Once-a-week golfers, how do you keep your game up?

[MelloYello]

Lately I’ve been playing 2-3 times per weekend. Last week I got an obscene 67 holes in with ~50 of those being with friends. But normally I’m good to get 18 in with my normal group. Anything beyond that is on me.

 

Putting

 

I always hit putts at home after work on my living room carpet. You have to be careful because this can really screw up your feel for speed, but it can help if you’re careful. I focus less on how far the ball is traveling and more on things like stroke, grip pressure and alignment. I hit a lot of short putts trying to engrain the feel of how to tap the short ones in. When I do happen to go to the course after work during the week for some actual practice, I always try and hit the putting green before leaving.

 

Chipping

 

I always chip the ball around the living room once I’m home from work. I knew this little activity was both addictive and helpful having done it a ton in college. I made a point of thinking about having space for this when I bought my house. If you have a family you probably can’t do this but I don’t, so I can. I usually don’t have to practice my short game much when at the course. I focus more on distance wedges. :)

 

Full Swing

 

I usually hit up the range once or twice during the week. I always try and hit a variety of clubs from smooth wedges to all out fairways and drivers. When I don’t go to the range, I still grip my clubs and make swings at home working on proper positions and how to feel what I want to do once I’m at the course.

 

Playing

 

I try and play 9-holes after work at least once if not twice or more during the week. Sometimes it requires deciding whether to go hit balls or just play. I try to keep it 50/50.

 

[Nard_S]

I can get in up to to 6 hours a week of practice but can only get out once a week. Split it evenly, irons, metals and short game. Of those split them in play mode and technique/improvement mode. Work on weakness, but leave time to just keep it uncomfortable and execute shots. Make an effort to make practice real work and a round real "play". Keep it fun on the course, get something done off of it. If time is tight, tee clubs, wedge and putter get priority.

[Cpr3584]

After you hit once-a-week golfing due to family obligations, work and kids, its all downhill. At least for me. I was a legit 3 hcp after college. I played high school golf and several tournaments. Once I got a full time job my hcp was 5. After my kids were born its up to 7. Unless you are playing 5-6 days a week you cannot keep your swing in a groove. For tour players the swing isn't even a thought because it has been grooved. I experienced a grooved swing in high school/college and you go to the course every day thinking you can break par. Playing golf once a week, some days your arms feel like rubber and some days you cant even remember what a good swing feels like. Sorry to be all doom and gloom but this is my experience. Once my small kids get older im going to try to practice with them every night, and hopefully my game will come back around. good luck!

[msg]

> @Cpr3584 said:

> After you hit once-a-week golfing due to family obligations, work and kids, its all downhill. At least for me. I was a legit 3 hcp after college. I played high school golf and several tournaments. Once I got a full time job my hcp was 5. After my kids were born its up to 7. Unless you are playing 5-6 days a week you cannot keep your swing in a groove. For tour players the swing isn't even a thought because it has been grooved. I experienced a grooved swing in high school/college and you go to the course every day thinking you can break par. Playing golf once a week, some days your arms feel like rubber and some days you cant even remember what a good swing feels like. Sorry to be all doom and gloom but this is my experience. Once my small kids get older im going to try to practice with them every night, and hopefully my game will come back around. good luck!

 

Crap. This sucks. :s

Maybe range sessions would help? Like three session at an indoor range with a launch monitor?

I know there is no substitute for playing. Last year when I played a lot, I shot the best score of my life in a tournament set up and I am afraid that this year, I need to lower my expectations.

[Nard_S]

I've talked with a lot of seasoned guys and if you don't play 2-3 times a week, breaking 80 on a regular basis, being sub 5 is not happening. Once a week scratch golf is fantasy land for the most part. So I live to practice and play to play, don't really care about cap, not at this point in life. when I semi-retire, yeah, cap & tournaments will be priority one. Till then enjoy the journey.

[The Real Pacman]

What has made the biggest difference in my game is taking lessons regularly (1 every 2 or 3 weeks) and setting up a hit net/mat combo on my back porch. If you have the room and the resources, I highly recommend this setup for the house. It's nice to be able to focus on swing, positions, and just making good contact without worrying where the ball is going. I think on the range we get caught up too much on where the ball is going and what it's doing. Good balance of range time, home practice/net, and regularly scheduled lessons has been a winning combo for me.

[27x10.5]

I fortunately get to play 2-3x/week, but I do observe the guy that gets the one round per week and I’d say attitude or frustration half way through the round is their biggest killer. The people I’m thinking of always leave frustrated and you wonder if they are even going to finish the round. I’d say with limited/no practice just believing you can hit good shots and staying positive will yield the best results...honestly what else can you do.

[juststeve]

I get 50-60 rounds in per year, which is about once a week.

 

1. I haven't Made a change in how I try to swing the club in 50 years. Therefore I don't spend time trying to find something that works.

 

2. Seldom does a day go by when I don't have a club in my hands for at least a bit. Might be just gripping and feeling the club while I sit and watch TV. Might be making some swings without a ball, just to stay loose and find balance.

 

3. My house backs up to a club where I am a member so its easy for me to go out and stroke a few putts or hit a few chips. Even 10 minutes a few times a week helps me maintain the feel of putting the club on the ball.

 

4 . I visualize hitting shots even when I can't get to the club.

 

Steve

[Toolish]

> @msg said:

> Sorry for reviving this thread. But it seems like I will be taking the route of playing once a week this year due to changes in my life. I am wondering if any of low handicappers here or single handicappers ever maintained or even improved playing once a week max? I am just wanting to get some updated responses here, experiences and tips?

>

> I'll be happy if I stay at 9 or if I get it lower, playing once a week, that will be a bonus.

>

> I have a practice area at home where I can hit any club up to the driver and I am thinking of practicing on weekdays and playing on the weekends. I am just not sure if this will work for me. Since I started golfing again 6 years ago, my minimum games was at least 2 a week. Last year we got a membership and played at least 3 x a week.

>

> I am excited to see how this ends up this summer. I was offered a great membership deal but I turned it down because I want to play all over and see if once a week will be any good.

 

I play off 2 and generally play once a week. Occasionally Saturday and Sunday but that is rare. 41 Rounds in the last 12 months.

 

95% of my practice is at home. I have a net in the shed that I hit into sometimes just to swing a club but I generally have something in my swing I am working on. The net has a mirror that I can set up wherever and I record my swing a lot. Looking at s Skytrak to hopefully enhance this.

 

Once every couple of weeks I go to the range, normally while my kids are in junior clinic there.

 

I have just bought a putt-out matt that I try to use at least every second day.

 

The main issue I have is shot game shots, chipping, pitching, bunkers, I find them hard to practice at home and the range I go to does not have a short game area. It is the weakness of my game so I really need to find a way to either practise at home effectively or get to the course.

[Munich77]

I do drills at home - with my longword week it is hard to find time to go to the range.

[b.mattay]

When I start playing more infrequently during the fall, I find that I like to start my warmup by hitting “goofy” shots (eg. chip slices/near duck hooks/7 iron flops). I find that this:

A.) Puts me in a “fun” mind frame

B.) Makes it easier to find the “middle window” in terms of my swing.

[GolfChannel]

Having a backyard setup to practice almost daily.

[RecreationalHacker]

I don’t. Too busy with work and family to play as much golf as I’d like. It’s more about managing expectations. I have to accept that I’m not going to make major improvements to my game and play to primarily to relax and make a few nice shots each round.

[msg]

> @Toolish said:

> > @msg said:

> > Sorry for reviving this thread. But it seems like I will be taking the route of playing once a week this year due to changes in my life. I am wondering if any of low handicappers here or single handicappers ever maintained or even improved playing once a week max? I am just wanting to get some updated responses here, experiences and tips?

> >

> > I'll be happy if I stay at 9 or if I get it lower, playing once a week, that will be a bonus.

> >

> > I have a practice area at home where I can hit any club up to the driver and I am thinking of practicing on weekdays and playing on the weekends. I am just not sure if this will work for me. Since I started golfing again 6 years ago, my minimum games was at least 2 a week. Last year we got a membership and played at least 3 x a week.

> >

> > I am excited to see how this ends up this summer. I was offered a great membership deal but I turned it down because I want to play all over and see if once a week will be any good.

>

> I play off 2 and generally play once a week. Occasionally Saturday and Sunday but that is rare. 41 Rounds in the last 12 months.

>

> 95% of my practice is at home. I have a net in the shed that I hit into sometimes just to swing a club but I generally have something in my swing I am working on. The net has a mirror that I can set up wherever and I record my swing a lot. Looking at s Skytrak to hopefully enhance this.

>

> Once every couple of weeks I go to the range, normally while my kids are in junior clinic there.

>

> I have just bought a putt-out matt that I try to use at least every second day.

>

> The main issue I have is shot game shots, chipping, pitching, bunkers, I find them hard to practice at home and the range I go to does not have a short game area. It is the weakness of my game so I really need to find a way to either practise at home effectively or get to the course.

 

Well, this is encouraging that you are able to stay at 2 playing once a week.

 

I have a Sky Trak and it has helped me a lot. I usually practice my driver and wedges. I also have a carpet that rolls like our greens, not too fast not too slow and it has a line so it helps a lot with my stroke.

 

I feel that with limited games this year, I won't take any shot or any game for granted and I will do my best each time. It might be a good thing or not. We shall see how this season ends up for me.

[FAbb]

I'm around a 2-3, up from an all time low of +1 about 10 years ago. It's a combination of doing what I can at home, and managing my expectations, for me. I play maybe once a week, and get to a practice green probably 1-2x/month. I basically never go to the range.

 

I think you've got to have a putting mat at home. It's no substitute for putting on real greens outdoors, but it's a heck of a lot better than nothing. Just being able to keep the feeling of holding a putter in your hands, and building confidence in short putts is helpful.

 

I do have a net and mat at home as well. I don't really use it to work on my swing so much as use it as a way to swing the clubs if I'm going longer than usual between rounds.

 

Beyond that, it's managing my expectations. With where I am in life right now, I'm not willing to commit more time to golf. I understand that means I'll be up and down, and that at least for now, I won't be as good as I can be/once was. Some days, I have it. Since days, I don't. Generally, I'm just not sharp. More often than not, I feel like I'm walking away having gotten the very least out of my round possible. That can't keep me from finding joy in playing the game.

[MountainGoat]

Once a week? Heck, I play once a day, and I still can’t keep my game up.

[PowderedToastMan]

The idea that you can’t play good golf practicing once a week is false and there are countless examples of players who used to play high level golf and still go low when they get a chance to play. That’s the caveat though, is that you need to put in the time in the first place. Once you get in the phase of maintenance, you can get away with less practice.

 

I was injured last year and played 4 rounds of golf, all under par (granted, not competitive rounds). I’ve also got 3 young kids at home and work. I know my swing, I know what shapes I can rely on, and I know how to score when my game is off. This is the case for most club pros who used to be excellent sticks and now work 60+ hours per week.

 

I believe every player on tour could hang up their clubs for an entire year, roll out of bed, and shoot 65 or lower. If you can groove a consistent swing, learn ball-first contact, and groove a consistent shape, you don’t need to practice all the time to play good golf.

[airjammer]

> @PowderedToastMan said:

> The idea that you can’t play good golf practicing once a week is false and there are countless examples of players who used to play high level golf and still go low when they get a chance to play. That’s the caveat though, is that you need to put in the time in the first place. Once you get in the phase of maintenance, you can get away with less practice.

>

> I was injured last year and played 4 rounds of golf, all under par (granted, not competitive rounds). I’ve also got 3 young kids at home and work. I know my swing, I know what shapes I can rely on, and I know how to score when my game is off. This is the case for most club pros who used to be excellent sticks and now work 60+ hours per week.

>

> I believe every player on tour could hang up their clubs for an entire year, roll out of bed, and shoot 65 or lower. If you can groove a consistent swing, learn ball-first contact, and groove a consistent shape, you don’t need to practice all the time to play good golf.

 

Those are the very very small minority and not really who this thread is pertaining to. That being said, you are absolutely correct about putting in the work before becoming a once a week golfer. From once scratch to now once a week golfer the consistency is what changes. Most of my rounds are bsing causual rounds that I don’t care what I shoot. When actually playing for something I can still shoot under par for 9 holes could be front middle or last...the other 9 is where I really see the difference. Used to be even or maybe 4 over on the other 9 holes now I could be 10 over.

 

My advice for anyone thinking about becoming a parent or starting something that is going to drastically reduce your time on the course is get as good as you can well before that time comes.

 

 

[Cwing]

I typically work 60-hours a week. My total drive time is 45-minutes each way so that takes it to 67.5-hours. Obviously, this hinders my time to play/practice. I’m almost 53 and my youngest is 24 so having young kids isn’t an issue except when grad kids come over.

 

I will make it to the range every now and then but right now I am mosting taking practice swings with the Power Package and watching Montes “Use the Bounce videos” and I play with my oldest in a once a week simulator league during the winter months.

 

Thus far, I’ve got three rounds in 2019. Scores of 80 back in Jan. 94 a few weeks ago and 96 yesterday. I typically dont play well this this time of year and this one is no exception especially given the Power Package is changing my swing. As a result, I had a stretch of 6 holes yesterday and 5 holes my previous round in which I was stuck between my old swing feels and my new swing (Power Package) feels. Also, my chipping is currently horrendous.

 

I believe some very good things are happening with the Power Package. From the get go, I never had any issues hitting the cups in the backswing. That stated, getting in the cups in the follow through Is changing my entire downswing and I can feel what my hands need to do during the swing to get me there. Despite limited use, I am hitting some of the highest, longest shots I had ever hit. I believe more time with this thing is going to drastic improve my swing but I’ll have to get the short game going as well.

[BuzzCat]

I'm a 3hdcp with small kids. During the summer I play 9 holes a week in a work league. I probably hit range balls once a week after work and get to the putting green once a week during lunch. I posted 18 scores in 2018, most of them 9 hole combinations.

 

I have gotten back into amateur tournaments which has done a lot to improve the focus of my practice. So 6 of my 18 rounds were competitive.

 

My wife is awesome and doesn't mind me going out to hit balls occasionally, but playing 18 on a Saturday and being gone half the day is just not realistic.

[Justsomeguy]

It's often a crapshoot. I get to play just less than 1x/wk now. Practice is rare, bc if I have time, I'd much prefer to play even 9.

Zero range time, occasional 15m putting green time, occasional 30m chips and pitches.

Swing speed has suffered a lot. Driver is straight but rarely inspiring. Approach usually short. Short game determines score.

But I don't care about the score as much now, bc it's such a treat to get out, drink a coke, breathe good air.

Trying to relax and disconnect might be harder than feeling the swing.

[aiyyer]

Playing once a week if you started golf young is hard but probably manageable.

Playing golf once a week if you started golf later in life sucks. Remember reading a book called the Talent Code that obviously addresses the need for sheer repetition (and other things) to improve.

 

[msg]

Well, after a long winter, I was able to play finally last week. The indoor practice at home helped. But one thing I realized, I need to practice my putting in real greens and chipping at least, to have a chance at staying at 9 or getting lower than 9. I was so rusty with the short game even if I have been practicing my wedges indoors all winter long. There is no substitute for being outdoors.

 

My full swing was surprisingly not that bad after 6 months on indoor golf. Let's see what happens this weekend.

 

I shot 11 over at a short executive course with some par 4's. All my bad holes were due to bad putting and chip shots. We shall see what happens in the next few weeks.

[Kratus977]

I have a 3 year old now. Prior to him, both my wife and I played/practiced golf all the time. Now, I get maybe in 9 holes twice a month and 18 once a month. However, my handicap has actually gone down a smidge since my son was born. Here's how I managed keep my golf game intact.

- I go to the range every Sunday at 7am until 9am (I live 5 minutes from my club), so I'm home basically when my son is eating breakfast. I practice putting and short game for 45. Hit full shots for 45 mins - wedge, short iron, hybrid, then 3w or driver. Each shot just like I'd hit it on the course. Then practice hitting 1/2 shots, 3/4 shots, and fades - more for getting out of trouble shots.

- One of biggest things that's helped is that I've settled on one shot shape, a medium height baby draw. I used to "think" I had four shots to play at any time... The last time I played (purposefully) a fade on a straight forward shot was the day my son was born.

- I putt at my house whenever I can, and practice my swing as much as I can.

- What has helped me is that I now feel that I know my swing inside and out, and can make adjustments on the course so much easier/faster.

- Lastly, I think that now when I practice, it's more purposeful and planned out. I know I have limited time, so I try to make the most of it.

[msg]

Here I am again after two season lol. 

 

I ended up 2019 playing once a week at 9 handicap. Last year I got a membership and played a lot and I was expecting to be a low single handicapper. I got as low as a 6 but I could not sustain it and ended the year at 8. 

 

This year 2021, no more membership. And it might get worse. Not only playing once a week is in danger but I may be looking at playing once every two weeks. I changed my driver to a G400 MAX and it is the most forgiving and easy driver I have ever hit. That helps a lot because I don't need to practice it as much anymore, unlike before. 

 

Anyway, this year I have played 4 games so far from March to present. My first game after 6 months sucked so bad I shot 20 over par haha. Then the next 3 games were way better. 10 over, 8 over and last week was 6 over par. 

I think what helped me get these scores was my renewed focus on my wedge game from 100 yards and in. last winter I have been practicing them a lot of Sky Trak. And when the courses opened up, I made sure to devote the bulk of my practice, dialing my wedges. 

 

My last game I warmed up with a bucket of golf balls indoor. About 80 golf balls I just used the random function of my Sky Trak from 100 yards to 10 yards and hit about 65 golf balls. The other 15 I used for my driver and 8 iron and hybrid. It worked because I scrambled 60% on my last game. LOL

 

I guess the game plan for this 2021 is to practice as much as I can indoors with the Sky Trak, especially the wedges and see what happens if I play once a week or once every two weeks. Let's see if I can stay at 8 or 9 handicap or go even lower. 

 

I also feel that I "value" each game and each shot more now more than ever. Because I know that I have limited playing time. Instead of making this work against me, it may just be the motivation I need to really get better. 

[SwingBlues]

Interesting topic. I practice once a week, typically Friday afternoon. Then I get a good warm up & play once on the weekend. Unfortunately I wish I could practice more but not right now with COVID, work from home etc

 

so here is my strategy:

1. Get super forgiving equipment. Your score does not care if you play blades or GI, TSi1 or TSi4... you punish yourself on the misses. Put aside the ego & find clubs that let’s you miss LESS and be more consistent 

2. find a consistent swing with less variability. Mine is Moe Norman / Todd Graves one plane

 

3. work on 140 and in. Especially focus on 30 and in. Focus on technique, not result

 

4. Rarely practice putting, it’s my best game & I have the most stable & accurate putter. Like I said, see 1.

 

5. Give yourself feedback after every round, plan on fixing #1 feedback issue next session, or preferably after the round so it does not linger in your Golf mind for the week.

 

Well, that’s what I do. Hope this helps

 

 

[forrester_fire]

Doing little things like swinging a club without a ball for 5 or 10 minutes a day in your backyard if you can't get to the range/short game area for practice.

[NoTalentLefty]

Poorly

[getitdaily]

I typically either play or practice once a week. Every now and then I can get out to hit balls on Sunday afternoons. But usually it's this.

 

practice - up at 6am, chipping and pitching at first light for about an hour. Then about 20 minutes of bunker work. Head home. Go to son's soccer game. Come home. Feed my boys lunch. Head back to range at 12 wwith my 7yr old while my 3yr old (and my wife) naps. Hot balls and putt. Home by 3.

 

Tournament season right now so I'm usually a week on and week off. My off week is when I hit balls. When tournament season is over then I usually take theb7yr old with me to play and we'll tee off around 1030 so we're gone through nap time and home a bit after nap time is over. 

 

I'm lucky in that my wife loves her alone time. She gives me zero grief about playing. I also give her the visa gift cards I win in tournament play. 

[msg]

On 6/2/2015 at 10:54 PM, pmcuk said:

As title - if you play around once a week, how do you keep your game up?

 

How much time on range, how much short course, how much putting?

 

How many lessons? In person lessons, or video lessons?

 

What's the most constructive use of your time?

 

 

I think the wedge practice is doing wonders for me and my swing. I focus on tempo and making a solid swing and contact each time. This is by far the best start of my season in the last 8 years. I have only visited the range 2x since March when they opened up here. 

 

But other than the practice, I think the things I have learned in the off season helped me a lot this year. Things like the ones Monte posted about not trying to nuke my wedges and hit quarter swings or over club. 

 

Things like I am not joining the PGA any time soon and it's ok to make mistakes and that bogeys are fine and it's the doubles and triples that derails my rounds. It's so nice to be able to smile after a bogey. lol 

Edited April 28, 2021 by msg