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how long did you take to score regularly in the low 80s average (about a 15 Index, since Handicap Index represent your best game in four)?
did you take golf classes or private lessons?
how often, per week, did you practice and play?
did you play all year round?

I've played for seven months within a year, I was at 31.9, but now it's creeping back up...arrgh.
My goal is to score in the low 80s, which is where i think less than 10% of serious golfers score.

it took me about 3 years. only had a couple of lessons but at the golf range i used to go to before turning into a development, i knew the pro there very well, and he would help me with my game. now, i usually play once a week and visit the other range twice a week all year long. at home i chip in the back yard at least twice a week and i can also hit balls out of my yard over to a lot across the canal (7,8,9 iron). the chipping and irons has really improved.

I got there almost immediately after I started playing and haven't made a whit of improvement since....

It took me about 4 years to get to the low 80's. I found for a long time i was knocking on the door so to speak, i.e four rounds in high 80's, 5 rounds in mid 80's and only one from every ten at 81/82.
Right now i am finding the same applying to the mid to high 70's and i hope by the end of this summer to be able to call myself a regular 70's golfer.
I practice as often as possible (65% short game, 35% long iron's and driver)
Believe me if i had the time and money i would play every day but currently play once or twice a week.
I have had about 8 lesson's in nine years of play.

took me about 4 years, but I started when I was eight lol. I took lessons, practiced everyday, etc.

I've been playing for about 4 years and I will finally break 90 this weekend. My home course is a short par 67 and my lowest is a 93. Last time out I finished the front nine at +6, then added 12 more over the next 4 holes. Ouch. I actually plan to break 80 this weekend too. Why just break one barrier, when you can break two?

Started last July, played all through winter and about two months ago I started shooting under 85 consistently. I've taked 4 or 5 lessons, 2 were with two different guys then I took the rest with this other fella who I am sticking with. Great guy and has helped me tremendously and I wouldn't have broke 90 without his help. I havent seen him in a few weeks so i think I might pay him a visit, but I have definitely learned the value of a good lesson over buying a new club or spending 5 hours at the range. An hour with Ken and I'll go out the next couple of days and probably shoot at least one round in the 70s. Lessons really do make the world of difference, AFTER you go and practice what you were taught you can take it to the course and shoot better I guarantee it

Sorry for the novel

Good Luck!

I havent got any 80's rounds yet..I keep making stupid little mistakes that I can't seem to get rid of at the time being that are keeping me in the 90's.

As short of time as it takes for you to realize that to shoot scores in the low 80's and even in to the 70's, it's all about short game. The better you are around the greens, the quicker your scores will drop.

ive been playing a little over a year and can shoot in 70's every once in a while but i did shoot 96 today! :)

I've been playing since I was 15 years old. On the high school golf team I was shooting in the high 70's / low 80's consistently. I had one round during a HS competition that I shot even, and I have no clue how it happened. After HS, I didn't play regularly and my game went to junk, but I've been back playing regularly for a couple years and I'm back in the high 70's. It took me about 4 years to shoot in the low 80's consistently.

Once I started to play in the upper 80's consistently, it took about a year to get to the low 80's. Big difference was the short game, my GIR was not good, and still is not good, but I learned how to chip from just off the greens to get the ball within that 1 putt range. My avg total putts for a round is @ 29.
Now... if I can fix my GIR from 140yds out.....I know I can break into that single digit HCP.

Wish I could get my putting around 29 per round! Seems like no matter what I normally have 33 or so.

I started the year with new clubs and a 28 handicap on May 1 after about a 6 year layoff. Now I am at 13.7. I play a round of 18 on the weekend, a round of 9 during the week after work, and go to the range 2 to 3 times a week. My goal is now to break 80 fairly consistently. I shot a 76, but it was an easy course (par 67 I think).

I think the main thing is to hit a lot of balls and get consistent. Also practice your short game and putting. All those balls you top, the chips that you "chunk", and the drives that you top have to go. Those are strokes that come right off the top of your score. Focus on hitting the ball consistently, that should get you in the 80's.

I started playing in 1979, with an initial handicap of 28. I improved to 19 over the next 4 years, but had a summer I didn't work (schoolteacher). I chipped about 100 balls about 4-5 times a week, and putted a lot. I went from 19 to 14 in 2 months. I have stayed from 5 to 7 now for about the last 15 years. That summer of short game practice made a believer of me. If you really want to improve, spend the bulk of your practice around the green. That is truly where you score.