If you had 2 choices in your golf ability.. which one would you pick..?

[vegasandre]

You find a genie bottle..
You are currently an average, but passionate -golfer 

The Genie says:  "Forget about that old school 3 wishes crap."

You will get 1 wish and it will be concerning golf only..
and it has only an option A or B.. and no other...
Starting tomorrow you will have the ability to do either of these 2 choices:

 

Choice A- You will be a plus 1 handicap and top in many club events and maybe competitive at times in some local events
You are usually taking your partner's money. 
However, 

 At age 25 your max Drive is -240 

 age 35- 250   

 age 45- 245

 age 55 -240 
 age 65-230
age 75- 210

Choice B-   You will be able to hit it farther than just about anyone in the world in your age group, including most pros.  However, you do not have the time/instruction/discipline needed to reign your game to it's full potential in your current life state ..
you will usually struggle to score low and be consistent-But have high potential "upside" 
your average driver distance:
At age 25- 330
35-330
45-325
55-320
65-300
75-280



choose wisely..
Have fun...

Edited March 15 by vegasandre

[Pnwpingi210]

I’d gladly give up my distance to be a plus 1.

 

my logic.  It’s will take much more time and effort to become and maintain a plus 1 handicap vs hit most the the driving numbers in scenario2 (60 and 70 are a bit absurd)

Edited March 15 by Pnwpingi210

[jvincent]

Well, other than the distance part I'm already living Option B, so I might as well get the length.

 

I assume I'll score better than I do now with the extra length given the same level of effort on practice.

[ChaosTheory]

Every club has one or more of the A group. They are usually uptight. 😉
 

Give me the bombs.  I’ll have fun no matter what I do with the rest of my game.

[Epsilon97]

Definitely Option A. Heck, I don't think I will ever hit those yardages!

[Par4Nate]

I’d choose tennis.

[TheDeanAbides]

I'm contacting the genie high command and asking them to sack this loser. Those are terrible options, genie!

[Roejye]

This is a good one. I'm already close to the distances for player a, but nowhere near a plus 1. However, it would be fun to hit those bombs, although it would take driver out of my hands on most holes at my home course. 

 

I think I'll go with option A, the length would be awesome, but eventually I'd probably get tired of the inconsistency and losing balls.

[BombinJim]

Living option B right now so might as well stay the course

[Shilgy]

What exactly does “ always be usually “ mean and why would I be taking a partners money?

[bladehunter]

The real answer is this. And you won’t like it. If you are averaging 325 and aren’t plus 1 or reasonably near.  You’re slower than slow in the synapse dept.   distance is  king of all. Anybody who has that distance can be +1. if they get out of their own way and honestly try .  
 

plenty think they hit it that far. And don’t. A few can hit it that far but not on this planet.  That’s not a correct average.  .  You have to hit it in bounds to average that.  The ones who really do , figure out how to get it in the hole. Eventually.  

Edited March 15 by bladehunter

[PJE]

22 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

The real answer is this. And you won’t like it. If you are averaging 325 and aren’t plus 1 or reasonably near.  You’re slower than slow in the synapse dept.   distance is  king of all. Anybody who has that distance can be +1. if they get out of their own way and honestly try .  
 

plenty think they hit it that far. And don’t. A few can hit it that far but not on this planet.  That’s not a correct average.  .  You have to hit it in bounds to average that.  The ones who really do , figure out how to get it in the hole. Eventually.  

Truth. 

[vegasandre]

44 minutes ago, Shilgy said:

What exactly does “ always be usually “ mean and why would I be taking a partners money?

It's called :  I never graduated 8th grade. 

I will rephrase it. 

[Pnwpingi210]

23 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

The real answer is this. And you won’t like it. If you are averaging 325 and aren’t plus 1 or reasonably near.  You’re slower than slow in the synapse dept.   distance is  king of all. Anybody who has that distance can be +1. if they get out of their own way and honestly try .  
 

plenty think they hit it that far. And don’t. A few can hit it that far but not on this planet.  That’s not a correct average.  .  You have to hit it in bounds to average that.  The ones who really do , figure out how to get it in the hole. Eventually.  

My “average” driver on course per arrcos  fluctuated between 289 - 296.  My average off the tee (all par 4 and 5 tee shots) is 255 - 263 over the same period.  About 30ish rounds per year.

 

never been a scratch or plus.  Putting has been the thorn in my side.  I frequently give up about 6-7 stokes to a scratch in the green.   Mostly pace problems.

[Par4Nate]

25 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

The real answer is this. And you won’t like it. If you are averaging 325 and aren’t plus 1 or reasonably near.  You’re slower than slow in the synapse dept.   distance is  king of all. Anybody who has that distance can be +1. if they get out of their own way and honestly try .  

 

I could not disagree more.  I’ve seen many gorilla build dudes who could absolutely destroy a golf ball, but who had almost zero athletic skill and no ability to execute on anything else in the game of golf.  Distance off the tee, while a huge benefit to a good player, is no indicator whatsoever of whether said person could or should be able to get to scratch.  In fact, in my experience, it’s the opposite.  The best all around amateurs I know are nowhere near the longest guys on the golf course.

[Shilgy]

2 minutes ago, Par4Nate said:

 

I could not disagree more.  I’ve seen many gorilla build dudes who could absolutely destroy a golf ball, but who had almost zero athletic skill and no ability to execute on anything else in the game of golf.  Distance off the tee, while a huge benefit to a good player, is no indicator whatsoever of whether said person could or should be able to get to scratch.  In fact, in my experience, it’s the opposite.  The best all around amateurs I know are nowhere near the longest guys on the golf course.

I agree the best are usually not near the longest….

That said….if a guy could truly average 300 something off the tee he needs to be able to regularly hit the middle of the clubface.  If he can do that he can do the other parts of the game well enough to be +1. Especially if, as @bladehunter mentioned, he gets out of his own way and honestly tries.

[vegasandre]

2 hours ago, ChaosTheory said:

Every club has one or more of the A group. They are usually uptight. 😉
 

Give me the bombs.  I’ll have fun no matter what I do with the rest of my game.

Chicks dig the long ball. 
 

30 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

The real answer is this. And you won’t like it. If you are averaging 325 and aren’t plus 1 or reasonably near.  You’re slower than slow in the synapse dept.   distance is  king of all. Anybody who has that distance can be +1. if they get out of their own way and honestly try .  
 

plenty think they hit it that far. And don’t. A few can hit it that far but not on this planet.  That’s not a correct average.  .  You have to hit it in bounds to average that.  The ones who really do , figure out how to get it in the hole. Eventually.  

I did have to google "Synapse" .. 
 

noun

 

1. a junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a minute gap across which impulses pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter.

The hypothetical question needs to be rephrased up top. I will do it now.
The Starting Point for the question is  "An average golfer with average ability and a few years of golf under their belt is given two choices" - which would you take?
 

[bladehunter]

44 minutes ago, Par4Nate said:

 

I could not disagree more.  I’ve seen many gorilla build dudes who could absolutely destroy a golf ball, but who had almost zero athletic skill and no ability to execute on anything else in the game of golf.  Distance off the tee, while a huge benefit to a good player, is no indicator whatsoever of whether said person could or should be able to get to scratch.  In fact, in my experience, it’s the opposite.  The best all around amateurs I know are nowhere near the longest guys on the golf course.

Are we talking sim gorillas 🦍 or on a course , in bounds. The sim type aren’t real.  That’s just ballspeed.  I’m talking the unicorn “ averaging 325” guy.  To average that you have to be hiring it in play. Buster doesn’t count in the average.  .  If buster ( 2nd ball off tee) counts. Then we count the first ball as a 0 in the average.  Either way. That guy doesn’t exist .  ( the one who can average that but not hit a wedge ). 

[bladehunter]

40 minutes ago, vegasandre said:

Chicks dig the long ball. 
 

I did have to google "Synapse" .. 
 

noun

 

1. a junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a minute gap across which impulses pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter.

The hypothetical question needs to be rephrased up top. I will do it now.
The Starting Point for the question is  "An average golfer with average ability and a few years of golf under their belt is given two choices" - which would you take?
 

I’m taking B.  And I’d be + 4 to +6 in 3-4 seasons time.  Or less. 
 

I don’t think people realize how far 325 average is.  275 average is longer than 99 % of male golfers on earth.  

Edited March 15 by bladehunter

[Nels55]

40 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

Are we talking sim gorillas 🦍 or on a course , in bounds. The sim type aren’t real.  That’s just ballspeed.  I’m talking the unicorn “ averaging 325” guy.  To average that you have to be hiring it in play. Buster doesn’t count in the average.  .  If buster ( 2nd ball off tee) counts. Then we count the first ball as a 0 in the average.  Either way. That guy doesn’t exist .  ( the one who can average that but not hit a wedge ). 

Does 325 at a 45 degree angle into the lumber yard still count as 325?

[Par4Nate]

39 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

Are we talking sim gorillas 🦍 or on a course , in bounds. The sim type aren’t real.  That’s just ballspeed.  I’m talking the unicorn “ averaging 325” guy.  To average that you have to be hiring it in play. Buster doesn’t count in the average.  .  If buster ( 2nd ball off tee) counts. Then we count the first ball as a 0 in the average.  Either way. That guy doesn’t exist .  ( the one who can average that but not hit a wedge ). 

 

I’ve never played sim in my life.  I’m talking about big guys who pound the ball long, 300+.  But I’m not keeping track of their rounds, so I can’t do any of that math you’re doing.  I’m just saying that I’ve played with enough big guys who can carry the ball a good 50 yards farther than the typical decent driver of the golf ball, and most of them are average golfers at best.  Few are scratch/+ guys.  Simply being able to drive the ball long is not an indicator of skill level or index in my experience.

 

[Par4Nate]

8 minutes ago, Nels55 said:

Does 325 at a 45 degree angle into the lumber yard still count as 325?

 

Not if the guy’s name is Buster.  At least that’s how I’m interpreting it.

[Nels55]

1 minute ago, Par4Nate said:

 

Not if the guy’s name is Buster.  At least that’s how I’m interpreting it.

It seems to me that we are comparing the guy who can jump out of the gym, has world class speed but bangs his head on the rim trying to dunk and can’t make a layup to save his life to Larry Bird.  Some fast, strong guys simply can't develop the skills to play at a high level.

[BombinJim]

24 minutes ago, Nels55 said:

Does 325 at a 45 degree angle into the lumber yard still count as 325?

That’s how I count my average ha

[CTG77]

17 hours ago, BombinJim said:

Living option B right now so might as well stay the course

Yeah, not far off that 55 age number at 51 1/2, so I'll definitely take the +1 because nothing is more frustrating than the golf I played today. Played the senior men's tees used in the club championship because I realized last year that always playing from the tips with my kid was terrible prep for the shot differences from much shorter distance. I was mad after 2 bad holes in a row and piped a drive 303, leaving me 43 into the green...and I put the ball straight into the wind and mishit enough that I ended up short in a bunker. Needless to say, that went from a shot at birdie to a bogey on the hole.

Edited March 16 by CTG77

[Nels55]

To answer the question I'll take the plus one.

[biker74]

Distance.Most courses we play with our traveling senior couples groups are usually pretty forgiving.Hitting 300 plus with the seniors would really be impressive.even if I miss a few I’m sure I can find a way to get it on or around the green all day long 

[Jayjay_theweim_guy]

1 hour ago, CTG77 said:

...I was made after 2 bad holes in a row and piped a drive 303, leaving me 43 into the green...and I put the ball straight into the wind and mishit enough that I ended up short in a bunker. Needless to say, that went from a shot at birdie to a bogey on the hole.

I've done similar, and I'd almost rather have my case of the tops again, than miss the entire @*#>$>÷ green (and bunkers!) from ~40 yds away.  With a shot I practice routinely.  Though you'd not know it, after that shot.

 

My vote is Door #2, all day.  You can't teach that kind of speed, and---40 yd shank story notwithstanding---the rest of the game besides that skill is not that difficult to achieve competency in.  For cryin' out loud, just do Monte's left arm parallel and no more on everything shorter than a 7-iron, and aim for the center of the green.  You'd almost have to try to not get a GIR.

[Pnwpingi210]

I think you all are missing the point of #2.  You have speed and can hit it far.   You don’t score low because of other things in your game and it doesn’t improve.

 

i see a lot of folks taking scenario 2 and then saying “oh I will just work on other things and then get better”. 
 

thats like picking #1 and saying “oh I will just speed train to get my drives up to 300”

 

 

 

Edited March 16 by Pnwpingi210

[ChrisSP]

There's not much as a golfer that's more enjoyable than being a fairly average distance guy and just beating the brakes off of a bomber. They typically take it so poorly. LOL! Never gets old.