I think I can become a scratch golfer after 1 year of playing

[GITrDONE]

I love golf

I just started playing and have really had some rough moments on the course On the other hand I have already hit some amazing shots and have a good amount of strength, athleticism, composure, mental toughness, etc.

So here is my claim: in 1 year's time I will be a scratch golfer

What I ask of you is to give me a % chance you think I have of doing this. If you think I can tell me what it will take to reach my goal. If you think I can't give me some logical reasons why.

[teece31]

0% I personally think there is no way for someone to be a scratch player after 1 year.

But I want you to prove me wrong, that would be an amazing feat.

[T.J.K.]

I would say 0% chance also. To be a scratch golfer you pretty much have to play mistake free or if you make a mistake be able to get yourself out of it without blowing up. That is pretty hard to do.

I hope you can do it though. I would be jealous.

[bklynbenz]

what kinds of scores are you postin now??

[Warik]

I will vote 0% as well simply out of spite. I've been playing longer than a year and still suck. I don't think I could live with the knowledge that someone else is scratch after only a year. =)

Good luck, though.

[Guest ShadowXOR]

what kinds of scores are you postin now??

I would like to know that as well, that would greatly affect my opinion on whether you could accomplish it or not. I'm leaning towards no though.

[lamebums]

I'll give you 1%, just because there's always the outside chance a man can do it. But if you could be scratch in one year, then you could turn pro soon thereafter. I guess I should watch the Nationwide Tour next year, or something, eh? (Riiight....)

I started taking this game seriously this spring - and I'm only expecting to be below 10 by the end of the year (I am almost there - last calculation was 10.9). There's an outside chance I might shoot for scratch in three years.
Yeah. And I'm being optimistic.

[gotgolf?]

I would say 15%. (pretty much arbitrarily chosen number - not )% and not a high % either). I know several people who have gone down to a a single digit handicap in 1 year. I'm sure with exceptional athleticism and dedication you can do it!

[oneil003]

I was at the exact same spot where you were 4 months ago. I am athletic, competative, and hard-working. I was also obsessed with the game, so I enjoy working at it. I've been playing for 4 months, and as you can see, my handicap is about 13. I've hit a little bit of a brick wall though, and my scores really haven't improved in the past month. I'm hoping by the 6 month point I'll be able to shoot in the 70's on a good day.

I was pretty confident, as it seems you are, at the start, but for me my goal has changed from being a scratch golfer in a year to be able to consistently shoot in the 70's in my first year. If I accomplish this, my goal will then to become a scratch in 2 years.

Good luck though. By the way I'll give it a 1%, because if you work as hard as say Vijay Singh does for a year strait, I think you probably could.

[P3R3]

If you have hidden athletic talent for golf: 5%
Otherwise: 1%

[Dent]

Id say 0% ive been playing for 10 years and im still an 8.1

[tji]

I read a book a few months ago, a very similar theme..

A guy around 30 years old decides to drop everything for a year, move to Florida, get the best coaches he can, and dedicate himself 100% to the goal of making it through PGA Q-School. It was really a great read for me, and I suspect for anyone with a touch of the golf bug. Of course, making it through Q-School is significantly harder than becoming a scratch golfer, but the concept and timeline is similar.

The book is called "Paper Tiger", and I think the author is Tom Coyne. It's out in paperback now, I highly recommend it.


To the OP: If you're willing to commit 100% to that goal, like described above.. sure, it can be done. But, not many of us have that luxury. Set aggressive goals, but make sure they're not too unrealistic.

[Konrad]

I think you can do it, for one round maybe, but consistently? Maybe not so much.

You must be able to practice for at least 2 hours a day, have an instructor, and also be willing to spend a lot of money on that instructor.

But I believe that will some athletic ability, it is defiantly possible. Bob Rotella has said that he turned a guy into a 4 handicap after a year. He just got him a good instructor, and told him how easy the game is.

[blue_crush]

There are 28 million golfers in the United States
Only 22 percent of all golfers regularly score better than 90 for 18 holes on a regulation length course. For females, the percentage is 7 percent...and for males it is 25 percent. The average 18-hole score on a full-size course is 97 for men and 114 for women. It's an even 100 for all golfers. Only 6 percent of the men and 1 percent of the women say they break 80 regularly. When asked what they'd like to shoot, most golfers say they'd be satisfied if they could shoot 85 on an 18-hole regulation course on a regular basis. Even with the progress in technology, the average score has changed very little over time. if guys could just take one yr of pure golf to go to scratch golf there would be alot more guys knocking on the doors of the pga tour....

with that said...
if you make it I have a club, shoe, and ball, contract for you
and probably some other indorsements too...

[Everardo]

The book is called "Paper Tiger", and I think the author is Tom Coyne. It's out in paperback now, I highly recommend it.

I was going to write the same thing, the book is a great read. Tom's website is

http://www.tomcoyne.com/

[babywax]

I picked up the game in September last year, and I'm down to a 15.4 right now (trending to drop another 2 or 3 strokes next revision). It really depends on where you start, I started with a 36, and I've had to work really hard to get this low this quickly. It's possible, but it would be extremely hard.

[TheNextBen]

If you have hidden athletic talent for golf: 5%

How can you seriously believe that someone

without talent would have a chance to get down to scratch in 1 year? it is insane to think that someone with talent would be a scratch player after one year... let alone without talent.

[Logie]

I got to 10 HC in a year. Playing up to 5 times a week when i could. On my day my ball striking is just as good as a scratch golfer

But i find now its not so much about ball striking, its about course management, planning shots and putting