Golfer On Another Site

I believe it's possible.

The first time I picked up a golf club was September of 04. Broke 100 my first time out and I got down to a 5.3 handicap within six months from the mens tees at a 6800 yard home course. I've since changed my swing and my handicap's went up, but it's been slowly coming back down with each round I play.

There's a lot to be said about your approach to the game. If you learn the importance of SCORING and short game, you don't have to hit the ball spectacularly tee to green to be a good player.

The best and most consistent players I know don't hit the ball 300 yards off the tee, or drop 3 irons like the proverbial butterfly with sore feet. They just hit fairways, greens, 2 putt, and get up and down more times than not. :)

i started at 14, played for 2 years, and got down to a +.2 for awhile. The thing is that in todays world, kids mostly concentrate on one sport. When my dad was in high school, all the "jocks" played football, basketball, baseball. That is just what they did. Now days, kids are concentrating on one sport because the competition is so good. Also, since Tiger, you'll find your best athletes playing golf, not some of the traditional sports.

oh, and the golf gods giveth, and the golf gods taketh away, i'm a 3.4 currently.

Mike Olson

I think a real range rat and practice green fanatic could do it that quickly, but it is still rare. Some people really do take to a sport quickly. I know I picked up tetherball really fast :)

I started playing golf at 14 and went from shooting around 100 to a +2 by the time I was 17. (I was #1 in MT for my age from 16-18)

It can be done. I played and/or practiced 7 days a week and in the summers I played 27-36 holes a day minimum.

If one starts out playing the game by working really hard on the short game, PLUS working really hard at doing the RIGHT things for their swing with a qualified pro, AND has the time to practice what he or she is working on, it would certainly seem doable... if the player in question is 16 years old, then I'd assume that he has ample time to practice. Definately possible.

Great Reply's..Heres the Link...The Golfers Name Is "Vinny10", He Replied First Just Past Half and Recently Posted His Cap Scores With A PrintScrn Shot

http://forums.golfreview.com/showthread.php?t=6545

Basically, those who have a good swing are born with it, IMHO. I have no doubt that if Tiger had taken up golf when he was 14 instead of 4, he would be just as good.

The only thing you can really teach is short game and putting.

Steve

It's possible, at least for younger people with a lot of free time for practice and play. I dropped 15 shots in 6 months, with work and responsibilities (I picked up the game at 25). I'm in my 5th season and down to a 5 only playing/range once a week.

These are all great reply's. Espescially the one that talks about "Those whoe have a good swing are born with it" I fully believe all of this, including myself, many say i have a great swing..random people tell me aswell. I have never seen myself on tape and am really eager too. Theres a spot on this site to post stuff liek that correct?

i started playing like exactly a year and a half ago and im about an 8 handicap, if i hit irons decent im always in teh 70s but its safe to say that my average is 80 at worst

I started in high school.. broke 100 first time out... granted I have not got "much" better.. I'm a bad 6.6 now..I dont work at it very hard and change clubs like nobody's business...but it's all fun.

Let's not forget the "gifted" / talented jock. I know many HS and JR high kids that have been playing hockey since they could walk. When just about all of them pick up a club it's a natural. I believe Bret Hull (saw him play many times in Duluth MN) is now on one of the tours now. Watch the pro ams alot of hockey plays much better than the rock - movie and football stars.

it for sure is possible

i started at 14, played for 2 years, and got down to a +.2 for awhile. The thing is that in todays world, kids mostly concentrate on one sport. When my dad was in high school, all the "jocks" played football, basketball, baseball. That is just what they did. Now days, kids are concentrating on one sport because the competition is so good. Also, since Tiger, you'll find your best athletes playing golf, not some of the traditional sports.

 

oh, and the golf gods giveth, and the golf gods taketh away, i'm a 3.4 currently.

 

Mike Olson

... hmmm, might just be my opinion, but i don't think you'll ever find your best athletes playing golf in high school/college/pro ranks. in the world of elite athletes (and more specifically athletic ability), it's mho that tiger is pretty low ... don't think for a minute that he could play any of the general pro sports (i.e. baseball, football, basketball) or be successful in, say, track and field.

i think that if you are a great athlete in general, that you will likely be better at golf than you otherwise would. but, general athletic ability imo is way overrated in golf. said another way, i think there are plenty of average joe's in terms of occupation that could beat tiger in virtually everything other than golf ... because they are better natural athletes, faster, bigger, stronger, etc. the same could not be said of those average joe's going up against elite players from the nfl/nba/track, etc.

thats not farfetched whatsoever gentlemens. just check out our resident rising stud, flomarilius and the leaps of progress he has made in the past few moons

i started at 14, played for 2 years, and got down to a +.2 for awhile. The thing is that in todays world, kids mostly concentrate on one sport. When my dad was in high school, all the "jocks" played football, basketball, baseball. That is just what they did. Now days, kids are concentrating on one sport because the competition is so good. Also, since Tiger, you'll find your best athletes playing golf, not some of the traditional sports.

 

oh, and the golf gods giveth, and the golf gods taketh away, i'm a 3.4 currently.

 

Mike Olson

 

... hmmm, might just be my opinion, but i don't think you'll ever find your best athletes playing golf in high school/college/pro ranks. in the world of elite athletes (and more specifically athletic ability), it's mho that tiger is pretty low ... don't think for a minute that he could play any of the general pro sports (i.e. baseball, football, basketball) or be successful in, say, track and field.

 

i think that if you are a great athlete in general, that you will likely be better at golf than you otherwise would. but, general athletic ability imo is way overrated in golf. said another way, i think there are plenty of average joe's in terms of occupation that could beat tiger in virtually everything other than golf ... because they are better natural athletes, faster, bigger, stronger, etc. the same could not be said of those average joe's going up against elite players from the nfl/nba/track, etc.

Are you kidding me? Have you ever played baseball? That is a lazy mans sport! I bet Tiger could hit and throw a baseball better then a 350lb fat footballer player. You have a very skewed idea of what a athlete is. Here is the definition for you:

"A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts."

Getting to a 5.4 after 2 years is pretty average i think if you practice instead of just play all the time. Think about how much you could improve if you hit the range for 2 hours and putted and chipped 3 hours instead of going to play a round of golf.

sorry about that, computer is having issues

Getting to a 5.4 after 2 years is pretty average i think if you practice instead of just play all the time. Think about how much you could improve if you hit the range for 2 hours and putted and chipped 3 hours instead of going to play a round of golf.

Your really proud of yourself posting so many time eh?

Just Kidding......

My story is very similar to Johnnys. Played other sports first that developed good hand eye coordination (baseball, basketball etc) and just progressed to golf.

If you pay attention to your short game and practice hard it is a lot easier to drop lots of shots real fast.

Who said tiger couldnt play any other sports? are you f****** serious? His dad was the first black man to play all collegiate baseball?, if he wanted he would bin a f****** baseball player right now

Who said tiger couldnt play any other sports? are you f****** serious? His dad was the first black man to play all collegiate baseball?, if he wanted he would bin a f****** baseball player right now

His dad was the first black man to play for Kansas State and the first known black player in the Big 12 conference.

His granddad played for the Kansas City Monarchs, which was a Negro League baseball team...

I think those are all great replys and are probably true.

However, I have one burning question Why would anyone visit any other golf forum when you are at the best right here??????

My 2 Cents: If you are a natural athlete......Golf is not really a difficult sport! That being said, to be really good, you have to play/practice just about every day. I believe that a mature natural athlete, can take up golf, and get to a 15 Index within a few months. From that point on.......See Above! :)

I can believe it. I've been playing or mostly practicing almost everyday for just over two years now and although not official my hndcp, counting only my last seven rounds, is 5.4!! Just over two years ago when I first began I got hooked from day one. It took a long time to break 100, but once I did I broke 90 very fast and I've been scoring in the mid 80s for some time. Now with the faster fairways and improved driving and long irons things are really picking up.

His granddad played for the Kansas City Monarchs, which was a Negro League baseball team...

The Monarchs!! hahaha That's the WNBA world champion team. Now that's a cross over! :)

Can Tiger dunk?

Can Tiger dunk?

He's 6'2" and athletic. I'm guessing yes, if he wanted to. But he sure wouldn't want to get his hands caught in the net and jeopardize his putting stroke. :)

Speaking of Tiger, didn't he first break par around 11? Granted he'd been playing far more than two years, but I think if you had a kid with a natural swing, a good work ethic, and you threw in some solid instruction. I think the kid could be under a 6 in two years.