What WOULD your handicap be IF.....

[CVG]

What a good question, I think we will all say we will get down to single figures, but I'd be concerned that I'd get bored with it all.
I enjoy a number of interests, and playing golf although high on the list wouldn't be enough to keep me entertained.
I suppose another positive would be that you could afford to get tickets for every big tournament and travel to them in comfort as well.

 

[jeffc]

As CVG says, single figures would be a realistic target, I'm 46 and been playing 12 months after a 20 year lay off and playing off 19. Target is 15 for the end of year.

As for scratch to put it in perspective,when us amateurs play a round of golf and hit 2 or 3 perfect shots in that round we go home happy. When a scratch golfer plays a round of golf and hits 2 or 3 bad shots he goes home unhappy and disapointed.

One thing I would say is that when I play and particularly practise too much my game gets worse, which is probably due to my age and fitness.

 

[Adrena1in]

...I could play and be happy off around 3-4

I'm not entirely sure I'd be happier being better. I know guys who play off these figures and it seems to make them less able to enjoy the game, because if they go round 10 over, they feel worse than me going round in about 90.

Very true. Mate of mine plays off 5, and he's been having a rough patch lately, struggling to shoot under 80, which to someone like me is still a bloomin' fantastic score.

With hindsight, perhaps scratch really would be out of reach of a 38-year old like me, but I still think I could get to 3 or 4 if I had the resources and time.

 

[Brendan]

Id say i could get to 24 i currently play of 12.The more I play the worse I Get

 

[RGDave]

I reckon, given unlimted time to play and have lessons I could get down to mid single figures by the start of next season and, due to me absolutely loving the game and having the desire to be as good as possible, I could get down to scratch before not too long.

Ah....the voice of a man who's never properly considered just how hard it is.
I know teenagers (assistants) who play every day, practice every day, have huge talent, a pro at their disposal and want to be scratch players. Hardly any ever make it.

Fair point....am I allowed to say 2 or 3 then?

Of course you are mate! 2 or 3, I can go with that....

I think my old pro summed it up. He turned Pro off about 2 and never got any better. He said something like "the guys off scratch "believe" they can make more birdies than bogeys"......"I know I'm going to make lots of pars, so for every bogey, I need to get a birdie back, but that's easier said than done"......

I never played with him when he shot under 72 gross. I'd say his average round had about 14 pars (up to half of which were up n downs) 2-4 bogeys and a birdie or two. What impressed me wasn't the birdies, we all make them, it was when he seemed able to make a bogey regardless....even if it meant chipping in after a disaster.....which he did a lot....

 

[madandra]

I cant believe what I am reading here !!!!!!!!!



If you won the lottery you would actually waste time trying to get better at this game ...


Me ???

I would be off somewhere hot with hineys who would feed me cold beer all day long.


PS


Dont tell the missus.

 

[JustOne]

Me ???

I would be off somewhere hot with hineys who would feed me cold beer all day long.

...that's what you do AFTER a nice round of golf with your mates

I'd like to think that I'd get past scratch to +1 if everything was available although I'm not sure I would honestly put in the work required, eg: I'd have to find a gym that accepts smokers and has ashtrays next to the weight machines

 

[Canfordhacker]

I'm just afraid that I'd be a fat alcoholic who took it all for granted, and wished I could get back to the mid single figures I reached in the first few months after my win.

I'd rather work for it and enjoy it.

 

[Putting_Green_Pro]

i think my handicap would go up because i would be so tired of flying around in my private jet and swimming in the one of 20 pools

 

[level5s]

I think I would reach single figures but not make great strides towards scratch.

I dont think I would gain the hunger to have lessons and
practice that often, currently i have an annual lesson at the start of season and head to the range maybe a handful of times. I tend to get 3 rounds in a week though.

I would spend the time and money clocking up new courses around the world.

 

[Herbie]

...IF you won the lottery and could literally play unlimited golf whenever you liked, have whatever lessons you felt like, equipment wasn't a consideration and you could even chase the good weather around the world if you felt like it.. literally all things being perfect what do you feel you could achieve with your game?

Today I wouldnt want to commit myself to the time and effort required to get me down to where I think I could get, just too many other things going on in my life that I enjoy.
20 yrs ago I recon I would make scratch no problem, I used to be 6 once upon a time and that was without proffesional help and choice of kit and amount of free time, so I recon I could have done it then.

Today, perhaps with a little more play and the odd lesson and some nice shiney clubs, maybe 7 is not unreasonable.

 

[Spoff]

I reckon I would finally be able to break 100...