Handicap -v- time spent on course

[saltman]

David in FL.....hmmm that is an interesting name. Did I hear about this site from you?

[abris33]

During the summer i play at least 90 holes a week and practice for about 15 hours. I do what others have said on here and hit practice shots on the course if there is no one behind me. my home course does unlimited golf for the summer($100) if you are going to try out for the high schools team.the other course near me has unlimited range balls for $40 a month(plus twilight golf) so i hit up both of these deals. the handicap is being established this year and is coming down... seeing as i've only been playing for a year.

[nike_golf]

I live on the local muni course in my smaller Iowa town so it's not unusual for me to get in 72 holes in for one week. Weather permitting of course.

And yes, I am single and golf has consumed about every other one of my hobbies.

[Big_M]

I play 60-70 rounds per year... 2 times a weeks in peak season, less during winter. I practice 0-2 hrs a week, unless I'm working on something, then I'll practice more. I was down to a 7.5 last year, which is my lowest... back up to a 9 over winter... now going back down (8.2 now). I hope to get inside 5 by the end of the summer.

[flanagan]

Last summer, at least 9 every T, TH, F, 18 on Saturday and 9 or 18 on Sunday, weather permitting, and a lot of range time. The whole family plays, it's just a question of whether it's men's league, couples league, playing with the kids or the guys.

Unfortunately, I was really up and down last summer, working on some swing changes from April through October, so can't say any real correlation to my handicap. It didn't go down, with all the fluctuation, but I think it will improve this summer, based on how things are going on the handful of sunny, 42 degree weekend days we've had so far (still waiting for actual Spring).

[kafka01]

Time is not so much an issue for me so i can just spent the whole week on the golf course if i want. If i´m in "grinding mode" i putt 2 hours, work on shortgame 2 hours then 2-3 hours range and after that i play 9 or 18 - 5 days a week (i started late so i have to catch up).

For some reason i have the impression that the learning curve in golf isnt a very fast one and major problems just dont go away overnight, nevermind how hard you practice, it takes a long time to settle in...

[piper_clap]

Luckily, I'm a teacher, so my summer schedule allows me to play most days of the week. I don't go out every day, but usually get 3 to 4 rounds of 18 in most weeks from May-August. Thanks to cheap memberships and lots of free time, I play a lot of golf. My handicap is no where near where it should be, but considering that I started last year at a +30 after taking 10 years off from golf, its coming down fast. My goal its to get near 10 this year, which should be doable with some time on the practice green.

[iWALK18]

I played 252 holes of golf last year, including a 2 month layoff from the game while i was working in London.

I practice about 2 hours per week, but that's just an average, sometimes i go weeks without playing or practicing.

[NM Golf]

I play 80+ rounds a year, how much I practice depends on the time of the year. During the winter I practice 3-4 times a week. During the summer I am at the golf course from around 6 in the morning until 10 or 11 everyday. Sometimes I play, sometimes I practice.

That is why my handicap normally creeps up to around a 2 or a 3 over the winter then goes down to around a 0 by the middle of summer.

[joshiemac25]

I play 27 holes a week (9 hole Tuesday league & 18 on Saturday or Sunday). I spend about 30-45 minutes every other day with my wedges. I spend about 45 minutes to an hour on Tuesday prior to league on the practice green putting and chipping... once the courses open (soon hopefully!!). Very interesting thread.

[flopdarock]

i used to practice alot more than i played and to me it didnt help my scores all that much... now i play at least 2x week 9 or 18 a shot depending on if i have the time to squeeze it in... i think the more i play... the better i get... just due to the fact that there are some shots on the course that i cant practice for... like up/down/side hill deep rough woods and fw bunker shots...
now if i happen to play a really crappy round or if my slice starts creeping back... ill definately hit the range with my pro and work it out...
the more i play... the more my handicap will go down... (hoping and praying) hahaha

[cnixon83]

i play roughly 90-106 holes of golf a week. my wife works until 7pm as a nurse during the week, i'm off at 3 everyday... just enough time for me to squeeze in 18 and hit the practice green for a little while. i'll practice my mid-iron to woods maybe once a week off the course, as much as i play i get most my needed practice on the course... generally i'll play the ball i'm scoring, but drop another at certain points on the course i feel i need improvement and hit specific shots.

[whit53]

Typically get in 72 to 90 hole per week during the spring, summer and fall months. Usually spend an additional 3+ hrs a week around the practice green and bunkers. Winter months are primarily limited to range time.

[DJYoshi]

this is gonna be my 3rd year playing.
last year I did 36 - 54 holes a week.
and hit the range about once a week....
30 minutes putting...
15 minutes playing in the beach.

when i'm away on a tour... then it gets dropped to

36 holes and a bucket or 2 at the range.

this year I plan to buy a mat and a chipping net that I can setup and practice with in the back yard

[thr33]

I play 80+ rounds a year, how much I practice depends on the time of the year. During the winter I practice 3-4 times a week. During the summer I am at the golf course from around 6 in the morning until 10 or 11 everyday. Sometimes I play, sometimes I practice.

I'm jealous you get to play year round!

[Mr3Putt]

THREAD JACK

I do think it helps. It keeps the "big muscles" strong and stretched. I don't know if you'd really call them drills, but here's what I do... I actually have two clubs. One is called a Matzie swing trainer that I paid 99 cents for at a thrift store. The other is a homemade monster club consisting of a 1/2 steel dowel strapped to the shaft of an old 3 wood. I'll usually start with the Matzie. The bend and weighting of the club kinda forces good club positioning and releases. I'll start out with some methodical swings and work my way up to full speed. Then I'll grab the monster club, it probably weighs 4-5 pounds. I'll swing this slowly 10-15 times. Then I'll grab the old 6 iron and make a 10-30 phantom swings. By then, the 6 iron feels weightless. For every swing with every club I envision and attempt a good swing. I don't just randomly swing away. That's it. Does it help me? I really think it does.

[TheNatural]

I play 36-54 holes per month. score always stays around 98-101.
5 minutes chipping in backyard. Hit range maybe once every 2 months.

Played last week and had a decent round on a new course. Get this ...I scored a 104 with a 10 on the front and a 10 on the back. Both 10's came on par 5's which are my strength! All my par 3's were 3,4,3,4,,,my usual weakness!

The 22 HC will begin to drop, but it will take like 10 weeks to begin to affect the HC since I play so rarely. ARGGG

[Fat Slice]

I play 36-54 holes per month. score always stays around 98-101.

Are you applying ESC to your scores (for example, the 10s)?