Has anyone got to single figures after taking up Golf at 49

[fullchoice]

Hi, I have recently started to play golf, been playing for 12 months. I am 49 years and have never played any kind of ball sport before but I am competitive. My handicap has come down from 36 to 27 in the year i have been playing and what I am looking for is two things.

1)_ Has anyone gone from beginner to single figure handicap in 4 years or less?

2) If you have what advice would you give me and how exactly did you do it?

 

Please dont reply if all you want to say is it cant be done, thats not helpful - I know it can be done and I would love to hear from those who have done it.

 

thanks guys,

[nicekindtrue]

[quote name='fullchoice' timestamp='1284036190' post='2686963']
Hi, I have recently started to play golf, been playing for 12 months. I am 49 years and have never played any kind of ball sport before but I am competitive. My handicap has come down from 36 to 27 in the year i have been playing and what I am looking for is two things.
1)_ Has anyone gone from beginner to single figure handicap in 4 years or less?
2) If you have what advice would you give me and how [u]exactly [/u]did you do it?

Please dont reply if all you want to say is it cant be done, thats not helpful - I know it can be done and I would love to hear from those who have done it.

thanks guys,
[/quote]

Hi,

You have to learn to hit ok shots, that means moving the ball along the course ok, you don't have to be great.

The rest is up to your short game. You need to practice to improve, then practice even more to maintain. Hours after hours after hours.

If you've got the time and average talent you should be able to reach single hcp, but accept that it might take 6-8 years from beginning.

Good luck!

[golfgirl94]

Im not 49 but I have got to single figures fairly quickly. My advice would be to

Get lessons from a decent pro. After the lessons take some notes and practice drills and work hard on these. Dont neglect any part of the game with the pro especially the short game. There is no point practicing for hours if what you are practicing is wrong.

Dont listen to golfers about swing fixes who arnt paid to teach, It may on occasions be good advice and they may have good intentions but bad info can cause serious problems.

Learn your distances with each club and keep monitoring them as they will change as you get better.

Play with good players and watch how they plot their way round the course and how they limit damage after bad shots.

Dont attempt shots you dont beleive you can actually pull off.

Play lots of golf at different courses, keep calm on the course and never give up trying to play well. Dont get upset when you have a bad hole or play over par.


Im sure there are loads more better advice out there but that is some of the things I have done and try to do and it has worked for me.

[justhackin]

My wife is a 9 and really should be lower but her confidence is a problem sometimes but that is for another post

It only took her about two years to go from a 16 to her present 9 once she found a teacher she liked. If you go to a teacher and don't "feel" that connection try another one. Once my wife found the woman she takes lessons from now she spent more time working on her game. This meant not only on the course but workouts and short game practice in the yard meant more to her. before this teacher/student connection the desire wasn't there. She has played for years but started taking lessons at 46.

One thing you might do is read a book called, " Golf is not a game of perfect". It will help you see that not every shot has to be "perfect" so you don't go for shots that you may not need to.

Enjoy the ride :-)

hackin

[putt4_66]

Close. I picked up golf at 40. I'm 48 and my index is 2.5.

[Britboy]

I'm 42 and have reached an 8 h'cap after 7 years of playing finally moving from a 12 to an 8 this year.

Lot's of good advice above - some highlights from me are:-

1) Short game - obviously - love your wedges and putter a lot more than your driver !!
2) Full swing - get a method that you understand and then stick with it
3) Equipment - get fitted and then stick with it only changing when your game dictates it. Generally the advice of play with the
most forgiving clubs you are happy to look down on works well.
4) Course management - play smart/aggressive. Strive really hard to keep doubles and worse off your card.
5) Practice - focus on the short game and make it target orientated
6) Don't listen...to anyone who says it can't be done (sounds like you've already cracked that one...)
7) Be patient - progress in terms of handicap reduction often doesn't happen in a way you expect it. Like Rotella says be process, not results orientated and the results will happen

I haven't really done any of these consistently otherwise I could have achieved my goal much quicker !!!

Good luck

[Bobbers]

I hit single digits on most holes and I'm 59...