Thanks for the words of encouragement guys! dtak84: No, I don't expect to be good because I play 52x/year or because I have "played it a few times". Like your friend I hoped to improve more rapidly because I DO give so much time and effort to improving. I play 18 holes 1-2x/week, go to the driving range 1-2x/ week, read every magazine, watch every instructional show, read every book, etc... I posted this thread as a way to vent my frustration and as an avenue to seek helpful advice. Thanks