Shortest scratch golfer?

TheCityGame · July 11, 2011

Not height, length.

What do you think is the shortest a guy could be off the tee and still be a scratch player?

Or, also, from experience. . .who is the shortest scratch golfer you've ever seen/known?

I know that in the USGA definitions for slope/rating purposes, they say "A male scratch golfer, for rating purposes, can hit tee shots an average of 250 yards and can reach a 470-yard hole in two shots at sea level."

I bet there are scratch golfers who don't hit tee shots an average of 250, though. But, you still need some length. If you're coming into 380 yard par 4's all day from 180, you're just not going to be a scratch. Well, lets say you're unlikely to be scratch.

beaner25 · July 11, 2011

I've only ever played with two scratch golfers before and both were pretty long off the tee. One guy was avg around 270-280 and the other guy was flat out hitting bombs. Not sure on the yardage but most times he was goin in with wedges.

Not sure when short tee shots begin to hurt the scores, but I can imagine going into every green from 200 yds would be very stressful on the short game.

wwjbd24 · July 11, 2011

[quote name='beaner25' timestamp='1310408990' post='3382393']
I've only ever played with two scratch golfers before and both were pretty long off the tee. One guy was avg around 270-280 and the other guy was flat out hitting bombs. Not sure on the yardage but most times he was goin in with wedges.

[b]Not sure when short tee shots begin to hurt the scores, but I can imagine going into every green from 200 yds would be very stressful on the short game.[/b]
[/quote]

story of my life hahah

Swingie · July 11, 2011

Shortest scratchish golfer I know is about 245 off the tee. Hes late forties kinda short and round (5'7 230)but is VERY methodical(not slow) and doesnt get rattled easily with a good if not excellent short game. 10 times a round he wishes he had my lenght and his time to play - he plays 4-5 times a week as hes mande his money....jerk

marky1979 · July 11, 2011

[quote name='Swingie' timestamp='1310410956' post='3382488']
Shortest scratchish golfer I know is about 245 off the tee. Hes late forties kinda short and round (5'7 230)but is VERY methodical(not slow) and doesnt get rattled easily with a good if not excellent short game. 10 times a round he wishes he had my lenght and his time to play - he plays 4-5 times a week as hes mande his money....jerk
[/quote]

there is a guy who plays in our club who i know fairly well. genuine scratch played walker cup in the early 90's prob weights about 20+ stone out of shape and is in his 50's. has won a number of major ameutuer events in the 80's & 90's. he hits it MAX about 240 - 245. hits his 5 wood like 190 or something. he has though an out of this world short game and is laser accurate in terms of accuracy and distance control. from 110 in he will get up in down at least 8-9 times out of 10. plus is a really good putter. he a funny guy very methodical not slow but can be as grumpy as hell....

Yepyukon · July 11, 2011

Corey Pavin and Fred Funk made a career out of being shorter off the tee than 90% of WRXers, let alone the PGA Tour. Personally, I played with a guy who tried to make it on the Champions Tour and he hit the ball about 240-260 off the tee on average but putted lights out.

beaner25 · July 11, 2011

No matter how long a scratch is off the tee, they are usually pretty lights out around the green. The guys I have played with got up and down from pretty much everywhere. I watched with both admiration and rage because they made chipping to tap in range look easy.

Yepyukon · July 11, 2011

[quote name='beaner25' timestamp='1310412008' post='3382544']
No matter how long a scratch is off the tee, they are usually pretty lights out around the green. The guys I have played with got up and down from pretty much everywhere. I watched with both admiration and rage because they made chipping to tap in range look easy.
[/quote]

It does piss you off a bit when you bomb a drive, hit a great second, lip out birdie and tap in par just to watch them be 30 yards behind you, lay up the second, get up and down for three and four and tie you on the hole :russian_roulette:

CowtownTexas · July 11, 2011

I know a guy who's had a series of back injuries and really doesn't play much anymore at all. He used to be a very good player (was professional for a few years) and was plenty long a few years ago. However, now he can't swing hard at all and probably hit's his driver 250 max, maybe shorter. His index is still around a +2. Deadly accurate and his short game is better now than it ever was before as that's the only thing he can practice a great deal without hurting.

mark m · July 11, 2011

A friend of mine at a neighboring course is currently a 0.0 Index. I know he was a +3 just a couple of years ago.

He is 52 yrs old. Hits his drives about 235 and has not hit it further than that for many years. He is great with his hybrids and short game (as you would imagine). Hits a little cut on almost every shot. Very accurate and knows his distances of course.

Typically plays his home course at around 6400 yards and the scores in his record range from 66 to 79. He also has a T score of 75 in his record on a 74.1/143 rated course.

He plays in state tournaments and won the state [u]senior [/u]open when he was 50. Also finished in the top 15 in the State Open a few years ago at a course over 7000 yards. He is typically out-driven by 80-100 yards by the younger guys in the state open and am tournaments and shoots lower scores than they do. He just laughs about it. Says, 'how come you guys can't beat a little fat f'er like me?" It's remarkable.