I am a relatively new golfer (4 years) and in my 50s, fluctuating around a 30 handicap at club level. Long hitter but just can’t seem to pull 18 holes together. I play 13-14 holes of very good golf for my standard and totally muck up the others which blows my score and prevents me from reducing the handicap. Where to from here? I manage the Psychology of it all well with a philosophy that it is a game of golf and there are wars in the world and kids die of leukemia. But I really want to achieve what potential I have in the game. Short game is VERY sporadic, the rest is OK. Any suggestions?

Jenni

Welcome to the forum.

Hit the link to the Golf School above and work your way through the articles in there from the oldest to the most current. Few gems in there. If you have any questions about how to do things having read them, ask away in here and plenty of people will help you out.

Hi Jenni

Like Guru says, there is a wealth of information in the Golf School area that goes into detail each area of the game.
A possible quick fix would be to dedicate your time to practicing and improving your short game (chipping and putting).
Will be amazed at the strokes you can shave from your scores by really improving in this area. Maybe worth getting some dedicated lessons in that area so you make sure you go away and practice wisely.
Sometimes it’s not just the hours you put in, but the quality of practice that makes the difference.

Read the golf school,
and give yourself some time to hone your skills in,but ensure you practice the right things,
before you know it you will be improving at a vast rate of knots

jenni,

A simple way for you – is to learn to swing at 3/4 speed as well.

This is the speed you should use at least half the time.

No one can perform at their best all day. 3/4 speed will give you a rest for the important holes.

Learning to swing at 3/4 speed is the best skill you can learn. It great to be able to blast it 20 longer when you want but the sense of control at 3/4 is where you really learn to play.

It ain’t easy. No new skill is.

Jenni

Don’t make the same mistake that I made. This game will drive you nuts, especially for a person such as you who sound very motivated.

My suggestion: if you’re in Sydney, go and see the Dart. Not only is he a great coach (and my choice of the word great is very deliberate), but very entertaining which is a bonus. This is no secret and I think others on this forum have made similar suggestions in other threads.

First of all, welcome to the forums Jenni. I totally agree with Numbers, if in Syd, go see the Dart. However, if you are in Melb or WA then you are also in luck because Bio and the Guru are great bets too.

for however brief your stays are.

Dobbsy,
You got to be kidding me? If you’re on this forum – you’re already hooked on golf.

Teaching is a talent just like being able to play. It takes time to gain the knowledge and experience and to hone it into a fine delivery (teaching or playing). I don’t know of anyone who can do both well in the golfing industry and from my experience in another field, I don’t believe you can for any sustained period.

Read Styles’ byline from Mark Twain. I think that says it all.

Dobbsy, if what you say has any merit then there would no longer be any golf forums on the net. Furthermore, on your logic, how dare someone post something on golf instruction when “they could not play the game”. Also, your flawed logic would have it that all those wonderful club pros would only be permitted to sell golf balls and club. Why? because golf teaching would be the sole domain of the tour players. Oh, and Gary Edwin et al? No, he can’t play so don’t listen to him. Surely that can’t be the case. Legend of the Aussie Tour like Peter Senior have no trouble going to him. And good on him!

Whilst I am at it; why is it the constant criticism of golf teachers that somehow they are teaching because they could not play the game? Why do we need to question their playing abilities? Just because they teach does not mean that they can’t play. That’s a big presumption Dobbsy. I don’t know any other profession where the teacher has to justify their playing ability. I certainly didn’t ask my teachers to show their academic transcripts before taking their class. My clients don’t ask to see my university degrees. What should be important is the teacher’s teaching ability.

Without wishing to go into bat for anyone here but I do know for a fact that the learned pro contributors here have invested $$$ and more time and travel miles to acquire their current status and knowledge. Some of them have sat at the feet of the master teachers and players and picked their brains. The fact that you probably don’t understand their pearls of wisdom may have prompted you to supposedly “take the piss out” of them but the only thing that you have succeeded is in proving what a wanker you are.

idgolfguy: it was our mate Tai yet again. He seems to equate his playing ability with an ability to communicate well with people.

I find it funny that he thinks he is gods gift to us.
Yet he tends to torment people online, only to make himself feel better.

I’m not sure if he was the fat kid at school, or the goon that sat there lighting fires in cans thinking he was the popular kid.

Maybe this could be a new thread – What was Tai at school?

I’m somehow seeing Nelson Muntz cross Ralph Wiggum.

idgolfguy: it was our mate Tai yet again. He seems to equate his playing ability with an ability to communicate well with people.

Should have known – and i wasted my time on him. What a clown!

Yep – you wasted your time and he was fed. They suffer if ignored.

Old Dobbsy,
What a likeable chap, I’d love to see old dobbsy take on dart out on the coarse, I know who’d I lay my money on.
Only one rule when teeing off you must use driver off the deck.
Not only is Dart a great coach but an awesome player as well.
Guru have you seen darty hit a driver off the deck, the young chap can crank it, amazing

Don’t feed the Dobbsy. He will be back no doubt as another name when he wants to throw a stone through the school window.

And yes I have.