your first handicap

freddie1970

I have only started to play golf so just trying to get used to the swing and hit the ball properly. So I think it will be another month or two before I go for my handicap..Anyways what did handicap did you get on your first time around,and how long were you playing before you went for it

neckedit

3 months playing
13 was first h/c

jimmii

neckedit wrote: »

3 months playing
13 was first h/c

13 :eek: how old were you? That is pretty impressive!

Eaglebridie 32

Joined club in 1992, submitted 3 cards for handicap within a month, got 13.0 handicap, had 39pts in first competition, 3rd, cut to 12.2.
Still the highest handicap I've played off.

freddie1970

13 v good...there is a guy in my job and still has handicap of 28 after 4 years

jimmii

freddie1970 wrote: »

13 v good...there is a guy in my job and still has handicap of 28 after 4 years

Thats not rare to be honest I don't think most people ever get under 18-20.

freddie1970

yeah its a tough game

Golfgraffix

Its a while back but I think my first handicap was 19, took about 3 years to get to 10 and has hovered between 11 and 12 ever since.

J

Dublin Spur

26 when I was around 13

neckedit

jimmii wrote:

13  how old were you? That is pretty impressive!

I played as a young lad for about a year.......started playing again when I was 20.......was off 3 after about 2 and hakf years.....played or practiced every single day. Great times.

Wichita Lineman

I came to the game relatively late only really playing properly once I hit my thirties. I started on 18 and hovered between 18-21 for most of the last ten years or more before getting a bit of spurt down to 13 and now holding it reasonably well on 14.

PARlance

First handicap in 2013, 17.
Lots of plus 1's foĺlowed, out to 18, got my first cut at the end of the year, back to 17.

2014, crept up to 18 again at the start but was down to 12 by Sept. Think I had 12 cuts last year, mostly small cuts but one biggie (esr) that seen me go from 15-> 12. Played an awful lot last year so plenty of 0.1's as well.

Played Corballis a bit too often last winter and have crept up to 13.... time to get chopping again.

freddie1970

well im playing a few weeks id be happy with mid twenties handicap

OffalyMedic

Played juvenile competitions for a summer off 36, following summer I paid the extra sub to play women's competitions and within a couple weeks I was off 28, finished that summer off 21 three years later and I'm off 11 hoping to get to single figures this year

HarshOstrich

Played from an early age but gave it up when I was 19 as was too busy, was off 12 then, joined back up this time last year at 24 and was given 14 handicap and today I am off 6 so Its been an unbelievable year, loads of wins, my first hole in one and my first eagle which I have been lucky enough to have quite a few of.

2012paddy2012

freddie1970 wrote: »

well im playing a few weeks id be happy with mid twenties handicap

Did you get lessons ? Same boat me ....I'm reading about "playing lessons" recently ....new one on me ... Think that could be better ...finding it hard to carry lesson to course... Might be better to play few holes and get tuition as you go... (In Meath) anyone experiences of these type of lessons ... Good or bad ... Thks paddy

diomed

22. I knew it was generous. A week later I kept a card in a friendly fourball and returned it. Reduced to 15.
Some pot-hunters would say that was unprofessional.

spacecoyote

2012paddy2012 wrote: »

Did you get lessons ? Same boat me ....I'm reading about "playing lessons" recently ....new one on me ... Think that could be better ...finding it hard to carry lesson to course... Might be better to play few holes and get tuition as you go... (In Meath) anyone experiences of these type of lessons ... Good or bad ... Thks paddy

I've never had a playing lesson, but I'd imagine it would be more focussed around course management & psychology when playing.

Range lessons would be more focussed on swing mechanics & technique.

I could be wrong though.

As to the OP, I joined a club in the January of that year & just put in my first 3 cards straight away. Got a handicap of 22. 5 years later & I've been floating around 11-12.

Don't be so worried about having to get to a level before you hand your cards in. Everyone needs a point to start from & you'll find a level quickly enough

Rikand

48

when I was 9 years old and I couldnt play to it for about 3 years

markthespark77

got my first handicap of 18, when i was 21 6 yrs ago, went up to 19 for a while then took the game more serious a few years ago and down to 10 now and playing comfy with that...

Tar.Aldarion

My first handicap was 12, no I'm not trying to one up the 13 one haha. I was young, dunno the age 12-14 or so. At that time I would be on summer holidays and go down to play golf all day a few times a week (maybe all the days), get a few rounds in, it was heaven! I quickly joined leagues and things and would play with my teachers from school, which I thought was funny. Won a nice few prizes. Was playing off 2 after a while (probably only on my own course, a short one and I couldn't drive the farthest) and my brother was on scratch, he was a very good golfer. Haven't played in years now. Would love to take it up again some time but I moved to Dublin and don't have a car etc.

Used to spend hours on the putting green and love it, trying to read a putt. used to be a ball watcher in competitions too, spend a lot of time down there, parents must have loved getting us out of the house.

razorblunt

HC of 16, that I have for 3 years now (I'm 29).
Hit a really good purple patch that summer and my course at the time was short. Currently off 17 put playing closer to 21/22.

benny79

Im playing golf about 7 years joined a club for the first time 3 years ago started off on 18 and have slowly gone up to 21.7! not so much as a .1 back and I tried last year played the most golf ever in 1 year heart breaking.

But I will say this for the record " I AM GOING LOW THIS YEAR"

Watch this space

Golf365

First handicap was 19, no one should be given more than 18 !!
Hovered between 17-19 as I was a long distance member for a couple of years, when I joined a golf club I started playing more golf , got on the club teams over the years, took more lessons and eventually in 2013 got to 9. Still single handicap & hoping this year to get lower.

spacecoyote

Golf365 wrote: »

First handicap was 19, no one should be given more than 18 !!

I think that there is a level of arrogance to statements like this. The aim of the handicap should be to level the playing field.

I've a couple of uncle's who took up golf later in lifez have probably been playing 5-6 years now & still couldn't play to an 18 handicap. If they'd been given 18 starting I honestly don't think they'd have kept it up. One of them went in to semi early retirement last year & was playing about 3 times a week. Think he shot a 90 once.

Golf numbers are dwindling. We need to do what is required to keep numbers up. Basically saying...tough, we don't care if it takes you 120 strokes to get around a course, you can walk off with 15-20 points & be happy with yourself just doesn't cut it with me.

Maybe for a young fit guy in his 20s taking up golf for the 1st time you could argue for it, but as a general rule I think it would be disproportionately unfair for a large population of new golfers

stockdam

I played golf as a juvenile and my first official handicap was 14; my juvenile handicap at the time was 8.

Golf365

The beauty of the handicap system is that it finds an appropriate handicap for the golfer over time.

blue note

Started off with a junior handicap of 36 (only eligible for junior comps). I was at least a year on that. After 3 or 4 years I got a senior handicap of 16. I think it took about 15 comps without ever getting a .3 cut to get up to 17. And then I played a little more last year and got down to 11.