Ever Meet Someone Who Has "It"?

[Sean2]

We all know golf is a difficult game, but for those few the game isn't THAT hard.

 

I play regularly with a young man of 22. This is his third hear of playing and he is down to a 3.4. He has never had a lesson. His ball speed is in the mid-180s, he can hit a true stinger (4-iron goes about 240 +/-).

 

His numbers are the same as the longest hitters on Tour. He doesn't look like he is swinging hard, his predominant shot shape is a gentle draw, and he has a decent short game.

 

He has that unquantifiable "it" factor. For example, a very short 265 hard par 4, very narrow opening to the green surrounded by hazards, and he hits a towering 3 hybrid landing 10 fee from the hole and makes the putt.

 

He works full-time, can't practice all that much, but whatever it is, he has got "it". And, "it" is a lot of fun watching him play this game. :-)

 

I hope you all get to enjoy the same experience.

[ClintDagger]

My best friend growing up had “it”. Never took a lesson in his life. At like 12 years old he decided he wanted to be good at golf and decided to mimic Fred Couples’ swing. Low and behold his swing was a carbon copy of Couples. He could hit the ball a mile and had an amazing short game to boot. We played with a tour player for a few holes in the mid 90s when my friend was 15 and he was blowing it past the guy and this guy was by no means a short hitter. My friend was just a natural. At every sport actually. His only issue was he was an introvert to the Nth degree. And because of that I’m convinced he tanked whenever he was contending for a big title. At the time I thought he was a choke artist, but looking back I actually think it was something else. He turned down offers to golf powerhouses to play at a tiny private Christian college. Then he quietly gave up the game after college. Had he been an Uber competitive guy there’s no doubt in my mind he was Tour material.

[disco111]

I had "IT",..........but the wife took it away. Now all I have is Oh Crap - carry, carry, common carry........Oh S**t......

[larrybud]

[vaca22]

I'm not friends per se with this kid, but we had mutual friends. They would tell me that he has "it". Like, pick up a controller and smoke you in any video game, even if he never played it before. Like, play "horse" and make the most ridiculous baskets.

 

The same applied to him in golf. I played with him once, he said it was about his 6th or 7th time playing, and he LOOKED like he had been playing for years. He also hit the ball like he had been playing for years.

 

I don't think he could tell you what the capital of Wisconsin was, or how many actually make a "dozen", but...man...the other stuff...

[golfgirlrobin]

We’ve got an assistant pro who’s only 22-23 and is the best player I’ve ever seen. Sound off the club face is just pure, amazing short game and he can putt. He’s only about 5’6” and can’t weigh more than 140 pounds, but just crushes it. You’ll see him on the range hitting different shots and people just stop to watch. Definitely has “It”.

 

A bunch of us tried to talk to him about backing him so that he could go give professional golf a real shot but he had no interest. Wants to be a club pro and loves teaching.

 

 

[cardoustie]

Golf is full of guys that have "it" but will never sniff the tour.

 

I've played with a lot of them

[Walter]

Already played with a lot of crazy talented golfers wou you can say have " iT" and most of them Are great people as

Well. But than there is the difference with the real big boys / professionals ? Its not a bad thing Or critic but an observatin .

Good evening to All !

[MadGolfer76]

We all know golf is a difficult game, but for those few the game isn't THAT hard.

 

I play regularly with a young man of 22. This is his third hear of playing and he is down to a 3.4. He has never had a lesson. His ball speed is in the mid-180s, he can hit a true stinger (4-iron goes about 240 +/-).

 

His numbers are the same as the longest hitters on Tour. He doesn't look like he is swinging hard, his predominant shot shape is a gentle draw, and he has a decent short game.

 

He has that unquantifiable "it" factor. For example, a very short 265 hard par 4, very narrow opening to the green surrounded by hazards, and he hits a towering 3 hybrid landing 10 fee from the hole and makes the putt.

 

He works full-time, can't practice all that much, but whatever it is, he has got "it". And, "it" is a lot of fun watching him play this game. :-)

 

I hope you all get to enjoy the same experience.

 

I can't quite make the connection between "having it" and "using 3 hybrid."

 

;)

[Jagpilotohio]

When I was at the San Diego Golf Academy in the early 90’s (Golf academy of America now), there was a kid named Brian like that. I’ll leave out his last name.

 

He was a hard core surfer and skateboarder and smoked a tremendous amount of Pot. Picture Sean Spicoli from “Fast times at Ridgemont High”. Insane natural ability. He only went to the school because his parents had agreed to pay for school and an apartment as long as he made grades. He had no interest in becoming a Club Pro. He just wanted to surf and smoke dope and live for free off his parents.

 

Thing was....he was REALLY good. Stupidly good. 5’ 8” and 160 pounds and 300+ with the driver ( HUGE in the 90’s), and a spectacular short game. Zero practice or giving a damn and he went out in our weekly tournaments high as a kite and shot mid 60’s routinely. Could put up a 65 from the tips with a bong in one hand. Incredible.

 

No idea what happened to him. I graduated before him. It always seemed quite sad that he just didn’t give a damn with all that talent. Who knows what would have happened if he actually cared.

[Chadwickog]

Guy from my 'home course' has 'it'. Currently plays on the web.com, I haven't played with him as yet but have seem him tee off/played a few holes in the group behind him before. Our home course is pretty short and he drives a bunch of the greens.

[Bonneville85308]

I definitely don't have "it."

[MountainGoat]

I've got something, but not "it".

[duffer987]

If he had 'it' he'd be lower than a 3.4.

I'm sure he's a lovely chap, good fun to play with, and a solid stick, but there is a big 'ol world of golf out there, full of guys young and not so young, that do that sort of thing.

 

TBH as long as someone is cool and knows how to get around a course, I haven't been too bothered whether they were posting in the 60s or the 100s.

[Ghostwedge]

First time i experienced " it " was watching a HS kid with an original Callaway Warbird driver (steel shaft) hit a 360 yd tee shot and a 220 yd 5 iron to 4 feet behind the hole and tap it in with the 5 iron. Was on a 4-man scramble team, they used almost every one of his shots, probably shot -6 on his own ball.

Oh and he borrowed the driver from a barrel in the pro shop and used a rental set of irons. His sister dropped him off at the course and drove away with his clubs still in the trunk. About DJ size and left handed. Super nice kid.

[CheckJV]

Yes, so I married her.

[ebrasmus21]

Guy I play golf with sometimes was a pretty elite junior. Used to play against Rickie and Lovemark and those guys. Got a scholarship to a big Pac 10 school but partied too much and flamed out. Immense waste of talent.

 

Doesn't practice or play often these days but if he shoots par it was a bad day.

[Sean2]

We all know golf is a difficult game, but for those few the game isn't THAT hard.

 

I play regularly with a young man of 22. This is his third hear of playing and he is down to a 3.4. He has never had a lesson. His ball speed is in the mid-180s, he can hit a true stinger (4-iron goes about 240 +/-).

 

His numbers are the same as the longest hitters on Tour. He doesn't look like he is swinging hard, his predominant shot shape is a gentle draw, and he has a decent short game.

 

He has that unquantifiable "it" factor. For example, a very short 265 hard par 4, very narrow opening to the green surrounded by hazards, and he hits a towering 3 hybrid landing 10 fee from the hole and makes the putt.

 

He works full-time, can't practice all that much, but whatever it is, he has got "it". And, "it" is a lot of fun watching him play this game. :-)

 

I hope you all get to enjoy the same experience.

 

I can't quite make the connection between "having it" and "using 3 hybrid."

 

;)

 

He will be soon replacing it with a driving iron he recently demoed. lol

[Sean2]

If he had 'it' he'd be lower than a 3.4.

I'm sure he's a lovely chap, good fun to play with, and a solid stick, but there is a big 'ol world of golf out there, full of guys young and not so young, that do that sort of thing.

 

TBH as long as someone is cool and knows how to get around a course, I haven't been too bothered whether they were posting in the 60s or the 100s.

 

I am sure there are, but I play 200+ rounds a year and it's something I rarely see.

[gatorpedsMD]

ive got it, if by it u mean a rash in the groin region from walking 18 without my gold bond

[BNGL]

Played with far more who think they have it, and don’t.

 

At my club in Florida I was hitting balls one evening, and a college (D1 ACC) kid starts hitting right behind me. A member walks over to say hello, and I overhear the young man say, “I think I might leave after my freshmen year to try and play.” And the response was, “oh really? Well let me give you a word of advice son if you can’t hit it better than the super...stay in school.” Not that quality ball strike means anything, but if there’s a noticeable difference. (Side note that was enlightening to me, the brutal honesty, it was refreshing to hear instead of the everyone gets a trophy mentality. I asked about it later on with the member, and he said that’s how he made his money. He’d invest in the asset if he believed in it and saw a positive ceiling). It was kind of funny to me, like I still got it! Haha

[BB28403]

We all know golf is a difficult game, but for those few the game isn't THAT hard.

 

I play regularly with a young man of 22. This is his third hear of playing and he is down to a 3.4. He has never had a lesson. His ball speed is in the mid-180s, he can hit a true stinger (4-iron goes about 240 +/-).

 

His numbers are the same as the longest hitters on Tour. He doesn't look like he is swinging hard, his predominant shot shape is a gentle draw, and he has a decent short game.

 

He has that unquantifiable "it" factor. For example, a very short 265 hard par 4, very narrow opening to the green surrounded by hazards, and he hits a towering 3 hybrid landing 10 fee from the hole and makes the putt.

 

He works full-time, can't practice all that much, but whatever it is, he has got "it". And, "it" is a lot of fun watching him play this game. :-)

 

I hope you all get to enjoy the same experience.

 

22 year old Lee Trevino made a time machine and met you for golf?! Dang that is cool.

 

I kid of course. Wow that guy sounds good .

[RobE]

We all know golf is a difficult game, but for those few the game isn't THAT hard.

 

I play regularly with a young man of 22. This is his third hear of playing and he is down to a 3.4. He has never had a lesson. His ball speed is in the mid-180s, he can hit a true stinger (4-iron goes about 240 +/-).

 

His numbers are the same as the longest hitters on Tour. He doesn't look like he is swinging hard, his predominant shot shape is a gentle draw, and he has a decent short game.

 

He has that unquantifiable "it" factor. For example, a very short 265 hard par 4, very narrow opening to the green surrounded by hazards, and he hits a towering 3 hybrid landing 10 fee from the hole and makes the putt.

 

He works full-time, can't practice all that much, but whatever it is, he has got "it". And, "it" is a lot of fun watching him play this game. :-)

 

I hope you all get to enjoy the same experience.

 

I can't quite make the connection between "having it" and "using 3 hybrid."

 

;)

 

I can't quite make the connection between "not having it" and "using MP-4s" while talking smack about hybrids. :cheesy:

[MountainGoat]

 

I play regularly with a young man of 22. This is his third hear of playing and he is down to a 3.4. He has never had a lesson. His ball speed is in the mid-180s, he can hit a true stinger (4-iron goes about 240 +/-).

 

 

If that kid follows my experience, he could get some lessons with a certified PGA teaching pro, practice day and night and get that 3.4 up to a 10 in no time.

[playar32]

"It" needs to be defined.

 

Do you mean "It" as in, physically has the talent; +300 yd drives, putt the lights out; or "It", as in they can make the tour.

 

Part of having "It" is the physical talent, but also being able to mentally handle situations. Can you get around the course when you game isn't 100%; can you deal with the travel and everyone bugging you for time at every stop, yet you have to go shoot 65.

 

For example, take a guy like Lebron. It's his combination of physical talent (which is huge), but also his mental ability, and his foresight to take care of his body.

[Scooterboy59]

I think if you have" It", your playing on tour. I played with a lot of great players that hit the ball well enough but are missing " It " .If you have "it" I think you would find a way to get out there. I only have played with two guys that I thought had tour level talent and no intrest in persuing it. Both could do things that were amazing. One loves to play but had a great family business (big money) to take over and could play when he wanted . He told me he just don't think he would enjoy all the travel and playing tournament golf all the time. The other just has other things he likes to do better.

[rwc356]

Played High School golf in Texas. Playing in a tournament one year in Austin and had some kid named Kite in my group. Not sure how you define "it" but it was clear he had it and I didn't!

[sheppy335]

I had it once, made glad they made medicine to get ride of IT. Nothing was as bad as IT was, plus anyone who found out about it stay a couple feet away.

 

 

As for golf, yeah never had it, had to work my BUTT off to be this bad.

[Sean2]

"It" needs to be defined.

 

Do you mean "It" as in, physically has the talent; +300 yd drives, putt the lights out; or "It", as in they can make the tour.

 

Part of having "It" is the physical talent, but also being able to mentally handle situations. Can you get around the course when you game isn't 100%; can you deal with the travel and everyone bugging you for time at every stop, yet you have to go shoot 65.

 

For example, take a guy like Lebron. It's his combination of physical talent (which is huge), but also his mental ability, and his foresight to take care of his body.

 

I don't know. Right now he is simply a recreational golfer. Again, this is only his third year. He hasn't talked about turning pro or anything like that. He works full time, practices very little due to time constraints, and plays great golf when he does play. He doesn't have an arrogant bone in his body. Just a very nice young man who seems to have a talent for this game.

[Shipwreck]

I might be wrong but I’m thinking he’s referring to that raw natural golf talent that we all talk about but hardly ever see. I’ve seen it a couple of times and, like you said, it’s quite a sight to see. Effortless power. Finesse. Touch. Almost as if they have command of the ball. A couple local brothers I know have it (the older one played a bit on the PGA tour in the 90s, then the Asian tour after an injury, younger of the two tried some mini tour stuff but never made it big) and are the two best golfers I’ve ever seen. Golf excellence is a thing of beauty.