Are you a Better Golfer than a Year Ago?

[Walker]

I’ve had a particularly wild golf journey, and I’m not sure anyone else has ever accomplished the feat I have. I don’t say that lightly. I just don’t know anyone who has gotten as good as I am in a shorter time frame.
 

I started playing golf a little over two and a half years ago (21 at the time). Never picked up a club before I got a job at course near my college. They were hiring, and I was broke. I had no intention to actually take up the sport, not until I met my coworker. He played d3 golf for another college near by, and he taught me everything I know. When we first started playing together, he would give me 20 strokes and play for lunch the next day. It took me almost a year to beat him. Two years later, he was only give me 4 strokes. And now, we are dead even. This week I am 24, and I am now a scratch golfer. By that, I mean my handicap index is 0.1. At my home course, I am a +2. I’ve shot 67 twice two weeks (-15 in 4 rounds, 67 70 69 & 67). Many of the guys I play with agree that I am the most improved golfer at the club, now and ever. Last week, I had the pleasure of playing with 4 golf professionals, all been golfing their entire lives, and I beat three and tied the fourth. 
 

Have any of y’all made that kind of improvement in such a small time span? Seriously, I want to know if it’s more common than I think. If I continue on this trajectory, I may try Q school. 
 

Any tips for how I might try to get to the next level? Never played high school and never played college. 

[ChetlovesMer]

9 hours ago, Walker said:

I’ve had a particularly wild golf journey, and I’m not sure anyone else has ever accomplished the feat I have. I don’t say that lightly. I just don’t know anyone who has gotten as good as I am in a shorter time frame.
 

I started playing golf a little over two and a half years ago (21 at the time). Never picked up a club before I got a job at course near my college. They were hiring, and I was broke. I had no intention to actually take up the sport, not until I met my coworker. He played d3 golf for another college near by, and he taught me everything I know. When we first started playing together, he would give me 20 strokes and play for lunch the next day. It took me almost a year to beat him. Two years later, he was only give me 4 strokes. And now, we are dead even. This week I am 24, and I am now a scratch golfer. By that, I mean my handicap index is 0.1. At my home course, I am a +2. I’ve shot 67 twice two weeks (-15 in 4 rounds, 67 70 69 & 67). Many of the guys I play with agree that I am the most improved golfer at the club, now and ever. Last week, I had the pleasure of playing with 4 golf professionals, all been golfing their entire lives, and I beat three and tied the fourth. 
 

Have any of y’all made that kind of improvement in such a small time span? Seriously, I want to know if it’s more common than I think. If I continue on this trajectory, I may try Q school. 
 

Any tips for how I might try to get to the next level? Never played high school and never played college. 

Lots of people are gifted in lots of different ways. I have no idea how long it should take anyone to achieve any particular milestones in golf. I struggle to pat my head a rub my belly at the same time. But, if you think you can do it, go for it. 

I think the easiest answer is to talk to one of the pros you play with. They can lay out a path for you. 

In terms of whether or not your rate of improvement is common. That I can't answer. I will say again, there are people who are gifted in lots of different areas. I knew a guy in college who started competing in bodybuilding after only 6 months of training and started winning events after only a year. 

I've known people who seem to be naturally good at golf. Seems like they are breaking 80 from day 1. You may be one of those people. So, again, I say go for it. 

My one word of caution, as with any sport, talent helps, hard work helps, dedication helps, but the true elite are likely dumping in a very high ratio of all three. 

Enjoy your journey and lets us know how things go. 

[birdman03]

In response to the first question, yes - I have reduced my average score in 9-hole league rounds by about 3 strokes.  As the attached plot chart shows, my high scores decreased and my low scores also deceased.  So I am scoring in an overall lower range.

For the second question, I expect to make some improvement next year based on the results I am seeing in my recent practice rounds.  However, I have noticed that "plateaus" in scoring (and many stats) can persist for long time periods and can be permanent.  With advancing age and decreasing swing speed I may be mostly just working to maintain my current skill level.  I do expect a more consistent range of scoring as the result of frequent practice and overall playing experience.

Edited December 29, 2024 by birdman03

[bkuehn1952]

On 12/14/2024 at 9:22 PM, Walker said:

 Have any of y’all made that kind of improvement in such a small time span? Seriously, I want to know if it’s more common than I think. If I continue on this trajectory, I may try Q school. 
 

Any tips for how I might try to get to the next level? Never played high school and never played college. 

That is quite an improvement rate but likely not a record.

Here are my tips:

1. Enter and win, or at least place in the top 4, at the Mississippi Golf Association Men’s Golf Championship in June, 2025. Also check out their sanctioned events and enter some of those. This should give you a good idea where your game stands compared to very good players.

2. Make a 4th post. You have been absent since December 14.

[abeli545]

Unfortunately, not because of my health. This year, I was dealing with ankylosing spondylitis, which had a huge impact on my performance—and not in a good way. But with my new treatment, I hope to get in better shape

[DaveP043]

I missed about 11 weeks of golf this summer due to a back issue, and my distance is still not recovered.  Yet my Handicap Index is 7.0, as compared to 9.1 last January.  So apparently I'm better!  TBH, I haven't improved any skills, with the possible exception of making better decisions.  Ah well, it'll be fun in the new year, as it always is.

[Ty_Webb]

On 12/14/2024 at 9:22 PM, Walker said:

I’ve had a particularly wild golf journey, and I’m not sure anyone else has ever accomplished the feat I have. I don’t say that lightly. I just don’t know anyone who has gotten as good as I am in a shorter time frame.
 

I started playing golf a little over two and a half years ago (21 at the time). Never picked up a club before I got a job at course near my college. They were hiring, and I was broke. I had no intention to actually take up the sport, not until I met my coworker. He played d3 golf for another college near by, and he taught me everything I know. When we first started playing together, he would give me 20 strokes and play for lunch the next day. It took me almost a year to beat him. Two years later, he was only give me 4 strokes. And now, we are dead even. This week I am 24, and I am now a scratch golfer. By that, I mean my handicap index is 0.1. At my home course, I am a +2. I’ve shot 67 twice two weeks (-15 in 4 rounds, 67 70 69 & 67). Many of the guys I play with agree that I am the most improved golfer at the club, now and ever. Last week, I had the pleasure of playing with 4 golf professionals, all been golfing their entire lives, and I beat three and tied the fourth. 
 

Have any of y’all made that kind of improvement in such a small time span? Seriously, I want to know if it’s more common than I think. If I continue on this trajectory, I may try Q school. 
 

Any tips for how I might try to get to the next level? Never played high school and never played college. 

 

That's a pretty impressive improvement rate! Do you play any other sports that might carry over somewhat? Hockey, baseball, tennis - that kind of thing. 

As to improvement rates compared with others, Greg Norman took up the game at 16 and was scratch in 2 years and then kept getting better too. Larry Nelson apparently broke 70 9 months after taking up the game. There's a handful of PGA Tour players who got good very fast. Then I played last summer with a 17 year old off +5 (and it's a legit handicap too). He must have got good fairly quickly. But getting to scratch is the (relatively) easy part. Improving from here gets harder and harder. Good start though!

[pganapathy]

Currently I have to say my golf is a lot worse than it was a year ago.  That is mostly down to me not playing at all for many months.  I was scoring high 70's, low 80's consistently a year ago.  Now that I am somehow managing to play every couple of months I am scoring in the 90's, if not worse

[p1n9183]

1- I'm not. If I have to be honest I've been around +1 and 3 handicap for the last decade. Currently at 0,7. But I changed a lot my swing in the last year witch make me enjoy more my ball striking and I have less pain in my back. 

2- I'm working on a more consistent, pain free, neutral swing in hopes that in one year I can enjoy even more playing golf and also reduce a couple of strokes per round. 

[merkong]

Well, I took 7 years off from playing and it shows. When I played last breaking 90 was always in play. Now breaking 110 for 18 and 50 for 9 is on the menu. I’m going back to fundamentals and am hoping that by July 4th I can goal breaking 100. The basics…

[BananaBomber]

Never practiced golf when I was young and the only lesson ever taken was a driver lesson. I feel like I'm improving every year. However, the numbers don't support my feeling about improving. I usually drop to 12-13 during the summer while playing the familiar courses around home and then go on golf trips in the fall to new courses and increase to end the year between 15-17.

Been a similar story for a number of years now but hey, it's the best thing there is in life so not too bothered but reaching 9.9 is the objective every year. Maybe a few lessons and practice could help me achieve it since I pretty much have no idea what I'm doing, just playing and never practice.