The MOST IMPROVED Golfers in AMERICA

More than 3 million players carry a USGA handicap. The five on these pages lowered it, percentage-wise, more than all the rest in the last year. They’re proof there’s always a chance to shoot your dream score

- Nick Dimengo

Eric Mastrull, 28

FLEMINGTON, N.J. HANDICAP DROP: 1.3 TO +1.3 (200% IMPROVEMENT!)

This single-digit stud’s best piece of advice? Go out and play!

THERE’S AN OLD SAYING in life that “practice makes perfect.” For Eric Mastrull and his game, it hasn’t necessarily held true. According to the longtime golfer, he didn’t need more time swinging the club; he just needed more time playing rounds.

“Toward the end of my high school career, I was playing some pretty good golf. I had gotten to around a +2 handicap, then my game kind of deteriorated… ’cause I didn’t play!”

With a basic understanding of fundamentals and his own swing, Mastrull says that the pandemic allowed him to get back to playing more golf—which allowed him to shave strokes.

“In the past, the inability to get into any sort of rhythm made it difficult to shoot good scores. I really think spending more time playing the game was a big factor last year.”

To be fair, Mastrull already had a head start on most rec golfers, moving the needle from a 1.3 handicap to a +1.3 in seven months.

“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve kind of settled into my muscle memory a little bit more,” he says. “I’ve realized that getting the ball in play off the tee and getting the ball pin high is really critical.