How Long Does It Take to Become Decent at Golf? The Honest Truth

Understanding What "Decent" Means in Golf

Honestly, when I first picked up a golf club, I was overwhelmed. I mean, the sport seems so simple—hit the ball into the hole, right? But then you get out on the course, and it's a whole different story. So, when people ask, "How long does it take to become decent at golf?" it’s not a simple yes or no answer. It really depends on what you define as "decent."

For me, "decent" means you can hit the ball consistently, enjoy the game, and avoid embarrassing yourself too much. But let’s be real—every golfer has their own version of decent. You might just want to break 100, or maybe you're hoping to eventually play like a pro. But no matter your goal, the journey takes time. Let’s dive into it.

The Basics: How Long Does It Take to Learn the Basics?

Getting Started

When I first started, it was a mess. I spent hours at the driving range, watching YouTube videos, and practicing my swing. But here’s the thing—golf isn’t like tennis or basketball where you can feel the improvement almost immediately. In golf, you have to master the basics, like grip, stance, and swing mechanics. If you're starting from scratch, you can expect to spend at least three to six months just getting these down. And that’s if you’re practicing consistently.

A buddy of mine, who’s been playing for a year, told me it took him about six months to stop hitting the ball like a 10-year-old learning how to play. He said the key was consistency—going to the range multiple times a week and getting lessons. So yeah, if you can commit to practicing at least two or three times a week, six months is probably a good starting point.

The Importance of Lessons

Actually, I made a huge mistake by not getting lessons sooner. Golf is one of those sports where you’ll develop bad habits quickly, and getting a pro to help you avoid those can make a big difference. I think, personally, I wasted a lot of time on the wrong things just because I wasn’t learning from someone who knew better.

How Much Practice Does It Take to Improve?

Building Your Swing: Patience is Key

Once you get the basics down, you’ll start working on your swing mechanics. Here’s where the real work begins. It’s not just about swinging harder—it’s about finding that sweet spot and making consistent contact. This can take a while. Honestly, after six months of practice, I was still frustrated at how inconsistent I was.

But after a year of weekly practice, I saw real improvement. I wasn’t breaking 90 yet, but I wasn’t embarrassed by my game either. If you’re practicing the right way, you should expect to take at least a year before your swing feels second nature.

Playing Regularly: On-Course Experience

Well, here’s something I didn’t know before I started: practicing off the course is important, but playing regularly is what really helps you improve. The first time you hit the course, it’s a completely different experience than hitting balls on the driving range. You’ve got pressure, the actual greens, the wind, the slopes—it’s a whole other game.

If you’re like me, after a few rounds, you’ll probably notice that you can hit the ball just fine on the range, but when it comes to an actual round of golf, it’s a whole different story. Don’t be discouraged! The more rounds you play, the better you’ll get at managing the game, staying calm, and executing your shots under pressure.

Mental Game: The Secret to Improvement

Managing Expectations

A big part of becoming decent at golf is managing your expectations. I remember the first time I played a full 18 holes, I thought I was going to crush it. Reality check: I didn’t. Not even close. But I learned quickly that golf is more about patience and focus than anything else.

You can practice all day, but unless you’re mentally prepared for the ups and downs of the game, it’ll be tough to get better. It's like playing chess with yourself. You're not just worrying about your swing, you're worrying about how you’ll deal with bad shots, wind, and the pressure of finishing strong.

Staying Consistent

One of my friends, who’s been playing golf for years, told me the biggest improvement he made was when he stopped trying to play perfectly. Instead, he focused on playing consistently and just enjoying the game. I think that's key. If you’re constantly frustrated by every bad shot, you’ll never get better. But if you learn to enjoy the process, you’ll see your game improve faster than you think.

Realistic Timeframes: How Long to Break 100?

Breaking 100: A Milestone

Okay, let’s talk about breaking 100—one of the most common milestones for new golfers. Honestly, it took me about nine months to break 100 consistently, but I had a lot of help from lessons and weekly practice. You might do it faster or slower, but nine months to a year is a decent estimate for most beginners if you’re putting in the time.

Breaking 90: The Next Step

Once you break 100, it can take another year or more to break 90 regularly. You’re improving, but there’s still so much to learn, especially when it comes to short game and course management. I know a couple of people who’ve been playing for 2-3 years and are still working on breaking 90. It’s a tough milestone, but totally achievable with consistent practice.

Conclusion: The Road to Becoming Decent at Golf

So, to answer the original question: How long does it take to become decent at golf? The short answer is, it depends. If you’re committed and practice regularly, you might be able to play decently after about a year. But becoming really good—breaking 90, for example—might take two to three years of serious dedication.

Honestly, it’s a journey that’s just as rewarding as the goal itself. Sure, it takes time, but the more you learn about the game, the more you’ll appreciate it. And hey, who doesn’t love the challenge of improving, right? Stick with it, and you’ll see results sooner than you think.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.