Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself...

My name is Marcus and I live in central Illinois. I have loved golf since I was a child because my grandpa was a golf enthusiast. I had clubs at a very young age but was never taken to a course or given any kind of instruction. Not until I was in high school did I play on a real course. I was decent with irons and putting, but I had a nasty slice with the driver. Then I joined the military and didn't play again until I was around 25. I managed to tame my slice and scored in the mid 80s. Once again, life took me in a different direction and I had to stop playing one year later.

Fast forward to this June (23 years later) and I bought clubs, but couldn't hit at all. All of June, July and half of August I sucked really bad. Then I joined a local country club where I struggled with consistency. I knew my swing was defective, so I worked with a coach associated with the Golf Channel who fixed me up.

_**My golfing goal is to qualify for one Tour of Champions tournament within the next few years. **_

I can now score in the 70s from our black tees (6770 yards). I use the strokes gained method and PGA averages as my benchmark (see photo). My putting is really good. Short game is ok. Drives are ok (but need to be longer). My approach shots from 150 out are no bueno, and I also need to get wedge and short iron shots closer to the pin. I am gradually getting better here. My GIR is 38% and fairways are 86%.

I play Callaway clubs: Epic Flash driver, fairway woods and hybrids and Apex MB blades (4-AW). I also have an MB 2-iron that I cannot yet hit consistently enough to use in play. For wedges I have Mac Daddy 54 and 60 with different grinds. My putter is a Titleist Scotty Newport 2. I use Titleist balls. I was using the Pro V1 but recently tried out the Pro V1x and will be switching to the later because of how it performs around the greens--they checkup rather easily.

I play conservatively and always select the higher percentage shot. I play well within my ability.

For the first time in my life I have the ability to see how good I can get. I've hit over 50,000 balls since June (most of them were crap that I had to work out). Last Saturday I played 9 at +1. Then I played 18 on Sunday and probably didn't break 100. I haven't yet burned in my new swing. Out on the course Sunday, it never arrived and I didn't know how to get it back; but I do now. It was good that that round happened. A big slice of humble pie is always good for you.

My current favorite PGA players are Rory, Jordan and Justin. I was a walking scorer this past June during a Web.com tournament at my club (I wasn't a member then). Four of the players I scored for got their cards: Rafa Campos, Vince Whaley, Tyler McCumber and Ryan Brehm. I walked a total of five rounds and learned volumes. I chatted with some of the players and all of the caddies. It was such a great experience for me, and I cannot wait to do it again next June.

Thanks for having me and I look forward to actively participating.

Lucifer?

Well welcome. Hell of a first post. Golf is a fun game, I hope it stays fun for you. Hitting that many golf balls, I could see you getting burnt out quick, so I hope that doesn't happen.

My only input would be don't always play for score at this point. When just playing normal rounds, don't always play the safe (higher percentage shot). The reason why is you have to push yourself to become a better golfer and part of that is going for it and pushing yourself to take on more difficult shots. Think about them in-depthly though....if you pull off the shot, what are you hoping to happen...if you miss, where do you want to leave it.

With you averaging 79, I do think the next step to getting to 75 or better would be improving your weaknesses and improving overall course management.

If I had to guess, if you want to have any shot at making the senior tour, you'll need to average somewhere around 66-69 at your home course and a couple under par at other courses. Just a guess but shouldn't be far off.

Good luck bud, enjoy the ride, no matter where it takes you.

---Rory4Pres

Thank you. By high percentage shot I mean this: try to hit a perfect draw around a large tree to reach the green or take my medicine and put the ball back in the fairway. No burn out. I went through that many balls so I could hit better. It was time very well spent. I hit at least 100 balls every day. I have a SkyTrak in my garage. I just LOVE hitting golf balls.

I agree with your scoring assessment. 66-69 is where I need to be.

Course management is a strength.

But as my initial post mentioned, my approach shots need to hit more greens and my short irons need to be closer to the pin. Inside of 25 yards I am averaging 12 feet; 25-50: 28 feet; 50-75 is the same; 75-100 is 38 feet. Basically, I need to cut all of these numbers at least in half. They were much, much higher earlier.

Let me clarify my goal: I don't necessarily want to "make" the tour and try to earn money. I have a good career job. What I want to do is make it through a pre-qual and a Monday qualifier to get in just one tournament. This is attainable for me. Wanting to compete against men who have been pros for decades is beyond me, and I am fine with it.