Scratch Handicapper?

Question

At the start of this season I was playing off 24, and now I am down to 15.9

Thats 8 shots in just over 3months, I know its going to take me a long time to become scratch and I will never be pro as I am already nearly 19 years old.

How long would you say it would take me? I have done alot of reading up and know what I need to work on.

But how long of a practice session would you do? and what practice.

2rounds a min a week? with at least 3nights of practice (2hours each?)

Answer 1

Without bursting your bubble too much, I can't emphasise how rare it is for someone to take up golf at 18 and get to scratch.

You might get down to 5 or 6, but to get to scratch you either have to be naturally gifted or very dedicated.  By dedicated I mean hitting 1000's of balls 7 days a week!!!

Answer 2

You are unlikely to ever become a scratch golfer unless you eat, sleep, breathe and live golf.  Don't give up because others say so.

Take a lef out of Arnold Shwarzneggers book and work on your weakest points till they become yor strongest and then start at the next weakest.

And when I say work I mean work.  Hit balls till your hands bleed, chip untilyou can knock 8 out of 10 in, give up all alcohol and get super fit (no cigarettes).

That should be enough to get you  going.

Now when you get down to a 9 handicap report back here and we will give you the next steps to get down to a five.

Give it a go you have nothing to lose and everything to gain this is a great game.

Answer 3

Anything is possible!! If you think you can do it then why not. You've left it really late so it's going to be very tough indeed, nigh impossible really.

If you're really serious about this, and I mean that this has to come before everything else in your life, you might be able to just do it.

Larry Nelson started at the age of 21 and didn't play in a 72 hole tournament until he was 25. He went on to win 10 times on the PGA Tour, including two PGA Championships and the 1983 U.S. Open.

It's very rare for any professional golfer to have started playing after they were 15. The younger you are the easier the game is to learn.

With regards practice, there's such a thing as overdoing it or having a burn out. I would recommend 2 rounds a week, 3 nights practice range on a day swap basis. So one day at the practice range then the next day at the golf course, this will leave you with one day to totally forget about golf.

Rob -http://www.golfingvalley.com

Answer 4

Don't listen to the naysayers.

If you really WANT it, you're gonna have to put in a lot more effort.

To be a pro, I hit 1000 balls a day AND played two rounds a day, rain or shine. I would putt for two hours each night and left the range at 11 pm every night.

Ok, granted, 75% of those 1000 balls were from 125 yards or less. But if you want to shave the strokes, you gotta have a deadly short game.

Get yourself a good coach. it doesn't have to cost a lot and most will be willing to help you once you prove to them you're really dedicated. Heck, I've helped a lot of kids for free just because I was impressed with their work ethic.

Never give up your dream.

Answer 5

Congratulations on your handicap improvement.

Keep playing, get a lesson or two, practice, you never know.

Answer 6

Who says there are deadlines to make?  

That is what is wonderful about golf.  There are no age requirements; no restrictions on your age, to shoot scratch golf.

Devote 3/4 of your practice time on putting and short game (120 yards and in).  That is where many strokes are lost and this area will make or break your game.

Answer 7

Hey, I played tennis growing up and did not take up golf until the age of 20. By age 35 I was scratch and a professional. As far as practicing - it is not QUANTITY BUT QUALITY that you should be focused on. That being said, you should vary what you practice and not spend too much time on 1 particular area. The most overlooked part of the game is the mental side - it is nearly impossible to play good tournament golf without a complete grasp of how to manage your emotions during a round. At this stage in my career, I am focused on how I play the game more than any mechanical details about ball striking. What you will learn, as I have, is that every tournament is a putting/birdie contest. Pay more attention to your short game than anything else - scoring well at this game happens inside 150 yards !

Answer 8

The last few strokes are the hardest to get off your handicap.

You can probably get yourself down to a 7 or an 8, but beyond that, it's very difficult.  You have to be good off the tee, be able to hit at least 8-10 GIR per round, escape from trouble around the green, and be able to work the ball (hit fades and draws).  More than anything, it's your mental game on the course that will help you.  

You need to practice as long as it takes; some people can get a ton done in 20-30 minutes, others need hours on end.

Answer 9

As you get closer to scratch, it's going to get harder to get your handicap down. One bad round is going to pump it up. it's going to take  you over a year. Earliest, id say is the end of the season next year. That's if you stay practiced over the winter months.