Can I get "GOOD" at golf?

[2bGood]

I have started to wonder if I could ever be “good” at golf. Here is my story in a nut shell:

-Picked up Golf 8 years ago at 27
-worked hard, took lessons, played allot 6-7 months during the year
-with in three years I was shooting rounds in the high 80’s low 90’s. twice shot in the 70’s
-As time passed I drifted in out of practicing golf allot, but each year I played 25+ rounds
-I have always fought my swing (it gets better, gets dialed in and then 2 weeks later it falls apart, and I start all over again)
- I am 6’ 190lbs 35 years old – reasonably fit (I work out, ran a “mini tri” this year, Run 5miles a few times week)
- I am not all that athletic – sounds weird given I played 2 sport at a national level until my early 20’s, but I was not a natural at either one, but rather worked very hard at each.
- I tend to “try to hard” at golf and this gets in the way of me playing better
-Last year I only golfed for work – and played 25 rounds. Didn’t break 90 once.


I am now looking to recommit myself to golf, by joining a private club, golfing year round and trying to play 60-70 rounds in the next 12month plus practice my short game for a few hours a week.

My goal is to be a single digit handicapper (that is my definition good). Do I have a chance? How many years will it take?

[Shindig]

Trying too hard is part of the problem - you need to enjoy it. Are you looking at turning pro in the near future? If not, relax and enjoy the game.

That's not to say you don't practice, or even work at it - it just means you should enjoy what you're doing.

The fact that you played other sports at the national level, when you weren't a natural, shows that you can do this. Golf is a bit different from team sports, though, unless you're forming a scramble team.

Do I think you can do this? Yes. But I think you need your number one goal to be having fun while you're doing it. Working too hard at it can make you worse, as many have learned as they turned pro (particularly those who won as amateurs and thought they'd be better after practicing a ton as professionals).

[2bGood]

Trying too hard is part of the problem - you need to enjoy it. Are you looking at turning pro in the near future? If not, relax and enjoy the game.

No plans to turn pro or even compete in a local tourney I do just want to have fun (But I never find doing things poorley much fun)

[goblue107501]

Based on what you have said, I think you can. I would start with getting a good series of lessons. The main objective would be to figure out what faults you may have, how to fix them, and how to keep them away. It will do you no good to spend 10 hours at the range and play 4-5 rounds a week if you are not doing things properly.

And practice the short game...as much as you can. Not just putting, but chipping and sand shots as well. One of the best feelings is to have a tough shot after missing a green and know you can pull it off, without too much problem. If you can keep the ball in play and avoid penalty strokes, with a good short game you can shoot in the low 80's and high 70's. When the rest of the game comes around (driving, irons, mental), it is pretty easy to be consistently in the 70's with a great short game.

[ks8829]

If you really want to get good fast work try the following below:

15 handicap goal
1) practice 90% on your short game and within 50 yards and in.
A) putting
B) chipping around the green
C) pitch shots from 10-50 yards from the green
2) practice 10% mid, long, fairway and driver

10 handicap goal
1) your up and down percentage should be 50+%
2) your putts per round should be under 30

5 handicap goal
1) your up and down percentage should be 60+%
2) your putts per round should be under 30
3) your green on regulation percentage should be

track everytime you play:

1) putts
2) up and down (one putt to save or make boogie,par,birdie, eagle)
3) green hit
4) fairway hit

practice and focus all your energy on the short game within 50 yards from the green and practice from the hole out.

[saltman]

If you have no major physical limitations, then yes you can be a single digit handicap. You have done triathlons, being a single digit handicap is kind of akin to going under 3 hours in an OLY distance try. You might be able to do it very quickly if you are gifted, but its going to take more than a modest amount of work to get there for most people and it depends on what your athletic history is.

All that being said, I am 100% positive you CAN do it based on little the fact that you are (only) 35 and can run 5 miles.

[wrx_junki]

If you really want to get good fast work try the following below:

Under 30 and 50% up and down. Dang. I guess I should start working on my chipping/pitching.

[2bGood]

If you really want to get good fast work try the following below:

I agree with you about the short game thing. When I have played my best golf is when I have practiced a tonne around and on the green. The nice thing is I find this the easiest thing to practice. As my Golf Club is 3 minutes from home and on my way to and from anywhere I stop in and practice for 30min - 1hour several times a week.

[2bGood]

If you have no major physical limitations, then yes you can be a single digit handicap. You have done triathlons, being a single digit handicap is kind of akin to going under 3 hours in an OLY distance try. You might be able to do it very quickly if you are gifted, but its going to take more than a modest amount of work to get there for most people and it depends on what your athletic history is.

No Physical limitions. Iam not a gifted with natural speed or dexterity, but I am mmost likely a bit above average as far as raw ability goes. From allot of time spent training at high levels also know what it means to really practice hard.

[wrx_junki]

track everytime you play:

Let's say I hit my fairway on my first shot and hit my 2nd, 3rd, 4th shot and still not on the green. On my 5th shot I hit the green and sink the putt with my 6th, that's a up n down correct? Also, holing from the fringe is considered an up n down?

[SpacklersEdge]

Under 30 and 50% up and down. Dang. I guess I should start working on my chipping/pitching.

I would like some clarification on this one....are you telling me that any 10 HDCPR averages LESS than 30 putts per round?

[glbrum]

The four things that have helped me get to a 9 handicap, or thereabouts, are:

1. course management - dont try and be a hero
2. patience - dont try and force a low number
3. forget the last shot you hit, no matter how good or bad
4. dont think about your total score, what score you need for X final number, etc.


*caveat: you must first have a grasp on the skills [chipping effectively, putting efficiently, etc] to then focus on more of the mental side of scoring "well" ["well" being subjective]

[glbrum]

SpacklersEdge - not ALL of them. I'm hovering around a 9 HDCP and I don't avg. <30 a round. I have been slacking lately on keeping the numbers, but I'm probably around 33-34 a round.....I make up for it in GIR.

[shades9323]

Sure you can do it if you put in the time.

Me, I hate practice. So I am stuck in the 12-14 range. I have fun everytime out though.

[Parks71]

With enough practice I am sure you can.

[goblue107501]

Let's say I hit my fairway on my first shot and hit my 2nd, 3rd, 4th shot and still not on the green. On my 5th shot I hit the green and sink the putt with my 6th, that's a up n down correct? Also, holing from the fringe is considered an up n down?

I don't consider anything to be an up-and-down unless I make par. That is just me though. Some people might look at it differently. I am at a point where I am trying to make birdies and save pars. The only stats I keep on a card are fairways, GIR, and putts. If I make a par with 1 putt, and didn't hit a GIR, that is an up-and-down, to me. Some people look at as when you get around the green and chip up and make one putt as an up-and-down. There is nothing wrong with that, I just don't do it like that. Anytime you get on the green and have only one putt, that is quite an accomplishment, however you want to consider that is up to you. 10 years ago if I kept stats I would have done it like that.

[mad max]

-Last year I only golfed for work – and played 25 rounds. Didn’t break 90 once.

Got any openings where you work?

[anthonykim3]

SpacklersEdge - not ALL of them. I'm hovering around a 9 HDCP and I don't avg. <30 a round. I have been slacking lately on keeping the numbers, but I'm probably around 33-34 a round.....I make up for it in GIR.

same here 6 handicap and i average 32 i think