How close are you?

[longiron]

I just had a funny talk with my neighbor. We have played golf a couple of times and hes not bad. I play to a 4 and hes not that good. He thinks that he can get good enough to turn "pro". Im not saying he can do it, but he is 37ish and and not even close to being long, his short game needs alot of work to say the least. I know how far i have to go to get to scratch and know how far it is from there to being able to play with the big dogs. But it got me to thinking how close are you to being as good as you will ever get. I know

[The master]

It's hard to tell, but I say I can still improve until im in my 30's or 40's, or at least maintain a good standard. It all depends on how quick I get really good, in a few years I want to be a + handicap golfer, and I don't know if I will be able to improve on that or maintain it. I think I'm still to young to tell, but maybe it will be easier for the older guys, to tell if they can still get better,

[Adam Pettman]

I've been playing golf for 5 months I'm 15 and I'm a ten handicap. I've still got a while to go but you've got to be positive.

[Farquod]

To tour calibre? I'm in a galaxy far, far away.

[SiberianDVM]

Well, if they play on a Par 90, I'm golden.

[dave.]

Its not impossibel,but its not far off.Your neighbour may well have incredible talent,and might make it,but most golfers would rate his chances as high as a caterpillers nob end.

I had a 20 year lay off,I am now 40.I have practiced like a mad man for 6 months,and I've got a 2 index.When you consider there is far more to golf than technique,fitness,concentration,nerves,strategy,co urse mgt,the mental challenges etc etc,I will have a huge job getting down to scratch.My pro says I have talent,he can make changes I can use in less than 100 balls,that he says would take some players months.And that talent is barely enough for scratch,and thats with 10 hrs a week practice.

See if your neighbour can eek out 10 hrs from his daily schedule first,I bet even thats difficult

[longiron]

Its not impossibel,but its not far off.Your neighbour may well have incredible talent,and might make it,but most golfers would rate his chances as high as a caterpillers nob end.

I had a 20 year lay off,I am now 40.I have practiced like a mad man for 6 months,and I've got a 2 index.When you consider there is far more to golf than technique,fitness,concentration,nerves,strategy,co urse mgt,the mental challenges etc etc,I will have a huge job getting down to scratch.My pro says I have talent,he can make changes I can use in less than 100 balls,that he says would take some players months.And that talent is barely enough for scratch,and thats with 10 hrs a week practice.

See if your neighbour can eek out 10 hrs from his daily schedule first,I bet even thats difficult

Oh yea I failed to mention he has nothing you talked about including a job. He has all the time but i highy doubt he has the drive needed to get even close.

He said to me that all he need to do is learn how to chip and putt and he would be close to it. I think the problem with golf is people hit one or two good shots in a round and watch it on TV and think i could play with them. When in reality the gap between them and us is grand canyon like.

[JasonMacIsaac]

I'm 20, a 3 handicap and I have no chance at being a pro. You people just don't know how good they are. As a 3 index I can usually place top 20 in events around my area.

The people who win the events around here are usually top 20 at the Nova Scotia, somewhere around there.

The guy that won the Nova Scotia Amateur a bunch of times in the past couldn't qualify on his home course for the Canadian Amateur.

The guy that wins the Canadian Amateur isn't close to one of the best golfers in the NCAA.

Some of the best golfers in the NCAA don't exactly make the PGA tour and end up on some crazy tour.

That just shows you how far away a 20 year old 3 handicap is away from tours.

[JasonMacIsaac]

On the other hand if you are talking about being a golf professional anyone with a 6 handicap or lower has a shot. All it takes is two lucky rounds under 75 I believe.

[jppe]

I have played golf "seriously" for 40+ years. The good news for younger folks is that you can continue to improve over a long period of time. I'm now in my early 50's but played my best golf from 40-50.

I've now found some other interests where I just don't spend the same amount of time playing as I used to. I will have to admit that technology probably helped me improve somewhat. There's a lot to be said at how much better metal woods, cavity back irons and the newer balls are over the equipment I used for the first 30 years......and I was using top of the line stuff!

[Youngun5]

the sky is the limit for me. i'm playing to a 5 at 16years old and i still feel like i suck all the time even on my better rounds, nothing is ever good enough for me. i'm going to get as good as i set myself out to be, which is gonna be pretty damn good. i've got the tools, i've got the motivation, after my watson gunmetal wedges get here, i'm done fooling around with equipment i think which has held me back alot over the last two years. i've cleared a bump in the road and i'm ready to go hard this h.s. season and see what happens. but in review, my final answer is nowhere even close

[Eracer]

Dr. Bob Rotella said (I have to paraphrase, since I don't have the book in front of me)

"Given the choice between a young gun who plays to a 5 handicap and wants to shave a couple of strokes, and a forty-five year old with a 20 handicap who believes he can make the Champions Tour, and is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that goal, I'll take the forty-five year old any day of the week."

I think his point is that you really can become as good as you want to be. And that you can only become as good as you are willing to be. It's one of the things that makes this game so good. Could I become a professional basketball player at my age (or any age)? No way. Could I make it on the Champions Tour? Well, like your friend, I believe that if I could quit my job and be financially solvent enough to devote my entire life to the game, I might have a shot. Unfortunately, I am not rich enough to make that a reality, and at my age I am not driven enough to chase that particular dream.

But if someone has natural ability, I believe that they can learn to play this game at a very high level. The golf swing is about technique, properly applied strength, flexibility, and mental and emotional focus. All these things can be learned, if one is willing to make whatever sacrifices are necessary.

I personally set some goals for my self last year and achieved them. I have been a 20-25 handicapper my whole life. It's because I just don't play and practice enough. I dedicated myself to breaking 90 more often last year, and did some very postive things to achieve that. I went to a golf school called "Golf Made Simple" which had a big impact on my game. I play and practice much more often. I embraced Dr. Rotella's philosophy. I've started exercising and stretching much more regularly. All these things have helped me get to a 15 index. I'm planning on being a 10 at the end of this year.

To all the younger players out there I say:

Focus on golf fitness. Stretch properly every day. Free your mind.

And read Joseph Campbell. I wish I had known of his work long, long ago. He said: "Follow your bliss".

When you understand what that truly means, you have a tool that can enrich your life beyond measure. And golf is life, right?

[bdcrowe]

I've been playing golf for 5 months I'm 15 and I'm a ten handicap. I've still got a while to go but you've got to be positive.

But they play 18 holes at a time on tour.

harharharharhar......

[IrishGolfer]

I just had a funny talk with my neighbor. We have played golf a couple of times and hes not bad. I play to a 4 and hes not that good. He thinks that he can get good enough to turn "pro". Im not saying he can do it, but he is 37ish and and not even close to being long, his short game needs alot of work to say the least. I know how far i have to go to get to scratch and know how far it is from there to being able to play with the big dogs. But it got me to thinking how close are you to being as good as you will ever get. I know

How many beers had this on board? I always find I am "close" after several pints. I also become more attractive, stronger, faster and generally untouchable. Playing the next morning with a hang-over I discover how deluded I've been. Isn't alcohol great?

To make the tour your h/c needs to be in or around +3/+4. Only at that point can one even start to ask "How close am I?" Anything up to that point is just aspirational / Walter Mitty stuff. IMHO of course.

[IrishGolfer]

I just had a funny talk with my neighbor. We have played golf a couple of times and hes not bad. I play to a 4 and hes not that good. He thinks that he can get good enough to turn "pro". Im not saying he can do it, but he is 37ish and and not even close to being long, his short game needs alot of work to say the least. I know how far i have to go to get to scratch and know how far it is from there to being able to play with the big dogs. But it got me to thinking how close are you to being as good as you will ever get. I know

How many beers had this dude on board? I always find I am "close" after several pints. I also become more attractive, stronger, faster and generally untouchable. Playing the next morning with a hang-over I discover how deluded I've been. Isn't alcohol great?

To make the tour your h/c needs to be in or around +3/+4. Only at that point can one even start to ask "How close am I?" Anything up to that point is just aspirational / Walter Mitty stuff. IMHO of course.