Your biggest handicap cut + why?

[rob_golf1]

Hi guys,

Only this year have I been using and playing with an accurate handicap. I did three cards: with a playing partner marking them - and then used golf shake. My first handicap around start of June came out at 24. I then played a few rounds - submitted another card and when down to 22.7, then the following week went down to 21.9, then last week I played a round at Weston Super Mare GC and got down to my current handicap of: 19.4 - not far off three shots from my previous handicap........

Would you put this down to dramatically improving (I've had a good batch of lessons over the last 18 months) and becoming more consistent, or just a few lucky rounds?

Has anybody else had some big handicap cuts, and what was the reason(s) behind this?

 

[ventura]

Are you playing more often since getting the handicap? I found competitive golf helped me improve too.

I managed to come down from 23.1 to 16.5 after the first two qualifiers of the year. Normally put my clubs away when the clocks change but played all winter which really helped me improve.

 

[duncan mackie]

handicap cuts will be a function of where you start and how much effort you put in.

If you had only decided to go through this process over the last couple of weeks you would have had an initial handicap below it's current level!

Ignore cuts; just enjoy the game and see how good you can get over time

 

[louise_a]

When I joined my club, I put in my cards and was given 34, won the first comp and got cut to 33, then won the 2nd and was cut to 29 and then won the 3rd to get cut to 24, this included an ESR.
So dropped 10 shots in 2 weeks. This was due to me having played before, albeit not for about 20 years, ad also because I rushed to get my cards in before the season started.

 

[patricks148]

when i started my first handicap was 24. Id never played golf before and within a couple of months i was down to 12. I didn't do loads of practice or work on my game i just played a lot and had at least 1 comp every week. I improved rapidly. it soon catches up with you.

 

[dufferman]

I did something similar last year - used Golfshot GPS to 'auto-calculate' my handicap. Started the year at 26, by mid summer I was down to 18, then went up to 20-something.

The problem is, those apps calculate each game, giving you either a lot of .1s or a lot of cuts. Playing in a monthly comp, in (possibly) testing conditions, with CSS & SS to consider, plus the pressure of the card in hand... it all adds up!

However, as a rough guide of how you re playing at the time, it does work.

 

[matt71]

when i started my first handicap was 24. Id never played golf before and within a couple of months i was down to 12. I didn't do loads of practice or work on my game i just played a lot and had at least 1 comp every week. I improved rapidly. it soon catches up with you.

blooming eck you must be a cracking player to drop so low in such a short period !

 

[Jack_bfc]

23 down to 18 this year.

Mainly down to practice and playing comps regular on a decent course with great greens.

I could and should have been lower, missed a couple of opportunities to break HC with lack of concentration and course management..

One round left of the summer qualifiers this Saturday then they freeze HC at that point for the winter comps and review any general play cuts for next season.

Apparently I nearly got one mid season after my board comp win..

I will be happy to maintain my 18 over the winter and go again next summer...

 

[Grantley1988]

I started playing last summer and when handed my first cards in I was given a handicap of 19. In the year I have been playing I have managed to get to 9.9. If I could play more comps I would be lower By now. To have only managed to play 7 comps this year so ESR has helped with cuts. 3.5 was my biggest cut in one go.

I put this down to playing lots and getting lessons. I think you have to play regularly to keep improving

 

[patricks148]

blooming eck you must be a cracking player to drop so low in such a short period !

not really, i'm the worst 5 handicapper in Scotland

I did spend a couple of years off 12 and that was due to moving to a links course... i didn't play to my handicap too often around there, then it clicked and started improving again. had lessons last year, which didn't work for me then switched to a different guy this year. found some consistency from that.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

24 to 16 within the first year playing

 

[Beezerk]

-1.5 last week as I finally put together a round in a comp which was reasonably solid throughout, and I had some very friendly bounces on the way :thup:

 

[Praxis]

When I was a junior back in the 1970's I played my clubs Junior open off 24 and went round in 81 for a nett 57 Got cut to 18 overnight but handicapping was different back then.

 

[ger147]

19 to 15 in 2 weeks at the start of June this year.

 

[ScienceBoy]

15 to 12 in the space of 8 days.

Came second in honours board comps two weeks in a row, one stableford, one club champs nett. First cut was 15 to 13, second was 13 to 11.8 (12).

Big cuts mostly due to the course being at full length of over 7k yards!

Shot 39 points then shot 189 total for two rounds (84, 85)

 

[Oddsocks]

11.1 to 8.9 in one weekend, two day club champs with an ESR thrown in.

 

[ForeRighty]

I once dropped 5 shots after a stapleford comp playing off
18, the following week I was slashed to 13!!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Went from 14-10 in one season. A couple of wins helped