Been on a journey obsessed with golf. Everything has finally clicked with the swing mechanics and understanding of the game. For my golfers here, how long did it take with consistent practice to break 100, 90, and 80?

I am not a golfer, but a long time ago I went with my dad, and first time out I broke 100 . . . 

 

but it was a 9-hole course . . . 

I use to golf regularly with my dad until his hip gave him issues and he couldn't go anymore.

 

I think my handicap was 15 on an 18 hole/par 74 course

 

I sold my clubs about 25 years ago.

I started when I was probably 7 or 8. Summertime a group of us would play 18-27 holes almost everyday until we got older and had to get high school jobs. I was a consistent bogey golfer. Once in a while I’d break into the high 80’s. After graduating I joined a league and remained the same. It’s probably been 10 years since I last played. 

My father taught me the game starting early when I was 8 when he got me a cut down driver and took me to the driving range. I broke 70 for the first time when I was 17. For me, playing well required me to play a minimum of 3 times a week. Once I got a job that had me on call 24/7 every other week, meant that I couldn’t play very often and I’d moved away from my usual playing partners. I didn’t like not playing up to the standards I was used to and switched my interests to fishing. Now that I’m retired, I took up golf again. It’s very different as a senior. I used to be a long hitter but that is a thing of the past. At least now, they have “senior “ tees and reduced rates for us old guys. 

I didn’t start until my mid thirties.  I lived 2 miles from the club and practiced or played every day from the time I got off work until dark.  I was totally obsessed with it until I had to have knee surgery which put an end to it.  I never got real good before I had to give it up but I was lucky enough to make a hole in one three times.  It sure was a lot cheaper than fishing.

Yeah, Golf. I tried it when I was in my 20s. I hacked around for a few months and got very frustrated by my lack of progress. So I hired a coach. After 3 months of 3 times a week he suggested I should take lessons. I asked him what he meant, as I was paying HIM for lessons. He said I misunderstood....he meant I should take lessons in some OTHER sport. According to him, he could fix my errors, but I never made the same error twice. He accused me of inventing new screw-ups that he had never seen before. So, I quit golf.

I am a 3 year varsity letter winner from class AA HS golf. I was good, about a 3 handicap for 9 holes for about a decade.

 

It takes a lot of practice and swings and rounds to maintain your game though. You need touch and feel and concentration, especially around the green which is where you can really make your score drop. When I was in HS we had practice or a match every day so I could devote the time needed. After HS, I played in a weekly league for years and was still able to score pretty well. My best round was 2 under in a match at Bearpath. I put up 8 pars and then an eagle on the 9th which gave me medal winner for the top round posted in the match.

 

If you only play once a month you simply aren’t going to produce. It takes a lot of time, which is something I don’t have anymore because I have a full time job that requires me to travel, a family, a house, a yard, and a dog. Plus I like to fish. Doesn’t leave a whole lot of time to golf anymore.

 

I’d like to pick it up again someday. Maybe when I retire.

 

I never took lessons at it. I learned it from my Father ( who is still a 4 handicap at the age of 73), my Grandfather, and my HS coach.

 

To the OP, you should be consistently breaking 90 if you are doing it and practicing enough. If you aren’t breaking 100, it’s time to find a new hobby because golf isn’t for you.

15 hours ago, 928JLH said:

For my golfers here, how long did it take with consistent practice to break 100, 90, and 80?

How long did it take me to consistently break 100?   I gave up trying after about 10 years.  😆

In my neck of the woods most golfers also fish salt or fresh or both. The guys I play golf with mostly Largemouth Bass fish. One is an excellent angler. My handicap is 16 and I use the senior tees. Only about 55 percent of golfers consistently break 100. Only 26 percent golfers break 90. 10 to 20 percent of golfers break 80. I believe it's about 8 percent. Golf courses down south are excellent places to fish for bass if one can get permission which is rare even for members. Source: Microsoft AI.

https://golfls.com/what-percentage-of-golfers-break-100/

 

Golfed a little as a kit...there was a tiny public 9 hole course walking distance from home. Fun.

 

Never golfed in HS...it was same as football season in the fall.

 

Golfed a little in graduate school...buddy from Texas was left handed like me, and helped with my swing, even gave me a few clubs to add to my bag. We had great times scrambling two other guys from work. FUN!

 

I have some good friends who golf a lot, but I never really got in to it. Would rather spend my time hunting or fishing. My soon-to-be son-in-law really likes to golf...I might have to pick up the sticks again.

 

Some buddies have great natural swings...others have to work HARD at getting better.

 

Best advice I ever got related to golf..."you aren't battling the other golfers...you are battling yourself...make your game better...don't worry about the other guys."

That is entirely up to you and how much time you invest on improving all aspects of your game. I got to the mid 80s quite fast without a coach because of my amateur knowledge of physics, will, and determination. Back then, I could hit my 9 iron 160 yards and I’m barely 5’5” lol. 
 

Mid 80s was as far as my natural talent would take me and even then I knew I had to get a coach to make any more progress. However, kids and life get into the mix and I gave up the game.

 

I got back into golf just recently, but being much older, I know I’ve lost a lot of swing speed. The will is there but so is reality. I am nowhere near as fast in swing speed but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the game. 
 

Last bits of advice. It takes work and effort to maintain your swing and skills. You will go through ups and downs (slumps) and wonder what the heck is wrong. 
 

When you practice, don’t just whack balls. That’s just wasting time. Have an intent with every shot on the range. Maybe you draw or fade the ball. Maybe you hit your iron lower (punch) or maybe 50% or 75% of the distance you normally hit it. “Play and hole” on the range. 
 

The game is a lot of fun. Glad you discovered it. 

I used to could…….

 

 

that’s me in high school back around y2k