Got game?

[julie_m]

I'm polling who I know...

When did you start playing? How old were you? When do you think you really got a handle on the game?

[Dent]

1) Seriously: Age 8
2) Handle: Age 12

[ks8829]

I'm polling who I know...

I started some 24 years ago, when I was 27 years old, you never get a handle on this game called golf, but only think you do, If that were the case I would say just recently when I felt I could score consistently 3 rounds in a row over a week period.

[joshtpa]

I started when I was 22, after college. Got a grip on it at 25. Really saw scores come down at 30.

[Smallville]

I started golfing at about age 16. Thought I had a handle on it about age 20. But realized that this year I may have finally touched the handle though I haven't fully grasped it yet. So 30 years of golfing, still no handle

[Ben]

Started: 11 years old,
How long: 21 years,
Handle: Almost there.

[Eore]

started-age 13
how long-two years
taking it seriously for a year
don't quite have a handle on it yet

[Lefty39]

Seriously: Last Year
Handle: Getting There

[Franco!]

14; 3 years ago; handle? No way, not yet.

[Stillhacken]

I started at age 32 which was four years ago.
I never ever dreamed it would be this hard to pick up.
I will say I have probably never worked harder at something or put as much effort into and got so little in return.

With that said.......no I dont have a handle on it and never will.

[bcollins]

Started: 2000, stopped for 3 years, than got serious about again this summer
Handle: Nope

[underparnv]

Started : 13 years old,
How Long : 13 years,
Handle : Almost there.

[Jonah523]

Started: 4 months ago
Got Serious: 4 months ago
Got a handle on it: I'll get back to you in 20 years.

[Dent]

1) Seriously: Age 8

I think I didn't correctly understand the handle part.

I'm going to change my answer to ... no...

[julie_m]

I think I didn't correctly understand the handle part.

I realized it was vague, but I wanted to leave it open to interpretation.

What I meant was, when did you stop feeling like, if you will, a hack? When did you think less about "knees-bent-butt-out-hands-together-arm-straight-lag-lag-keep-lagging" and all that, and step up and feel good about your swing (for the most part)? When were you confident on major courses that you wouldn't overly embarrass yourself? Hope that helps. Your first instinct is probably right. I just ask for the newbies like me who know what all the textbooks say, but just have to keep trying so darn hard for some consistency. Curious when it gets...easier. (I say that rather glibly. )

[Dent]

I realized it was vague, but I wanted to leave it open to interpretation.

Oh! Thanks for explaining, I'd have to say maybe about 2 years ago.. but on some days, still getting a handle on things.

[N.V.M.]

i started 2 Christmas's ago, at age 46.

i've shot a couple 80 rounds this summer and have settled in the mid 80 range, and actually felt like i was golfing. nice hits off the tee box, flying my approaches near the hole, going for birds a lot. BUT, so much to go still. right now i'm concentrating on shaping shots,now that's fun and quite the challenge.

it's a very slippery handle!

[yeis20]

Started: righty - 20, lefty - 33
Handle: Righty - never, lefty - soon

I played a round when I visited my dad on vacation at age 15 but had to play righty. I played a little during freshmen year of college (maybe 3-4 rounds)

I put my first bag together at 20 (full righty) and played 2-3 times per week for about a year. Was getting good shotting consistently upper 80's mid 90's but lost my righty irons badly and scores ballooned after playing only 2-3 rounds per year for the next few years. Had no desire to play anymore as a righty.

I swapped my irons to lefty about age 24 and saw immediate game improvement but still did not have time or desire to play often enough. I atleast enjoyed playing again and it was quite fun with this bizzarre bag setup (Woods - right, irons - lefty, putter - righty ) Played maybe 1-2 rounds a year until age 33.

I put my first lefty bag together at this point... thank god for ebay. I bought what I call a starter set of irons (TM RAC HT's) , a cheap driver (Adams GT Extreme) A cheaper 5w and a set of 4 knockoff wedges to try to control initital setup costs. I did go after a nice putter due to it was the only club I knew I would not replace.

The end of last year I decided that this sport was the one I was going to focus on, so I wanted to put a REAL bag together.

I plan on keeping the current clubs for a good bit, cost per round is the real issue that could sideline my goals / improvement