Golf Challenge

slingerz

Hi folks,

I allowed my membership to lapse this year but am going to renew my membership at my usual club. My handicap before I allowed my membership to lapse was 20.4 will that get reinstated or will I need to hand in 3 cards again?

The challenege I want is this, would it be possible to get to a 15 handicap in a single year? I often find that I drive the ball well but that its the short game/putting area that cossts me the mosts. Having upwards of 6 3putts would not be uncommon for me. I also find that id often have putts for birdie but never get them and have to settle for pars. is it a case that practice on the putting green makes perfect.

Also what sort of practice can be done on the range off mats for the short game?

All thoughts welcome

mike12

20 to 15 is not a big drop and should be easy to do if you sort out you putting and short game, 6 3 putts is the difference between 20 and 15 straight away.
Mike

AldilaMan

slingerz wrote: »

Hi folks,

I allowed my membership to lapse this year but am going to renew my membership at my usual club. My handicap before I allowed my membership to lapse was 20.4 will that get reinstated or will I need to hand in 3 cards again?

The challenege I want is this, would it be possible to get to a 15 handicap in a single year? I often find that I drive the ball well but that its the short game/putting area that cossts me the mosts. Having upwards of 6 3putts would not be uncommon for me. I also find that id often have putts for birdie but never get them and have to settle for pars. is it a case that practice on the putting green makes perfect.

Also what sort of practice can be done on the range off mats for the short game?

All thoughts welcome

I went from 24 to 17 in 1 year. Two things made a big difference:
1. Playing twice a week in competitions
2. Playing with different people each week who were better than me.

Seems to me that with improvement in your putting alone you will lose 4/5 shots. Is your short putting poor (3-5 ft) ? If so buy an indoor mat and practice 30 mins every day and see the difference. If it's you long range putting then there are two issuues here.

1. You need to practice long range putts to varied distances on a practice green. Don't keep practicing the dsame 40ft putt. Try 5 balls to 5 different holes at differing lengths trying to get down in 2 on each putt.

2. Ask yourself why do you leave yourself long putts regularly. Are you under clubing. Picking the right club for approach will improve your putting stats no end.

slave1

slingerz wrote: »

Hi folks,

I allowed my membership to lapse this year but am going to renew my membership at my usual club. My handicap before I allowed my membership to lapse was 20.4 will that get reinstated or will I need to hand in 3 cards again?

Once outside 6 months I believe you need to do the three cards route and also advise the club of your previous handicap.

slingerz

Cheers for the replies as regards putting its usually cos I've made a pitch that doesnt seem to have any run in it at all and with the putting its usually that I cant judge the speed of the greens at all. Either hit it too hard or then way too soft, most regularly its under hitting the ball and leaving a 20ft putt with 8ft left

AldilaMan

slingerz wrote: »

Cheers for the replies as regards putting its usually cos I've made a pitch that doesnt seem to have any run in it at all and with the putting its usually that I cant judge the speed of the greens at all. Either hit it too hard or then way too soft, most regularly its under hitting the ball and leaving a 20ft putt with 8ft left

Pitching the ball without any run is a good thing. Now you can take aim right at the flag. With putting, try to force yourself to make every putt long so that at least if you miss, you can see the line of the putt going by the hole which should make you more confident of reading the putt coming back. You're not going to get every putt past the hole but give yourself a mental pat on the back each time you do. Someone once said that 90% of short putts never go in. Strange statistic

brick tamland

If I were you I go play lots of par 3/pitch and putt

For me its much better practice of short game than hitting a range or practice green.

pauldoo

i would second the putting matt, i got a 12 foot one and it was the business, used to practice every night in winter and my putting improved no end.

Also try play that game par 18, you have 9 up and downs from different places around the green, helped me drop 4 shots this year

golfnut1

I would say two things to you about putting.
1 regarding long putts short/long I think you probably lack confidents and might tend to get very tense. This is why your not just "letting it go" too much thinking
2 think about you routine. Make sure it is always the same. I think there should be the least amount of time between practice stroke and actual putt

Regarding getting your handicap down I'd say this. I never meet a good putter that doesn't play off single figures.
Hope this helps and good luck

slingerz

golfnut1 wrote: »

I would say two things to you about putting.
1 regarding long putts short/long I think you probably lack confidents and might tend to get very tense. This is why your not just "letting it go" too much thinking
2 think about you routine. Make sure it is always the same. I think there should be the least amount of time between practice stroke and actual putt

Regarding getting your handicap down I'd say this. I never meet a good litter that doesn't play off single figures.
Hope this helps and good luck

I always play with my buddy who's off of 3 and he keeps saying that the way I hit the ball I should be a hell of a lot lower than I am.

I used to play pitch and putt but i never found it too enjoyable really, given they use the commando golf balls as opposed to the 'normal' ones.

DoctaDee

Some sound advice in fairness on how you can lower your golf scores. The problem I have is when you put a scorecard in a person's hand it adds another level of pressure .. sorta like being great in the scratcher at home then being asked to perform under lights in a porn film (not personal experience ya understand just an analogy) :rolleyes: