I've been playing(well, hacking!) at golf for about 4 years and my handicap is still around 21...?

Question

Should I just say "...the h**l with it!" and give up? I thought I'd improve faster that this...

Answer 1

More lessons and more golf.

Answer 2

Are you taking lessons?  I have been playing golf for 8 years now, in the first 6 years I was as you said, hacking at the ball.  Didn't have any lessons, just picked up tips from my friends and people I played with.  

Since moving to Houston, I thought if I want to play golf, may as well learn it properly, and so I paid for a 10 lesson program, and since then my handicap went from whatever it was (30?) to 14.  I learned there were many bad habits that I developed as compensation to my poor swing.  And also constant adjustments to my swing, as I didn't have reference of what a good swing is supposed to be.  The lessons gave me that reference, and now if I am not hitting it well, I kinda know what I am doing wrong, not necessarily able to fix it on the spot, but gives me an idea of what I need to improve on on the range.

Answer 3

For the most part, there is really no "gray area" in golf.  You either love it, or hate it.  

One thing to consider is How often do you play a round of golf?  Once or twice a week, or more?  The game of golf involves a great deal of muscle memory when it comes to the swing, no matter the club used.  This translates to hard work and practice to actually see a marked improvement.

How serious are you about the game, and at what rate do you wish to improve?  

Handicaps will not go down as easily as they go up!

Consider this:  Bogey golf would net you an 18 hdcp.  That is pretty much a goal of the "average" golfer.  You are not that much above that.  

My suggestion is this.  Find the part of your game that needs the most improvement--most likely putting--and focus attention on that.  Set a goal of taking 2-3 less putts per round, and you will see enough incentive to keep at it.  Also, do not spend $100's on a driver that will end up giving you diminishing returns.  Instead, buy a high-end putter, because you will use it far more than you will a driver.  

Lastly, if you cannot enjoy a round of golf and take the good with the bad, then by all means, give it up.  It should be fun.  After all, a bad day of golf is much better than a good day of work.  Enjoy it, and allow youself to play within your limitations and improve in the areas necessary.