 18 months ago when I was 29. I wish I didn't give up as I think I would be where I aim for by now (3-5 handicap, in a club team, challenging for club championships).

But...

If you were in a position to give up your job and commit 40 hours a week to golf with unlimited coaching, sports psychology etc and no financial worries what level do you think you could reach? Could you be on tour? A club pro? Single figures? Club champion? Or would Jason Day have to watch his back?

I'll kick off. I think I could've got to a smaller tour. Maybe the Challenge or Europro but would certainly not have ever been a famous person.

I think there are some on here who could've gone reasonably far....

 

[Keeno]

Re: What level could you have reached?

Purely a hypothetical but thought it may be interesting-

I stopped playing golf when I was 19 through other distractions (rugby which helped me to achieve both beer and women) and came back to the game 18 months ago when I was 29. I wish I didn't give up as I think I would be where I aim for by now (3-5 handicap, in a club team, challenging for club championships).

But...

If you were in a position to give up your job and commit 40 hours a week to golf with unlimited coaching, sports psychology etc and no financial worries what level do you think you could reach? Could you be on tour? A club pro? Single figures? Club champion? Or would Jason Day have to watch his back?

I'll kick off. I think I could've got to a smaller tour. Maybe the Challenge or Europro but would certainly not have ever been a famous person.

I think there are some on here who could've gone reasonably far....

I think I would have won the masters by now.

 

[Jates12]

Re: What level could you have reached?

Purely a hypothetical but thought it may be interesting-

I stopped playing golf when I was 19 through other distractions (rugby which helped me to achieve both beer and women) and came back to the game 18 months ago when I was 29. I wish I didn't give up as I think I would be where I aim for by now (3-5 handicap, in a club team, challenging for club championships).

But...

If you were in a position to give up your job and commit 40 hours a week to golf with unlimited coaching, sports psychology etc and no financial worries what level do you think you could reach? Could you be on tour? A club pro? Single figures? Club champion? Or would Jason Day have to watch his back?

I'll kick off. I think I could've got to a smaller tour. Maybe the Challenge or Europro but would certainly not have ever been a famous person.

I think there are some on here who could've gone reasonably far....

Interesting thread this Jamie.

I gave up the game when I was 15 due to Cricketing commitments and my handicap was 16. I started playing more this year (8 years later) and dropped myself to 14. I could be down to 10 but injuries from that time are limiting the amount i can play and practice. Fortunatley, come feb i should have a full bill of health and should get to my goal which is to get to single figures before im 25.

I think that once I am healthy, if i was to take on your situation with all the coaching and required financials to back my progress, I think i could make the Challenge Tour or something like the Web.com. Would never make it to the big leagues or probably even play in a major but i think i could make a tidy living from it.

Good thread though, I like

 

[Rooter]

Re: What level could you have reached?

I could have had class, I could have been a contender, I could have been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what i am. Lets face it.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Re: What level could you have reached?

Europro tour but aiming to go to the open

 

[jamielaing]

Re: What level could you have reached?

I think I would have won the masters by now.

I like it, aim big!

 

[jamielaing]

Re: What level could you have reached?

A couple thinking smaller tours, I didn't think about the opens ScienceBoy, I think I could compete in them in my hypotheticals!

 

[patricks148]

Re: What level could you have reached?

didn't start playing till i was over 40 and got to cat1, if id started younger before the lack of flexibility crept in prob got to scratch or lower... maybe.. but might have given up long ago and might not get the enjoyment a get out of the game now.

 

[Wilson]

Re: What level could you have reached?

I would suggest people need to realise how good these guys are, even the ones on the Challenge Tour & Web.com Tour - I would suggest unless your handicap is already scratch or better, even putting in 40hrs a week would see you get nowhere near good enough to be anywhere near a Tour - I would think most club golfers would be lucky to get down to scratch putting in that much time, myself included.

My Uncle told me a story about a friend of his, 4hcp golfer, who took a year out to try and see how low he could get, he practised as if he was a professional, had lessons etc. At the end of the year he was still a 4hcp....

As I've already said, I think if I could give up work and play full time, (had my numbers come in last night I would have done so!), I think I'd be lucky to get to scratch - possibly good enough to be a Teaching Pro, but miles away from competing on any sort of Tour.

 

[Qwerty]

Re: What level could you have reached?

I'm a pretty steady 7-8 H'cap and reckon even with all the above time invested etc I don't think I'd ever get beyond 2-3 H'cap.

Ive played with ex pros off +2 who didn't make it via the Challenge & europro tours and I know that I never would of had their amount of golfing talent regardless of the amount of time and effort I put into it.

You can practice the right stuff all day every day but I honestly think the majority of us just don't have the minerals to get to that level.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Re: What level could you have reached?

I'm similar to Qwerty, I reckon my natural level would also be about 2-3hcp if I had the time and inclination.

I think a few guys might need a reality check if they think they could get on the minor tours, do you realise just how good the standard is? There is a former Bristish Amateur champion at my club that played in the Open and the Masters, he has just given up because he can't cut the mustard on the lower tours!

 

[ruff-driver]

Re: What level could you have reached?

With Seven days a week practice i could make cat 3

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Re: What level could you have reached?

Purely a hypothetical but thought it may be interesting-

I stopped playing golf when I was 19 through other distractions (rugby which helped me to achieve both beer and women) and came back to the game 18 months ago when I was 29. I wish I didn't give up as I think I would be where I aim for by now (3-5 handicap, in a club team, challenging for club championships).

But...

If you were in a position to give up your job and commit 40 hours a week to golf with unlimited coaching, sports psychology etc and no financial worries what level do you think you could reach? Could you be on tour? A club pro? Single figures? Club champion? Or would Jason Day have to watch his back?

I'll kick off. I think I could've got to a smaller tour. Maybe the Challenge or Europro but would certainly not have ever been a famous person.

I think there are some on here who could've gone reasonably far....

I am guessing that maybe 1 in a 1000 golfers get down to scratch, its then a long long way from a scratch amateur to a playing pro earning a living from the game, and then another huge jump to being a tour winner. Therefore realistically I guess the best I could have hoped for like most on here was to have won the weekend swindle a bit more often.

 

[User 105]

Re: What level could you have reached?

So many if's and but's with this question.

In reality I think I could of, and think I still could, get to cat 1.

If I'd have started when I was 6 years old, if I could have kept interest, if my family had the money for memberships, coaches etc etc etc, if I was stupid enough to risk the great life I have now on the chance to make a little money at a major personal cost. Who the hell knows.

Small tours. Honestly, get real. Those guys have a serious amount of talent and dedication.

 

[ShankyBoy]

Re: What level could you have reached?

Well I've played with folks who are single figures and I believe I have it in me to get to that point, that's about it...and will probably take 5+ years.

It's like running a sub 3 marathon and expecting to get picked for the Rio marathon squad, just another world/level completely.

 

[Junior]

Re: What level could you have reached?

I've hit my level at 7, maybe could get down to 6 at a push. I don't think I could have ever have got lower, even if golf was all I did growing up.

I don't think people appreciate how hard it is to get to cat 1, never mind get to a +3/4/5 handicap to be able to compete on a tour.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Started playing golf around 7 years ago and reached cat 1 within 5 years - I also wonder how low I could have got if I played golf from an early age instead of hockey - I might have been able to hit scratch but prob around 1/2 HC

 

[Spear-Chucker]

Re: What level could you have reached?

Reckon low amateur status (+1 ish) given time and the resources before technical and boredom issues would scupper things.

Don't think successful pro's are exponentially better than low am's or those on the duffer tours but they are undoubtedly a level ahead which is predominantly due to a specific mindset which is extremely rare.

 

[Capella]

Re: What level could you have reached?

Well, I did not start golf until about one and a half years ago, when I was already over 40. And when I'm all grown up, I want to be a bogey golfer Seriously, I think, even if I could quit my job today and do nothing but play and practice golf, I think, that is about as far as I could get. I'm not much of an athlete, never have been.

 

[Piece]

Re: What level could you have reached?

Probably scratch. On Tours? No way now, unless I time travel and start my career with lessons at 10 rather than considerably later in life!

Interestingly, during my cricket career, several people said I was good enough to play Test cricket. I didn't have the enthusiasm, dedication or belief though.