We all have golf goals. Break 100, maybe 90, breaking 80 puts you in pretty elite territory. But for Brandon Bear — better known on Instagram as @zerotoscratch — the goal is far more ambitious: reach scratch handicap in just one year, starting with no golf experience at all.

It’s a mission that’s caught fire online, and for good reason. The story of a total beginner grinding daily toward one of golf’s most elite milestones is both inspiring and brutally honest. We found Brandon on Day 11, and we’re grateful to be along for the ride.

To put it in perspective, fewer than 2% of golfers worldwide ever achieve a 0 handicap. It requires a complete mastery of every part of the game — driving, iron play, short game, and putting — along with the ability to deliver consistent scores under pressure.

We’re not talking about shooting a single even par round. We’re talking about 8 of your last 20 rounds playing to a scratch differential in the World Handicap System.

Scratch golfers don’t just “hit it straight.” They control trajectory, spin, and distance. They recover from mistakes with savvy course management. And they rarely hand strokes back with sloppy double bogeys.

That’s the bar Brandon has set for himself in just 365 days.

On Day 163, Brandon has already done something most golfers take years to achieve: he broke 80. Playing Bridlewood Golf Club from the white tees, he posted a round in the 70s — proof that his relentless practice is paying off.

Even more impressive, his handicap has plummeted from 35+ down to 14.1 in less than six months. That kind of progress is almost unheard of. It’s not luck. It’s discipline, data, and smarter practice.

Behind Brandon’s journey is a tool he leans on every round: Tangent Golf.

Every shot he hits is tracked inside the app — not just fairways and greens, but strokes gained across driving, approach, short game, and putting. With this data, Brandon and his coach build practice plans that target his weaknesses leading to faster improvement.

For example, if Tangent shows that his approach play is costing him the most strokes, his practice shifts to distance control and dispersion drills with mid-irons. If his putting stats dip, the practice green becomes his home base.

It’s golf improvement made scientific. And it’s the reason his handicap has been slashed in half in under six months.

Which part of his game has improved the fastest and had the biggest impact? Approach:

Breaking 80 was a milestone. Breaking par will be another. But the ultimate goal — reaching scratch before the one-year mark — looms large. The next 196 days will be about refinement, resilience, and leaning even harder on Tangent to guide the journey.

Whether he makes it or not, the golf world is already watching closely with over 122k followers on Instagram. His story proves that with the right tools, the right coach, and relentless drive, improvement can happen faster than most ever thought possible.

You won’t want to miss his journey, so make sure to follow him in the Community tab of the Tangent. You can even leave him words of encouragement, right in Tangent.

You don’t have to chase scratch in a year to benefit from smarter golf. Whether you’re a 20 handicap chasing single digits, or a beginner trying to break 100, Tangent can accelerate your improvement just like it has for Brandon.

📲 Subscribe to Tangent Golf today and start playing with purpose. Track your shots. Understand your stats. Build a plan. Improve faster.

Because every golfer has a “zero to scratch” story waiting to be written.

Use BEAR20 for 20% off a Pro subscription and get started today.

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