Is my goal unrealistic?

[Golfing Dad]

I have been playing golf for about 9 months now. When I started last July I was shooting in the high 80's for NINE holes (yes 9). I have been practicing and/or playing about 2-5 times per week. I am now shooting in the mid 50's for nine holes. I am wondering if having a goal of getting to the mid 40's (for 9 holes) by August is unrealistic? I am a teacher so I have the whole summer off to practice as much as I want. For what it's worth, I am currently 47 years old and I would say I am slightly above average when it comes to athletics.

[Shanks A Million]

  Golfing Dad said:

I have been playing golf for about 9 months now. When I started last July I was shooting in the high 80's for NINE holes (yes 9). I have been practicing and/or playing about 2-5 times per week. I am now shooting in the mid 50's for nine holes. I am wondering if having a goal of getting to the mid 40's (for 9 holes) by August is unrealistic? I am a teacher so I have the whole summer off to practice as much as I want. For what it's worth, I am currently 47 years old and I would say I am slightly above average when it comes to athletics.

Sure, the 80s to the 40s is easy, it's the 40s to the 30s that aren't. I once shot a 60 on 9 holes, I think I tore the scorecard to shreds.

[TigerWoodz]

i think with the summer off to practice your score will rocket down,good luck,just dont give up..

[doctork]

Yep, with plenty of time to practice and play, your goal is easily within reach. I would recommend you play as much as possible as that's the best way to improve. Practice too, of course. If your budget permits, might consider a series of lessons as well, since you are new enough to the game to establish solid fundamentals.

Oh, and read some good instruction books. There's a forum here on just that topic!

Best of luck,
DoctorK

[Uncle Peter]

Definitely possible. All you need it practise, which I'm sure you'll have no short of. Constant practising, knowing how far you hit with you clubs, Constant practising, etc. It's all going to add up in the end and improve your game.

[blackxpress]

Not unrealistic at all. Take a few lessons from a good pro, work really hard on your short game and you'll make it. Like Shanks said, it's getting from the 40s to the 30s that'll drive you to drink. Well, that isn't exactly what he said but that's what he meant.

[jamo]

  Shanks A Million said:

Sure, the 80s to the 40s is easy, it's the 40s to the 30s that aren't. I once shot a 60 on 9 holes, I think I tore the scorecard to shreds.

He said 80's to 50's and 50's to 40's. With the amount of improvement that you have made thus far, I would say it is very realistic, though I bet your swing would matter a lot. If you repeatedly practice the wrong things, tons of practice wont help all that much.But if you have a decent swing and you short game just sucks, a lot of practice will help you. Short game technique is not as technical, and it can be learned easier through feel.

So, I say yes, very possible.

[GaijinGolfer]

With enough practice, its very possible.

[Doctorfro]

work on short game. goal will be a piece of cake

[iacas]

Sure.

Get proper instruction.

This might help: http://thesandtrap.com/playing_tips/...ouve_gotta_ask .

[Tiger Spuds]

It's a very realistic goal.I've been playing the game almost 11 months and I've shot mid - 30 scores the last 5 times I played my local 9 hole.I've had one lesson.A few lessons and plenty of range time and you'll get there, and you sound commited to practise when you have the time, so that's half the battle.It's amazing how many people expect to improve playing once a week.

[DavidFehertysBike]

No. That is a reasonable goal. Being a new golfer i would try to get as much course time as i could, regardless of what you shoot. The experience will pay off later.

[treebound]

What region of So Cal are you in? I used to live in Costa Mesa and played several of the public courses around there. Some are more friendly courses to newer players and high handicappers and some are more challenging. I enjoyed Dad Miller in Anaheim, found Anaheim Hills to be a real challenge. There was some little pitch and putt par 3 course I used to hit after work a lot with some co-workers that was fun, I forget where it was now.

Have you played a full 18 hole round yet? I found I got a lot more satisfaction playing 18 as it allowed me to get more into my game and work on issues and focus in on problems. I took some group lessons down there through some county rec department, had a good time and learned a bit.

Hope this helps some even if I didn't answer your question directly.

[HoosierGolfer]

  blackxpress said:

Not unrealistic at all. Take a few lessons from a good pro, work really hard on your short game and you'll make it. Like Shanks said, it's getting from the 40s to the 30s that'll drive you to drink. Well, that isn't exactly what he said but that's what he meant.

+2. I could not agree more.

[zeg]

You can do it. Not easily, but if you're like me, one day your game will just pop and your scores will drop a lot. My advice is to remember that you're trying to shoot in the 40s and not worry about shooting better than that. Let yourself take a bogey or a double bogey to avoid the triple or quad. I shot a 49 for 9 holes a few weeks ago with all bogeys and doubles, so you don't NEED to do better than that to break into the 40s. So my suggestion is to forget the heroics and play to your capabilities. If you find yourself in the woods, forget that Phil or Tiger would still lay it on the line to make the green in regulation. Take a deep breath and a pitching wedge and chip out sideways or even backwards to be sure your next shot is from the fairway. If you can eliminate the +3 and +4 holes, it's hard to score worse than 50.