Any time you take on a new sport or hobby, the goal is to get the hang of things fast. After all, part of the fun is being good. There’s nothing like the feeling of hitting a great golf shot or dropping a super long putt – and after you experience that for the first time, the rest of your golf career is just chasing that same feeling over and over again.

But, as you may have already discovered firsthand, golf is hard. It takes a long time to get good at it and gain confidence. How long does it take to learn golf exactly? Or perhaps a better question – how long does it take to get GOOD at golf? 

Depending on who you ask you’ll get a different answer. That’s because “good” is subjective. Maybe your goal is simply to get into the habit of breaking 100 consistently. Or, maybe you want to become a scratch golfer. 

Further complicating matters, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how long to get good at golf because it depends on how dedicated you are and what natural talent you bring to the table. Below, we’ll cover everything you need to know to help set your expectations along this journey. Moreover, we’ll provide you with a few tips to help you learn golf fast and get good at the sport quickly. Let’s not waste any time…

How Long Does it Take to Learn Golf?

So, how long does it take to learn golf? That depends on what we’re defining “learn” as. 

Are we talking about how long it takes for an individual to feel confident getting around a golf course on their own, completing an 18-hole round successfully? This is something that can take as little as a few weeks or as long as a few months. 

You could technically read our articles on how to start golfing and what you need to start golfing and get out the very same evening! But you don’t really “learn” golf by reading resources online – you learn by getting reps in on the range or on the course itself. And to really get a grasp on the golf swing, etiquette, terminology, reading greens, and more – you need to give yourself at least a few good range sessions and a round or two. 

Now, let’s say we move the goalpost a bit. If we’re defining how long it takes to learn golf based on your ability to shoot a decent score and lose minimal balls, it could take anywhere from 6-24 months. 

Yeah – quite the timeline. Where you fall on that spectrum depends on factors such as your commitment to practicing, whether you teach yourself or get lessons, and any existing athleticism you bring to the table. Why is golf hard to learn? Our article does a good job explaining the unique physical and mental challenges of this sport if you’d like to learn more of what you’re up against.

But what if we’re setting our sights even higher? How long does it take to get GOOD at golf?

How Long Does it Take to Get Good at Golf?

Again – we need to set our standards here. What does good mean to you? To us, a good golfer is someone who can go out and shoot under 80 on any given day. To you, maybe it’s somewhere in the 80-90 range. To those who have been around the sport a long time and have higher standards, a good golfer is someone who plays to a scratch or positive handicap. 

With that said, here are some general guidelines for how long it takes to shoot certain scores that you may consider “good”:

• Shooting 100: 12 months or less
• Shooting 90: 6-18 months
• Shooting 80: 24+ months

Now – this is based entirely on my experience and my experience alone. So – to get a better sense of what a good golfer is, let’s look at the average handicap across all golfers. This is a 14 for men and an 18 for women. That means that being able to shoot under 90 is something reserved for “above average” golfers. 

As I am a testament of, this can take you as little as 2 years. So – how long does it take to get good at golf? If we’re basing the answer on my experience, it took me right around 2 years. I still have a hard time considering myself a good golfer but that’s a conversation for another day.

The point is, it can take you less than two years to get good at this sport. Maybe it’ll take you more. It all depends on a few factors – which we’ll discuss below. 

Factors Affecting How Long to Learn Golf

Now, the reason it’s so hard to give a definitive answer to how long to learn golf is that every new golfer is coming into the sport with their own unique circumstances. Here are the factors at play:

• Existing athleticism
• Dedication to learning the game
• Willingness to invest in paid coaching

In my case, I had a unique advantage because I played hockey from a young age and excelled in this sport. More specifically. I was a shooter – that means I already had the hand-eye coordination necessary to strike a golf ball consistently. I also had solid rotational strength as a result of constantly taking slapshots. 

All of this is to say the golf swing came naturally to me. Was it pretty early on? Hell no – but it was far better than someone who had no experience in some type of swinging or rotational-based sports. Other examples of athletes who have a head start include baseball players, tennis players, lacrosse players, and athletes who compete in events like shotput.

Now, if you’re trying to teach your kids how to play golf, that’s a different story – they’re still learning how to walk and formulate sentences – they aren’t bringing any existing athleticism to the table. 

Another contributing factor to how long to learn golf is your dedication to learning the game. When I first started, I spent all my free time watching YouTube videos. I was at the range 3 times a week. I was putting on my mat indoors every night. 

This is what helped me break 80 within two years of starting golf. If I was less dedicated and only hit the range a few times a month and didn’t care to watch tutorials online, I probably would still be struggling to break 100 consistently. 

But, what really separates those who learn golf fast from the rest is professional golf lessons. Get a coach to help you learn how to grip a club and swing it properly from day one. You’ll save yourself a ton of frustration and potential injuries, and most importantly, you’ll teleport yourself months up the timeline. 

Want to Learn Golf Fast? Here’s Our Advice…

So – all of that is to say if you want to learn golf fast, take the time to immerse yourself in the sport. Learn the basics online and hire a coach to help you get the basics down. Ask them for specific drills that can help you engrain proper swing mechanics. 

And don’t just focus on the golf swing itself – because for most new golfers, the short game is the hardest to learn. Chipping is harder than hitting a ball hard because it requires “feel” – something that doesn’t come naturally. It’s generally agreed upon that most strokes are lost within 100 yards of the hole, so you should spend the majority of your time working on that range and in.

With that said, get at least 2-3 range sessions in a week. Work on what you’re struggling with most – but don’t neglect any single area of your golf game. They all add up to your golf game as a whole. And one more word of advice on how to learn golf fast – spend more time at the range than on the course.

We know what you’re thinking…you can’t replicate the game of golf on the range. And it’s true – you’ll rarely get a perfect lie out on the course during your round, and you’ll encounter shots you just can’t replicate on the range. But early on, you need to develop the muscle memory of actually swinging a golf club. It’s all about reps. The more reps you get in, the faster you learn golf – simple as that.

Here’s a Timeline for How Long it Takes to Learn Golf Based on Our Experience

If you’re just starting out and want to know what your progression should look like, you’re in luck. I just recently went through the very same thing myself, and feel like it took me about 3-6 months to learn golf. I still don’t consider myself a good golfer as many of my friends are scratch or better – and I’ve been at it for a little over two years now. With that said, I’ve broken 80 one time and barely missed a 78 just the other weekend.

I say this not to brag (because frankly, it’s not that impressive) but more to show you what’s possible if you’re willing to dedicate yourself to something for a solid 24+ months. And honestly, I could be shooting even lower scores by now. I only practice once a week (at most) and play just 2-3 rounds a week.

I’ve only gotten two professional lessons for those wondering how many golf lessons to take. If you take it more seriously than I did, you can get better, faster. 

To help you set out on this journey with confidence, we have a complete guide on the best way to learn how to play golf. You can also weigh the pros and cons of getting golf lessons as a beginner in our blog as we discuss the golf lessons price range.

But below, we’ll provide a timeline for what you can expect below: 

First 2-4 weeks

Learn the basics, like how to hold a golf club and how to swing it. You can do this in your backyard with a ping pong ball or you can hit the range and get right into the swing of things. You can practice putting and chipping the ball in your hallway or at a short game area at your local course or range. I mastered chipping and pitching in my backyard, much to the dismay of my grass (which took a beating during this time). You can also use your spare time to learn golf etiquette and golf terminology slang during this period.

Weeks 4-8

At this point, you should have gotten at least 4-8 range sessions under your belt and should feel capable of at least connecting with a golf ball when you swing at it. Now – you can take what you’ve learned so far and play your first round or skip a lot of the early trials and tribulations by getting professional lessons.

Weeks 8-12

By now, you should have played at least a round or two – if not more. You’re getting out to the range a minimum of once a week if not 2-3 times a week. By now, you’re actually keeping track of your score when you play 18 holes. Chances are, it ain’t pretty – I remember shooting in the high 120s at this point in my golf game. But give yourself a break – 3 months ago, you didn’t even know how to grip a club properly! 

And at this point, you should be noticing certain areas of improvement in your golf game so you can work on those specifically. Maybe it’s chipping where you lose the most strokes – or maybe you have a hard time getting off the tee box and into the fairway. Either way, you can take this feedback and head to the range – or to a coach.

Months 6-12

By your sixth month of golfing – and following the advice we provide on how to learn golf fast – you should be shooting anywhere from 100-110 – with the goal of breaking 100 by the end of your first year of golf. That goal is entirely attainable. 

As a matter of fact, it was right around this time that I shot under 100. It was probably right around the 8th month when I hit this milestone. And, believe it or not, I actually managed to break 90 before my 12-month anniversary of starting golf. What a feeling that was.

The thing with golf is that your practice sessions and education start to compound on each other, creating a “snowball effect” after a certain point. The progress is really slow at first, and then it skyrockets – and you’ll shed a ton of strokes as things start to really come together. Then, in classic bell curve fashion, progress will dramatically slow down after peaking. For me, that was in the 12-24 month period.

Months 12-24 and Beyond

After my first full year of golf, I was more motivated than ever. This sport had me – I was hooked. It seemed I was getting better and better each round I played – until I started regressing. I was consistently shooting in the 90s and out of nowhere, I started shooting in the hundreds again. What gives?

It was that this point I bit the bullet and invested in my first lesson – something I wish I had done sooner. I was engraining bad habits and I had to take a step backward to address those things with my swing coach. 

But once I did, the floodgates opened – and I experienced another quick progression. It took me less than two years to break 80 – and while I’ve only done it once, I’m currently shooting in the 80s almost every time I play. I feel confident that before my third year of golf is up I’ll have shot a 75 or better. How? By continuing to practice with the same ferocity that I started with, and by investing in myself with more lessons. 

Learn more about the cost to start golfing or the best golf clubs to start with in our blog. Because at this point, we’re going to wrap up our guide on how long to learn golf.

Final Thoughts on How Long Does it Take to Learn Golf

So, how long does it take to learn golf? You can get out with your buddies and play a round without slowing everyone down or being miserable with just a month of practice and education. 

A better question is – how long does it take to get good at golf? Based on the handicap averages of all golfers, “good” is breaking 90 regularly – which took me a little over a year. It took me 2 years to break 80. 

And by the end of my third year, I hope to have a 75 or lower. To date my best score is a 76 – and I’ve got another few months or so to shed off those remaining four strokes. Will I do it? 

Maybe, maybe not. Either way, I’m absolutely loving this game and it has changed my life – I’m learning more about myself every time I play, and this sport has strengthened relationships with important people in my life while introducing me to new people regularly.

Trust me when I say that no matter how long it takes you to learn golf, or how long it takes you to get good at golf – this is worth the effort.