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Is 39 Too Old?


pipergsm
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If you think that 10 yards either side of target is an acceptable deviation, then turn pro now.

In the race of life, always back self-interest. At least you know it's trying.

 

 

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Originally Posted by Shorty

If you think that 10 yards either side of target is an acceptable deviation, then turn pro now.

"When you want to hit it over.. there, it goes over there.. and vice-versa... wooow"

Who was the guy in The Players' Championship that said that?

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How about break 70 on a real course with no mulligans before even entertaining ideas of going pro?  That should be a piece of cake for anyone who can make money at golf.  You'll need at least 5 solid years to build a tournament quality swing with good instruction from the start.  I started playing when I was 29 and I'm 35 now.  Not quite to scratch, but I've gotten almost there for stretches.  I know without a doubt that I have the technique and skill to get to scratch.  I know without a doubt that I would get my lunch handed to me every single day on the lowest ranked mini-tour out there.  When I start shooting low 60s on the tracks I play and good players are really impressed and start telling me to go pro, I'll just think about my young family with a dad struggling to make ends meet in the last half of his life and be happy where I'm at instead.

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  • 2 weeks later...

for someone who's only been practicing for about 4 months (16 months of inactivity between month 3 and month 4), I do indeed believe that a MAXIMUM deviation of 10 yds (average is under 5 yds) to either side is not bad at all !

try to remember where your shots ended up back when you just started hitting a club !

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This is an extremely humbling sport...I think if you go into it with this lofty of expectations you will set yourself up for failure.  I am quite athletic and have played frequently and fairly well for about 5 years now, and I still go through many peaks and valleys.  So much is mental and course management.  I think it is great that you are practicing and getting your game fine tuned...but I think what you need to be asking on the forum at this point are things like "When do I take lessons?  How should I approach playing on a course?"  Like others have said, just have fun with it and enjoy the good shots.  Trying to think that you are going to be an elite player so quickly is just going to make you hate the game.

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Originally Posted by zipazoid

If you haven't done so yet, try to get to a local Tour event, even a Nationwide Tour event, and watch how well these guys hit the ball. It's a serious reality-check.

this.

the first PGA event i went to, 2 immediate things stuck out.  1.)  on command, a pro can hit hit driver as high as his pitching wedge, his 3 iron as high as his 9 iron, etc., and 2.)  the speed of the ball off the clubface is hard to imagine, let alone track off the tee.

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I am like you in that I practice more than I play, so I can relate.  BUT, one of the most technical minds out there, Johnny Miller, has "Play more than you practice" as one of his 10 rules of golf.  That surprised me at first, since he practiced so much and thought so much about the golf swing, but I think he is right.

I used to be a single digit handicap.  Then I got married and had kids, and had to walk away from it... probably played 20 rounds over the last 20 years.  Now my oldest son has fallen in love with the game, and the last 3 months I started back again.  My swing came back quickly because of remembering the fundamentals, but my short game is still a mess.  I can already shoot in the high 70s at a good local course where there are a lot of level lies and Bermuda greens.  BUT, when I play at the local beast, where there are no level lies, and bent grass greens, I'm shooting 90.

I bring that up because the courses you and I normally play at are nothing compared to the ones the pros play at.  A friend of mine is a member at a course where they have had 2 major championships over the years.  After the event, the superintendant leaves the course in the same condition as it was in the tournament so their members can see the difference.  The club champions can't break 80 on it.  The difference is that extreme.

So, if you want to get as good as you're saying, go find the toughest course around and play a lot on it.  Many people can score well pfrom level lies.  You need to work on uphill lies, sidehill lies, bunkers where you can only go backwards, slick greens where putts end up farther away from the hole than you started, chips that end up going away from the hole, etc.  Thats where you need to be playing to see how you compare with the pros.

Let us know how it goes.

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I agree with the "Play more than you practice" approach. I'm a lot like the OP in that I recently started playing golf, I've been applying myself to learning the right habits early on, I've been progressing fairly quickly (or so I thought) and the majority of the time spent was at the driving range. Only recently have I mustered up the courage to get out on a golf course and like someone else already said... its humbling.

I've done a few rounds of 9 or so holes, and the results were nothing spectacular to say the least. But what I learned was that time at the driving range is VERY deceptive. While I believe it is useful to help ingrain good swing habits, it does nothing to prepare you for making contact with the ball under real life circumstances. My main take-away after the first few rounds is I need to spend a great deal of time on the course and get my practice in there. I got a membership at a local 9 hole club for cheap... it doesn't see a lot of traffic but its well maintained and fairly challenging for a beginner IMO. My plan is to go at times (usually late in the day) where I won't hold anyone up and actually practice on a few of the holes... use 2-3 balls per hole, no keeping score, just learning the feel for the various lies, swings, approaches etc. I would really recommend that the OP do something similar, and definitely get off the driving range and only return to fine-tune stuff or take a lesson.

Like some other posters in this thread, I do feel he's a little bit off balance in his estimation (underestimation really) of the difficulty of the task he's aiming for, but in the same breath, I'm not mad at someone who aims for the stars, you're more likely to at least hit the moon that way. Best of luck to you pipergsm, but try to show a little more respect for the game and allow for the possibility that you might not have enough information yet to fully know what you're talking about.

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Driver: Taylormade SLDR Mini Driver
3 Wood: Calloway RAZR Hawk
Hybrid: Ping 19*
Irons: Mizuno JPX 825
Wedges: 52, 56 Cleveland
Putter: Odyssey White Ice

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Oh wow, you guys are being too nice to this guy.

OP, im not trying to offend, but you are clueless. Im playing to a 7.3 after 2 years (this is my third), im 30 years old, im extremely athletic, and fitness and nutrition are my career, so i am quite a bit past 'good shape'. I practice daily, I play 4 times a week on some very challenging courses. I work hard at everything I do, or I don't do it. I am lightyears away from pro status. Dont ever compare practice on a range, shooting from perfect lies, to a golf course. They are nothing alike.

OP, you are not going to make the PGA, your not going to make the Nationwide, and your not going to make the Champions tour. Get it out of your head, and play golf for what it is. A great sport and a great challenge.

Let me re-iterate. You are not going pro. That is reality. People here can try to sugarcoat things anyway they want, you are too old to be a pro golfer. If you work hard enough, their might be a senior mens club championship in your future, but there certainly isnt any pro golf money headed your way.

In the Ogio Kingpin bag:

Titleist 913 D2 9.5* w/ UST Mamiya ATTAS 3 80 w/ Harrison Shotmaker & Billy Bobs afternarket Hosel Adaptor (get this if you don't have it for your 913)
Wilson Staff Ci-11 4-GW (4I is out of the bag for a hybrid, PW and up were replaced by Edel Wedges)
TaylorMade RBZ 5 & 3 Fairway Woods

Cobra Baffler T-Rail 3 & 4 Hybrids

Edel Forged 48, 52, 56, 60, and 64* wedges (different wedges for different courses)

Seemore Si-4 Black Nickel Putter

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Originally Posted by ApocG10

Oh wow, you guys are being too nice to this guy.

OP, im not trying to offend, but you are clueless. Im playing to a 7.3 after 2 years (this is my third), im 30 years old, im extremely athletic, and fitness and nutrition are my career, so i am quite a bit past 'good shape'. I practice daily, I play 4 times a week on some very challenging courses. I work hard at everything I do, or I don't do it. I am lightyears away from pro status. Dont ever compare practice on a range, shooting from perfect lies, to a golf course. They are nothing alike.

Wow, how in the world do you play so much golf, and support yourself? Rich? inheritance? Playing/practicing that much golf every week, no way you have to work for a living. Must be nice...

Driver: Callaway Big Bertha 10.5* 

3WD:  Callaway Big Bertha 15* / X2 Hot H4 Hybrid
Irons:  Callaway Apex 4-PW Project X 5.5 shafts

Wedges: Callaway MackDaddy 2  52/58
Putter: Odyessey Metal X Milled 1

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Originally Posted by Shorty

If you think that 10 yards either side of target is an acceptable deviation, then turn pro now.

That is acceptable deviation if the club is long enough. With pitching wedges and 135 yard 7-irons? Not so much.

Mizuno MP600 driver, Cleveland '09 Launcher 3-wood, Callaway FTiz 18 degree hybrid, Cleveland TA1 3-9, Scratch SS8620 47, 53, 58, Cleveland Classic 2 mid-mallet, Bridgestone B330S, Sun Mountain four5.

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Originally Posted by Motley01

Wow, how in the world do you play so much golf, and support yourself? Rich? inheritance? Playing/practicing that much golf every week, no way you have to work for a living. Must be nice...



Not 'rich' per se, but I am well off. I do work, with athletes, so there are times when playing golf is 'work', LOL.

Yes, I had money (as well as a portfolio of real-estate) left to me. Not enough that I never have to work again, but enough that I will be retired by 40. Also, the wife has a high paying job as well. Also, we are childless.

In the Ogio Kingpin bag:

Titleist 913 D2 9.5* w/ UST Mamiya ATTAS 3 80 w/ Harrison Shotmaker & Billy Bobs afternarket Hosel Adaptor (get this if you don't have it for your 913)
Wilson Staff Ci-11 4-GW (4I is out of the bag for a hybrid, PW and up were replaced by Edel Wedges)
TaylorMade RBZ 5 & 3 Fairway Woods

Cobra Baffler T-Rail 3 & 4 Hybrids

Edel Forged 48, 52, 56, 60, and 64* wedges (different wedges for different courses)

Seemore Si-4 Black Nickel Putter

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Originally Posted by ApocG10

Not 'rich' per se, but I am well off. I do work, with athletes, so there are times when playing golf is 'work', LOL.

Yes, I had money (as well as a portfolio of real-estate) left to me. Not enough that I never have to work again, but enough that I will be retired by 40. Also, the wife has a high paying job as well. Also, we are childless.

Wanna adopt a 47 year old bad golfer?

my get up and go musta got up and went..
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Originally Posted by ApocG10

... you are not going to make the PGA, your not going to make the Nationwide, and your not going to make the Champions tour ... Let me re-iterate. You are not going pro. That is reality ... you are too old to be a pro golfer ... but there certainly isnt any pro golf money headed your way.

This is more incorrect than those who are "being to nice to this guy."  While his chances of doing whatever he's trying to do - I did not go back and read the OP again - are miniscule (1 in 1000, 1 in 1,000,000, or even 1 in 1,000,000,000) there certainly is a chance  ...

How can you say for 100% certainty that a guy you have never met is incapable of reaching his dreams?  You can't, you are just playing the odds.  I have no problem with the "reality check" guys on here who tell it like it is, but come on, when you say things like this with 100% certainty, you are just as "wrong" as those who are telling him that he will definitely do it (although I don't think there are any people saying that).

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Originally Posted by jetsknicks1

Wanna adopt a 47 year old bad golfer?


I actually work with the big brother program, and bought my 'little brother' some new clubs and take him golfing every saturday. He turns 10 in July, and its amazing how fast he is learning.

In the Ogio Kingpin bag:

Titleist 913 D2 9.5* w/ UST Mamiya ATTAS 3 80 w/ Harrison Shotmaker & Billy Bobs afternarket Hosel Adaptor (get this if you don't have it for your 913)
Wilson Staff Ci-11 4-GW (4I is out of the bag for a hybrid, PW and up were replaced by Edel Wedges)
TaylorMade RBZ 5 & 3 Fairway Woods

Cobra Baffler T-Rail 3 & 4 Hybrids

Edel Forged 48, 52, 56, 60, and 64* wedges (different wedges for different courses)

Seemore Si-4 Black Nickel Putter

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Originally Posted by Golfingdad

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApocG10

... you are not going to make the PGA, your not going to make the Nationwide, and your not going to make the Champions tour ... Let me re-iterate. You are not going pro. That is reality ... you are too old to be a pro golfer ... but there certainly isnt any pro golf money headed your way.

This is more incorrect than those who are "being to nice to this guy."  While his chances of doing whatever he's trying to do - I did not go back and read the OP again - are miniscule (1 in 1000, 1 in 1,000,000, or even 1 in 1,000,000,000) there certainly is a chance  ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX5jNnDMfxA

How can you say for 100% certainty that a guy you have never met is incapable of reaching his dreams?  You can't, you are just playing the odds.  I have no problem with the "reality check" guys on here who tell it like it is, but come on, when you say things like this with 100% certainty, you are just as "wrong" as those who are telling him that he will definitely do it (although I don't think there are any people saying that).

Based on your stats, someone saying he certainly won't be earning any pro money is very close to being correct and certainly less wrong than someone suggesting he definitely will do it.

Mizuno MP600 driver, Cleveland '09 Launcher 3-wood, Callaway FTiz 18 degree hybrid, Cleveland TA1 3-9, Scratch SS8620 47, 53, 58, Cleveland Classic 2 mid-mallet, Bridgestone B330S, Sun Mountain four5.

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Originally Posted by Golfingdad

This is more incorrect than those who are "being to nice to this guy."  While his chances of doing whatever he's trying to do - I did not go back and read the OP again - are miniscule (1 in 1000, 1 in 1,000,000, or even 1 in 1,000,000,000) there certainly is a chance  ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX5jNnDMfxA

How can you say for 100% certainty that a guy you have never met is incapable of reaching his dreams?  You can't, you are just playing the odds.  I have no problem with the "reality check" guys on here who tell it like it is, but come on, when you say things like this with 100% certainty, you are just as "wrong" as those who are telling him that he will definitely do it (although I don't think there are any people saying that).


I can say with certainty that this guy will not be a pro golfer. I never said he couldnt be a good golfer, maybe even scratch someday. But the disparity between scratch and pro is measured in light years.

In the Ogio Kingpin bag:

Titleist 913 D2 9.5* w/ UST Mamiya ATTAS 3 80 w/ Harrison Shotmaker & Billy Bobs afternarket Hosel Adaptor (get this if you don't have it for your 913)
Wilson Staff Ci-11 4-GW (4I is out of the bag for a hybrid, PW and up were replaced by Edel Wedges)
TaylorMade RBZ 5 & 3 Fairway Woods

Cobra Baffler T-Rail 3 & 4 Hybrids

Edel Forged 48, 52, 56, 60, and 64* wedges (different wedges for different courses)

Seemore Si-4 Black Nickel Putter

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Originally Posted by sean_miller

Based on your stats, someone saying he certainly won't be earning any pro money is very close to being correct and certainly less wrong than someone suggesting he definitely will do it.

I would argue that it stops being a linear relation once you cross the threshhold into absolutes from 99.999% to 100% and likewise, from 0.0001% to 0%.   So, by my definition, somebody who says I highly, highly doubt you will make any money is more correct than somebody who say you have a very good chance of making money.  However, somebody who says you WILL NOT make any money is exactly as wrong as somebody who says you WILL make money.

Quote:

I can say with certainty that this guy will not be a pro golfer. I never said he couldnt be a good golfer, maybe even scratch someday. But the disparity between scratch and pro is measured in light years.

You are ALMOST certainly going to be right, but I stress the almost, because you may be 99.9999% sure, but you can't possibly be 100% sure.

Anything is possible.  Very remotely in this case, but possible.  That is all I am saying.

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