Good for you, mate!
I managed to get a lot of practice and playing time in over the last 3 years. Here are my handicaps at the end of each year:
2021: 12.5
2022: 4.5
2023: 2.3
2024: 1.1
@Cameron
I have three kids under three years old and I golf way more now than I did before them. I think my wife understands I need the break, lol.
Ember said:
@Cameron
I have three kids under three years old and I golf way more now than I did before them. I think my wife understands I need the break, lol.
Happy for you to get that time off and for your wife to understand!
@Cameron
That’s impressive! It must have taken a lot of work.
Mika said:
@Cameron
That’s impressive! It must have taken a lot of work.
Appreciate it! Yes, it did take a lot of effort. I went from playing 3 to 4 to 5+ times a week.
I went from a 21 to a 15.8 from May 2023 to July 2024. I’ve been stuck there, unable to break through. I feel like I’m just a few mistakes per round away from really lowering my handicap. I’ve been scoring in the mid-80s for several rounds now and almost broke 80 a few times earlier this year.
I also play at different courses and take my clubs when I travel, so I’m not at one home course all the time. I think that impacts my scoring. A new course can really affect your average score.
I’ve hovered between 6-7 since 2010, with a slight dip to 5 for a few weeks back in Q3 2022.
Blaise said:
I’ve hovered between 6-7 since 2010, with a slight dip to 5 for a few weeks back in Q3 2022.
I’m pretty similar overall but slightly lower at times. I usually hover between 4.5-6.0 and have for 6-7 years. Occasionally, I’ll have a few great rounds in a row and drop below 4.5 or go through a rough patch and rise above 6.
I just don’t practice enough or care enough to try to improve much. I usually play 2-4 times a month during the summer, 2 times a month during spring/fall, and maybe once a month during winter. An annual golf trip skews those rounds/month up a bit but that’s generally my standard.
@Thayer
Wow. That’s amazing, considering you don’t play much!
I’ve been playing every Saturday for ages and tend to skip my Wednesday morning gym session 1-2 times a month if I have any upcoming matches/tournaments.
We (10-12 gentlemen) also go on a golf trip once a year. These trips have been some of the best experiences of my life—Turkey in 2022, Thailand last year, and Greece next month.
@Blaise
Those trips sound incredible. I’ve done Bandon Dunes twice, Ireland/Northern Ireland, Streamsong, Scottsdale, and a few others. Sand Valley is on deck for next year, and Scotland for 2026. Golf trips are a blast for sure.
I have two kids aged 4 and 6 at home and travel for work, so I try not to play too much to spend more time with them. They haven’t caught the golf bug yet, but there’s still time.
Funny enough, I usually do the same with the gym. I did go this morning, and I have a match this afternoon along with a small event this weekend. I’m always concerned I’ll be too sore or even get hurt.
I started tracking in April this year via 18birdies, so it’s unofficial. Since then, I’ve played 1-2 rounds a week, and a few weeks even 3 rounds.
April: 25.7 → October: 13.1
Score range: 98 - 82. (I posted my highest and lowest scores within 2 weeks of each other, lol)
@Jessie
Wow, that’s a huge drop in just one year—congrats!
Ember said:
@Jessie
Wow, that’s a huge drop in just one year—congrats!
Thank you! I hope to lower it even more, but it could also go the other way. That drop from April wasn’t linear, haha.
New golfer here; can someone explain what a handicap is?
Avery said:
New golfer here; can someone explain what a handicap is?
It’s a number that reflects how many strokes you typically score above par.
@Vail
Nice! I love seeing that trend. I need to log some more rounds on The Grint.
I started golfing after retiring from pro sports.
First round on May 6, 2020 - 16.5
2021 - 11.2
2022 - 9.1
2023 - 6.3
2024 - 3.9
As a former athlete, I need something to focus on and practice. I practice golf every day in some form for at least an hour. The biggest help has been doing slow-motion swings in the mirror! Just hitting balls isn’t very effective.
@Quill
I never played pro sports but played through college. It’s tough to shake that competitive nature after working at something your whole life.
And I agree. When I go to the range, it’s to work on something. I never go just to hit balls for fun.
I didn’t keep a handicap last year. I broke 90 once but usually scored in the mid-90s to low 100s by the end of the season.
I worked on my game this year, starting in March. After two swing changes, I began tracking my handicap after the first change.
Currently, it’s at 14.8. It’s trending a bit higher, but I’ve been consistent in my scores since the end of summer. I feel a bit burned out on golf at the moment, but I had a blast playing this year. My initial goal was to become an amateur handicap, and it feels satisfying to reach that level. The next step seems daunting, which is why I’m feeling a bit burned out.