So I wanted to get down to a 6 handicap this season. Always felt stuck around 12-15 before. Figured I’d better try something new instead of just whacking balls at the range like always.
Starting Point
Grabbed my shoddy scoring book from last month. Every round looked same – blowup holes killing my score. Those damn triples and quads showing up 3-4 times per round. Looked closer and saw:
- Missed 7-footers for par… like always
- Pitched over greens from 30 yards out
- Driver sailing into woods when nervous
The Fix Plan
Went full psycho on three things only:
- Hit 100 putts daily from inside 8 feet
- Spend entire range sessions on half-wedge shots
- Leave driver in trunk unless wide fairway
Found an old 3-wood at Goodwill that I couldn’t hook even if I tried. Became my new best friend.
Grinding Phase
First two weeks sucked bad. Played conservative and still made doubles. Got bored hitting 60-yard shots over and over. Almost quit when I three-putted from 10 feet twice in one round.
Started setting up stupid games at practice:
“Make 20 straight 4-footers before leaving”… took me 90 minutes one evening. Almost cried at the 18th attempt.
“Land 9/10 wedges in a hula hoop”… neighbors probably thought I lost my mind.
Breakthrough Round
Last Thursday was magic. Holed two 15-footers for par on the front. Stuck a 55-yarder to gimme range on 11. That rusty 3-wood? Split every fairway somehow.
Final hole needed bogey to shoot 79. Chunked my approach. Pitched on to 25 feet. Sank the putt like it was nothing. Card showed 79 – first time breaking 80.
Checked my GHIN app later – 6.3 handicap. That score alone dropped me 1.5 strokes. Felt like winning the lottery.
Quick Takeaways
- Stop ignoring short putts
- Know your safe club off tee
- Practice scoring shots not range rockets
Took four months of this boring crap. Worth every damn minute.
