My handicap is currently sitting at 14 and I've been hovering right around there this whole year. I've decided that between now and my birthday in mid May, I'm going to cut my number in half and get down under a 7. I'm posting all this tldr nonsense because I feel like putting some accountability on myself and sharing my journey if anyone else is bored and wants to follow along.
So here's a little bit of my boring backstory progress up to this point as a frame of reference. 2020 I found competitive golf and started off as a 24.9 handicap in the tournament series I was playing. I got down to a 20.1 at the end of 2021 and this is when I found THP so I started trying to learn even more. I got picked for the Morgan Cup in early 2022 and was about an 18 at the time. I practiced as much as I could so I wouldn't embarrass myself or let down my teammates in October and got down to a 16 by the event. By the end of the year I was about a 15. This year my practice time has pretty much disappeared. I still play a lot of rounds, but I've been changing shafts, drivers, long irons, and not really focusing on improving. I'm sick of seeing my GHIN go down a little then right back up. I'm going to take it down significantly and for good!
So how am I going to attack this lofty goal of getting to under 7 in just over 6 months? Well I have a practice schedule that I've put together. Lucky for me, things are falling into place where I can dedicate at least 1 hour per day to practice probably 5 days a week. I can also get out and play once a week at least 9 but likely 18 holes. My home course has a very nice practice area with a huge putting green, chipping green, pitch shot area, practice bunkers, targets on the range from 30-60 yards, greens from 70-250. Here's my initial plan that I'm going to follow:
Day 1: Driving Range
I'll be posting my updates in here as I go along if anyone wants to follow with me. If not, I'll just keep talking to myself and I'm ok with that
So here's a little bit of my boring backstory progress up to this point as a frame of reference. 2020 I found competitive golf and started off as a 24.9 handicap in the tournament series I was playing. I got down to a 20.1 at the end of 2021 and this is when I found THP so I started trying to learn even more. I got picked for the Morgan Cup in early 2022 and was about an 18 at the time. I practiced as much as I could so I wouldn't embarrass myself or let down my teammates in October and got down to a 16 by the event. By the end of the year I was about a 15. This year my practice time has pretty much disappeared. I still play a lot of rounds, but I've been changing shafts, drivers, long irons, and not really focusing on improving. I'm sick of seeing my GHIN go down a little then right back up. I'm going to take it down significantly and for good!
So how am I going to attack this lofty goal of getting to under 7 in just over 6 months? Well I have a practice schedule that I've put together. Lucky for me, things are falling into place where I can dedicate at least 1 hour per day to practice probably 5 days a week. I can also get out and play once a week at least 9 but likely 18 holes. My home course has a very nice practice area with a huge putting green, chipping green, pitch shot area, practice bunkers, targets on the range from 30-60 yards, greens from 70-250. Here's my initial plan that I'm going to follow:
Day 1: Driving Range
- 30 minutes focusing on tempo of full swings with all clubs in the bag.
- 30 minutes of practice hitting target areas on the range to improve accuracy with scoring clubs.
- Chipping Drill: Multiple targets at different distances around a practice green and work on landing chip shots close to each target.
- Pitching Drill: Various situations for pitch shots, like uneven lies, and practice controlling distance and trajectory.
- Bunker Drill: Spend time practicing bunker shots, focusing on getting out of the sand and onto the green. As I improve, focus on doing it with control.
- Distance Control Drill: Place tees or markers at different distances on the practice green and practice putting to each one. Focus on consistent speed and distance control.
- Alignment Drill: Work on putting alignment by using mirror, gate, and chalk line to ensure putter face is square to target line and putts are starting online.
- Reading Greens: Practice reading and visualizing the break of putts on the practice green.
- Focus on course management, shot selection, and thinking about each shot.
- Keep track of your statistics with Shot Scope and review after the round.
- Note the "catastrophic" mistakes and see if it's the same thing costing strokes multiple times per round.
- Chip and Putt Game: Chip to a target and then hole the putt. Challenge yourself with different distances and lies. 9 holes and try to get to score of 18 or better.
- Pitching to Different Targets: Pick various targets around the practice green and practice pitching to each one, focusing on accuracy.
- Bunker Challenge: Various bunker shots including short and long to improve your bunker play.
- Lag Putting Drill: Focus on long-distance putts, working on getting the ball close to the hole without three-putting.
- Circle Drill: 5 balls around the hole at 3 feet. Make all 5 without missing then move back to 4 feet. Make all 5 then move back to 5 feet.
- Big Breaking Putts: Work on putts with significant breaks, practicing the line and speed needed to hole them.
I'll be posting my updates in here as I go along if anyone wants to follow with me. If not, I'll just keep talking to myself and I'm ok with that
