Single digit handicap

[Skywalker]

hi guys, i was reading an article online the other day that said only 10% of golfers make it to a single digit handicap, was just wondering how long it you guys to get there?

the same article told the story of a guy who went from 28 to 8 in 18 months??!!!

[schuer03]

Grew up playing golf from age 8...few sets of lessons...hours upon hours upon hours of practice and lots of time on the course.

My handicap went from 15 to 10 down to my low of 3 for a time and now has settled at about 8 over about the last 4 years, when i have had the time and money to commit to the sport.

Just keep playing, and you will improve.

[TourSpoon]

It probably took me 18 months to do it.  I was working at a club, playing 3-4 times per week with my brother and the staff. I would pick up tips from the pros and take the occasional informal lesson.  I learned so much in the late afternoon playing skins with those guys.  Those were the good old golf days for sure.

[joepro23]

I started when I was 7 years old and I reached a legit single digit handicap at 14 years old. So 7 years in my case. Reached a low of 1 at 17 and have hovered around there ever since.

I would imagine the time frame for someone who picks up the game in adulthood has the chance to be much shorter because they are at full power. However, as a kid I was playing and practicing almost every day, especially in the summer.

[clubchamp]

I started playing when I was 13 by 16 I was a 9 and by 18 I was a 4. I miss the days of not having a real job and a junior membership was $200 for the year. I mean if you have the time you could  do it in 18 months but most people with a job don't have the time.

[Kieran123]

One year for me to get to a 9.8, now back to around 11, been up all the way to 14 before I came back to where I was....I'll probably float around 11 for a bit now I think

[Gerald]

I started golf when I was 25 yrs and it went down to around hc. 22 first season, lost my job at about the start of the second season and just played a lot of rounds without praticing much and got my hc. down to 14 within a few months ..... planning to become an assistent pro ..... but found another job and lost interest in golf (well I just had less time) and about a year later I quit golf at hc. 17.

Last year I took up golf again and went to a single hc. within a few months, take the game more seriously and really practice a lot, maybe about as much as youngsters wanting to become a pro...... now 52 yrs and planning for a low single hc. 0-3 which I hopefully reach this season.

We had a bad winter, but I am getting more consistent the last few weeks and well at about the start of the season I am playing at hc. 7-10 at the moment, but my homecourse has not been qualifying this year and the greens are still a little in repair, as soon as these are better, lower scores might come.

But for anyone else being serious about the game, having no physical or mental problems, I strongly believe handicap 10 is reachable....... if you are willing to invest time.

Allthough in Europe the average handicap (all registred golfers together) is something like 27 !

[Stretch]

Joined this site about a year ago when I decided to start taking the sport seriously after 20+ years of averaging maybe two/three rounds a season. Didn't even have an official handicap, but was posting scores in the low to mid 90s, let's say (charitably) maybe 16 to 18. Also on the wrong side of middle age now, but practice every day and try to play three rounds a week. Don't really focus on handicap as an end in itself -- I'd mostly just like to build a reliable, tidy game that lets me enjoy playing good golf on good courses with good golfers.

[ohiolefty]

I picked the game up again 2 years ago after a 10 year absence.

I was a mid 80's shooter in high school, playing not nearly enough. I quit for a decade. Picked the game up seriously and within 15 months was breaking 80 regularly. All of this was due to being willing to work at my game, something I didn't do as a kid because I was focused on other sports and interests, and due to having an adult temperament and being more patient, able to deal with failure, etc.

Now, I'm a low-capper. I feel like I always had the ability to be here, even when I was younger, but just putting some work to it - it was within reach. I can also see how scratch is hanging out there too as a definite possibility. I hope to be a scratch within 3 years. But who knows; it's tough.

Getting to a single digit was MUCH easier than making incremental strides afterwards. Going from an 8 to a 5, 5 to a 3, a 3 to where I'm now (1.6) has been tougher than getting under 10.

[kevin.chan]

For me , It is hard to play to 5 and below all the time , but between 5 to 10 is more often. I don't take the game too serious and that is the problem . I have to really put some time at the range which I hardly do If I want to play sub 3 and below . And how to reduce stupid mistake when you are shooting well !

[davidson11]

Im a freshman in high school, i usually go to the course 4-5 times per week, when i have time. It takes alot of practice

[Lofty Lefty]

Started at about 17. Now 25. My first hc was 27, currently 13. It'll be a little while yet...

But look at it this way, it takes no more than 10 good rounds to shift your handicapp a good margin! If I play 9 more like I did today I'll get there real quick! haha

[Skywalker]

cheers guys! Im so hooked to golf i think i should be able to come down quick (hopefully).

[nevets88]

I've seen a little less than a year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years.

What I'd look out for is overdoing it coming out the gate and injuring yourself.

Make sure you stretch and don't promote and muscle imbalances.

Enjoy.

[PooN]

Originally Posted by Skywalker

the same article told the story of a guy who went from 28 to 8 in 18 months??!!!

I may get there in that time.  I was a 28 handicap in 2009.  Last year I made it down to a 12.  Last year I worked on course management and mental attitude and feel like I made huge progress.  This year (in the last month) I have re-tuned my swing and feel like I can make single digit within the first half of this season.  In Wisconsin we can only play about 7 months (5 good months) out of the year.  Wish me luck.

[phillyk]

I started playing golf round 10, and played on teams from age 13 to 18.  By 18, my handicap was down to 1.5, and I've been there ever since. I started high school at a handicap near 25, and it went down to 1.5 by senior year.