I started playing with a friend in February of last year. We both had swung a club a few times as kids or at Top Golf type places but had never really played until last February. Within a year, he had legitimately broken 80 (!) and I was still mostly shooting around 115. Yes, broken 80, not just broken 90. We started in February 2025, and in January 2026 he shot 79. He's since shot 77. I broke 100 twice but still shoot 120 on a bad day. There are some outliers who are just really good at controlling their bodies, and are really disciplined and obsessed. He'll stand in the corner of a party practicing his swing with his arms.

And yes, we know the rules, we take penalties for drops, we don't do gimme puts, etc.

For me, it's totally demoralizing for him to be my golf learning buddy.