How many low caps play less than avid golf

[jbil8802 801]

I bet it is focusing on the golf swing look versus playing and having fun syndrome.Just go out and enjoy the game,forget cameras and swing analysis units.You will be surprised how much fun golf will be and scores will show it

No, but I appreciate your effort at a diagnosis of the syndromes that ail me. I just like to joke around.

[Jmikecpa 13,478]

I really really need to pull my putting green back out at the house. If I do almost no practicing and just play on the weekends then I'm usually low single digits 0-2.5. However if I do the same but just putt for 5-10min 3 nights per week then I start heading towards .5-+.

 

Totally agree about playing. For me the range is for warm up or a swing tweak. Other than that I need to be in the short game area working on chipping, pitch shots and putting.

I agree on the putting. I roll putts for half an hour a day every day that I am home.

 

 

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[Kor.A.Door 5,843]

I usually play once a week, occasionally I will get an extra round in, I don't do much in he way of full swings on the range because my back is no good, but I do try to practice wedges, and around the green, along with putting when I can, I maintain around 6-7 hcp.

[hckymeyer 6,679]

What counts as Avid and what counts as low handicap?

[Lonnie96 63]

I would say low handicap is 9 or less.And avid would be 3 rounds a week or 20 to 30 rounds a month.Just how i see it,and i used to play this much a decade ago for 20 plus years

 

On a side note i shot a 42 today with my 2nd round of the year.Not great but not bad either

[revkev 25,406]

I was wondering if Avid meant tournament or straight by the rules - thanks for the explanation.  So many of us have day jobs that it's very hard to play a lot of golf.  Even though I'm 59 I still have a freshman in High School around the house so there are plenty of times where I spend time with her rather than playing golf.  When her brothers were younger I would play with them but I was also a pastor at a small church.  In season I would play every Weds, lots of Saturdays and an additional 9 every Sunday afternoon with the boys.

 

"Get those kids out of the house" was my favorite phrase.

 

The big question is, "How much better would I be if I had more time to play?"  My back isn't that great.  I can play very well if its one competitive round a week, one range session of about 60 balls and two short game sessions of half an hour or so.  Much more than that and my back really bothers me.

 

Under the scenario above I can get my handicap index down below 3 pretty much always.

[hckymeyer 6,679]

I guess I'm a low cap then.  Avid is debatable.  On a good week it might be 3 times.  I'm a stay at home dad with 2 boys age 2 & 5.  My wife has Tues off so I can usually play then.  Wed is golf league so I have a sitter in the afternoon.  Then maybe I can sneak out on a weekend.  So good week is 3 or so times golfing.  Bad week would be 1 or none.  Some of those rounds might be more than 18 holes as well.

 

I'm also in MN so while it might look good to play 1-3 times a week, I have to take 4-6 months off for winter.  Also when I actually get time to go golfing I'm not wasting any of it practicing.  Half the time I don't even get there early enough to use the range.  I've played 6 rounds this season and haven't been to the range once.

 

If I could spend an hour or two every week with just wedges and putter I'm pretty sure I could drop 2 strokes off my handicap.  With my family life it's just not going to happen though.  Maybe when my boys are older and can come with I'll get the time.

[Badfish 244]

During an average 7 month season here in Ohio I consider myself fortunate to play twice a week.  Though it doesn't make much sence I usually start the season shooting near par.  As the season progresses I have a tendency to take more risks and I usually shoot up as high as a 7.  Then I battle my way back down to a 5 just before the snow flies.

[Will Par 20]

I believe that when a golfer reaches the skill level of a low single digit player, that person does not lose that skill even when they don't play frequently.  It's sort of like learning to ride a bicycle... once learned it is never forgotten.  Just limited play or occasional practice is enough to keep that skill sharp enough to break 80 in casual play.   This is probably true for all skill levels.  Skills don't deteriorate quickly and are regained rather quickly even when they have been abandoned for a long period.  I believe this is true for golf and all other endeavors that require a level of skill.

 

    

[Jmikecpa 13,478]

I believe that when a golfer reaches the skill level of a low single digit player, that person does not lose that skill even when they don't play frequently. It's sort of like learning to ride a bicycle... once learned it is never forgotten. Just limited play or occasional practice is enough to keep that skill sharp enough to break 80 in casual play. This is probably true for all skill levels. Skills don't deteriorate quickly and are regained rather quickly even when they have been abandoned for a long period. I believe this is true for golf and all other endeavors that require a level of skill.

I would agree to some level, mainly tee to green. Short game goes quickly if you are not playing. At least for me it does. I am playing 18 tomorrow for the first time in a few weeks and the game plan is to not leave flip wedges when I can. Full shots are my friend when I am not playing a bunch.

 

 

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[Undershooter 4,135]

Yep, hate you guys.

#scratchgolferproblems

Your jealous of my scores and I'm jealous how much you get to play. That's life lol

[apprenti23 605]

Last year was the first time I played 20 rounds in over five years- it was glorious! Used to get in about ten a year. This past season I had some rounds under par and a few around 80- don't keep a handicap but I usually just play to scratch.

 

As for this year, haven't played since October and hope to be able to play in two more weeks- still have some stitches in my back that are going to have me on the IR for two more weeks.

[PlaidJacket 7,737]

"Whoa Plaid. I don't think Blooming's post was referring to a 7 hcp player".

 

I've enjoyed reading the comments in this post. I think the intended audience Blooming was speaking to is probably players at a 5 or less hcp. That ain't me. Today I'm a 5 or less wanna-be and a 5 or less has been. LOL

I have a few friends that are my age that still shoot sub par rounds in the mid to upper 60's. On a bad day they shoot a whooping 75! These guys have been scratch or better forever. Some of them I know don't or can't play but once a week if that; at times. Doesn't work that way for me. I get sharper/better when I can play and practice more. My goal this year again is to get to 5 or less. I want in the club. The clock is ticking....

[Kenny B 33,353]

I would say low handicap is 9 or less.And avid would be 3 rounds a week or 20 to 30 rounds a month.Just how i see it,and i used to play this much a decade ago for 20 plus years

 

On a side note i shot a 42 today with my 2nd round of the year.Not great but not bad either

I wasn't going to comment until Onion clarified the criteria.  Last year when I was still working, I would play most every weekend and every night after work during the summer months.  My wife made me do it.  Since I retired last September, I play 3-4 times during the week and on the weekends with my wife.  Since daylight savings time started, we have started to play after she closes her business at 5pm.  On Thursday I played 18 with the guys, then 9 when my wife got to the course.  

 

On days I don't play, I will spend about an hour or two practicing, almost none of it on the range unless I need to work something out.  I'd rather spend the time chipping, pitching, and putting.  Low round this year is 77, but typically my scores are around 82.  Alas, there are a few "others".

 

If I am away from the game for several days, I seem to be loose the first round or two back and able to make full swings easier, but the short game suffers for the first 9 holes or so.  The more I play, the better my short game, but I will struggle at times with my long game.  At my age the muscles don't take kindly to repeated full swings, but I am not taking many days off; I don't know how many days I have left! 

[Lonnie96 63]

One year I played 5 rounds.And broke 80 4-5 rounds that year.Strangely my game is always the same.I can play 7 days a week and still be a 70 golfer or at worst low 80.My shots end up in the same spot/still same push as a bad hit/and a bad chip or pitch that will cause me a few bogeys.Its weird,but even when i devoted all I had to golf my scores are the same.Personally i think we hit a plateau or ability level where we just can't go any farther.That is where i am,and not complaining because i still competitive with as little as I play

 

Some great posts.Thanks for the good reads

[revkev 25,406]

I believe that when a golfer reaches the skill level of a low single digit player, that person does not lose that skill even when they don't play frequently. It's sort of like learning to ride a bicycle... once learned it is never forgotten. Just limited play or occasional practice is enough to keep that skill sharp enough to break 80 in casual play. This is probably true for all skill levels. Skills don't deteriorate quickly and are regained rather quickly even when they have been abandoned for a long period. I believe this is true for golf and all other endeavors that require a level of skill.

How are you doing Will?

 

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[~^~ 173]

I have a friend who plays maybe once a month. He travels a lot and can't play all the time. He gets perplexed when his hc goes up, to about 4 from 0. When i play with him, he does me the favor of moving up one set of tees from the tips. I still need driver, 3W, wedge to reach his Par 4s.

 

To contrast, i play about 175 times a year, and I'm up to a 15.

[silver & black 6,410]

I have no idea what my handicap is. I probably average out through a season at mid 80's. I rarely ever score higher than 85-86, and I usually pull off a few rounds of 78-79  during a season. As far as avid..... I play in a league that is 9 holes and I play at least 18 holes once a week, sometimes more. I would play just about every day if I could. I think avid is having the desire to play whenever possible.

[~^~ 173]

I have no idea what my handicap is. I probably average out through a season at mid 80's. I rarely ever score higher than 85-86, and I usually pull off a few rounds of 78-79  during a season. As far as avid..... I play in a league that is 9 holes and I play at least 18 holes once a week, sometimes more. I would play just about every day if I could. I think avid is having the desire to play whenever possible.

Instead of "avid", think "aspiring". Titleist describes their AP1 irons as "designed for the aspiring golfer".

 

It's a great word. It describes somebody who has the burning desire to be great, while being utterly devoid of any talent to get there. Fits me to a T.

[Will Par 20]

How are you doing Will?

 

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Hi Rev.  I'm fine.  Occasionally lurk in the forums but I'm always reading the MyGolfSpy Blog.  I continue to see a lot of familiar names here.  Hope you are well and making lots of birdies.