Been playing golf since xmas,had a 105 but usually get between 109 and 120 so no handicap yet.?

Question

so i think i am a very poor golfer,i am improving but my cards dont show it yet .should i be further on then this and how long should it take to get a handicap ?

Answer 1

Enjoying your game and knowing your clubs is half the battle, the rest is practise. In your minds eye, your local course could be anywhere in the world. I use to pretend I was going to other courses (on the days I couldn't afford the time to travel) and it seemed to focus my mind more on the shot selection somehow.

You may find it easier and rewarding if you "club up" so you're not forcing yourself to overdo the swing while trying to belt out the distance. Upping the club usually creates more roll or topspin, coupled with a three-quarter swing you should feel more relaxed. Conversly, club down on the drive .. added power on drives will exaggerate any mistakes. It's no good hitting a 220, 240 if it lands you on another fairway or causes you to drop a shot. A steady 2 iron or a three should keep you in a straight line down the centre of the fairway.

As with any sport, practise makes perfect and you will find that once a week is no good if you're attempting to get under the 100 mark and closer to the "magic 18" (one over for each hole). When you get there, then you can worry about handicaps, but until then cast such thoughts aside and concentrate more on your short game. Its no point driving over 200 yards then fluffing the pitch ... Try not to complicate the game at this stage by waltzing around with a full set of clubs, half will do and you will get the feel of a hand-full of clubs that you know you can work with.

One added point, don't be a fair weather golfer .. if it pours with rain, get out there and notice the different reactions on the slopes and the sudden stop of the ball or lack of roll .. it all adds to the experience and chances are if it's raining, you might be out there alone .. whoo hoo ... I hate being followed round... and tend to wave anyone through just to stop myself from rushing a shot.

Once the game becomes a chore, you'll lose the enthusiasm, so dont worry about the weather, or the choice of shirt or shoes .. everyones gonna fluff a shot so dont think you're being watched cos you have a monopoly on scuffs and divots .. turn off your moby and enjoy a few hours of silence and fresh air. Golf requires a clear head for all the angles and shot selections and distance working ..so if your other half is on your mind or hounding you over the phone, you might as well have stayed in glued to the tele. It's YOUR afternoon, your bit of space and freetime. Make the most of it. (Pay later )

To get an official handicap, you have to play three rounds with a club member (local rules) I reckon it will be the same in your area. As I said earlier, dont worry at this stage.

Answer 2

You can get a handicap whenever you like and don't let it bother you that your scores are not coming down, have you had any lessons? i can recommend having one or two they really helped me when i started playing. I've been playing for at least two years and i love the game but i haven't got a handicap yet, i just haven't needed to. my average score is 87. Do you want to enter any tournament's?

My advice is not to worry about your scores, just enjoy playing the game, and if you do that your bound to get better.

P.S. if you really want to try and improve something, just keep working on your swing and don't worry about were the ball goes too much or what your scorecard says.  

Answer 3

If you want a true handicap, you have to hand in five cards to a golf course and they will work it out for you.

Have a good one...

Answer 4

????

Answer 5

Turn your cards in....you will have a handicap......Your scores reflect that you are learning the game.....keep at it...it will come

Answer 6

you probs are improving, its just certain aspects of your game that you are lacking in skill (hense the reason why your score isn't going down) so it could be driving, chipping or putting but all you need to do is practise hand some cards in, if your not a junior then your highest handicap will be 28.

but to sum it all off, just look at your game, find the weak bits practise them and you'll see your score drop very quick! trust me :-)

good luck!!

Answer 7

I just started trying to establish a handicap myself.  I found this website www.stracka.com  I type in my scorecards and after you input enought scorecards, it will tell you your handicap.  Then you print out your handicap card and are good to go.

Answer 8

Your scores are really very typical of a beginning golfer. Do not worry so much about getting a handicap. Focus on creating a consistent swing and accuracy. Keeping the ball in the fairway is one key to lowering your scores. Once you have your swing down then move on to your short game.

Always practice new things on the driving range or practice area before taking them to the course. The course is for playing the game and not practicing.

Most importantly is to have fun while doing it.

Answer 9

First of all, it took me years to break a hundred (playing intermittently, admittedly). But take heart from the fact I then broke 90 within 6 months, having belatedly got some lessons!

Getting a handicap is more about joining a club and entering your 3 cards. In theory, someone who had never seen a golf club before could go round 3 times with a member and get a handicap of 28.

Answer 10

i only play for pleasure but iv been told that you have to be a member of a club to gain yourself an official handicap . who cares ? just do like me and play for the enjoyment