12 to 10, 10 to 6, and I’ve stayed at a 6 this season.
I took a long break from playing and came back casually; my first handicap was +0.3, lol. I don’t play as much anymore; it’s now 0.0, but it should probably be around 2.
I’ve been stuck around 9-11 for about 20 years now.
I’ve dropped around 9.5 strokes since moving to Florida 7 years ago. I practice less but play more frequently.
I started at 24.2 in March and I’m currently at 19.8. I’ve ‘played’ for 50 years but not really, as work, kids, and home ownership kept me from practicing enough to improve. I retired 18 months ago and play almost every week, sometimes twice a week, so I’m finally seeing progress. The downside is, I’m about to turn 69 in 2 weeks, and I’m losing distance with every club these days.
9 8 9 10 9.
Hmm…
2004 I was a 10.
Then I stayed between a 13-15 handicap for years.
2022 I hurt my back and went up to an 18.
2024 I’m back to 11.7.
I worked my way down to about a 6 in 2022. I took lessons to add 30 yards to my drives, which got me to a 2. I rocketed up to the mid to high 80s while I committed to major swing changes. I quit the lessons and started tweaking my approach. Now I’m back to where I was but with added distance. The pro was great but a bit stubborn. Most of what he taught worked, but he suggested something I couldn’t pull off. I spent months trying to make it work, and once I gave up on that one thing, everything fell into place.
I’ve hovered around 7.5 for a few years, but I mainly play and rarely practice, except for putting before rounds. My back isn’t great, so I save my swings for the course. I know I could improve with more dedication.
2022: First time joining a club and playing regularly. I’ve been a casual player and a former baseball player. The course I joined is tight with many white stakes that can ruin a good score quickly. I started at 19 and dropped to 16.8.
2023: I got tired of hitting a banana slice and started hooking the ball until I developed a draw. I went from 16.8 to 12.3.
2024: I’m now playing once a week because of work, and I’m down to a 10.8.
In golf or in life?
Jai said:
In golf or in life?
I was probably over 30 for many years before starting to really play and learn course strategy.
I got down to around 12 in 2020 when I played 75+ rounds.
That spiked up to over 20 in 2022 and 2023 when I played less frequently.
Now I’m back to around 14. I’d love to get to single digits someday, just to say I did. But that will take a lot of time and money, neither of which I really have.
2013: 3.2
2014-2020: Did not play
2021: 10?
2022: 8.4
2023: 8.4
Current: 5.5
I started golfing at 14 in 1995.
My index has been as low as 8 and as high as 28.
Currently, I’m at 14. I can only play once a week now. Between 16 and 20, I played every day at the country club and maintained an 8 index for many of those years.
I was a 17 in high school but totally dropped the sport after graduating. Interestingly, all my friends who once thought golf was for old people started playing during COVID.
I’m now shaking off years of rust as I’ve been playing with them, and I’m currently at a 23 handicap.
Unknown to unknown.
I’m probably still over 30 these days. I had one good season a few years ago where I played at least once a week and managed to get down to 22. I wish I had more time to invest, but these days, it’s more of an occasional escape from the daily grind.
I don’t know my actual handicap, so I’ll post scores. I might figure that out next year, but:
- 2022 - 110-120 (score)
- 2023 - started at 105ish, ended in the low 90s (hit 90 on the dot a few times)
- 2024 - stayed in the 90s, mostly mid to low (hit 90 a few times again)
- 2025 goal - get to the 80s.
A big factor in my progress from 2022 to 2023 was that I had nothing else going on. I had just gone through a breakup, moved back home, and golf was my only focus. In 2023, I started grad school, and golf has been mediocre due to not having time to dedicate. In 2025, I plan to go back to focusing on golf after finishing my studies in May.
2020: 14.4
2024: 16.6.
I developed golfer’s elbow in 2020 and I’m still dealing with it. I’m on my eighth doctor and about to have my third procedure. I’m lucky to still play, but it can be painful. The procedure is next week, so tomorrow will be my last round for about 6 months.