My best rounds occurred when I was 14, nearly 5 decades ago, and only after I had been playing a couple of years. I was self taught by using dad's clubs and then what I could buy with my own money from summer jobs. I learned by hitting whiffle balls and closely reading the fundamentals provided in golf magazine. I made adjustments by watching how the spin changed on the whiffle ball, which was typically exaggerated. I used balls without the holes. Parental support, or support of any kind, was minimal -- simply inadequate within my blue collar family. I liken this to the reason I peaked at 14.
So back then I had a 66 (-4) on an easy course that was mostly driver and wedge/short iron into small greens, but very hilly. One nine was 31. There were other scores that were close to this there. It's now a housing development. On a typical longer, well manicured course (the original Montour Heights CC near the Greater Pittsburgh Airport) I had a 69 (-2). Since then numerous rounds in the 70s but could not break par during my professional life as an engineer. Essentially gave up golf to focus on getting through Engineering when I reached college and the PSU main campus as a freshman.
Now that I'm retired I feel that the fundamentals are still there to break par again, but I'm dealing with numerous pain issues. The meds so far have made it difficult to get the focus and coordination of a young body back. I'm still hoping. Doctor made some adjustments just yesterday. I play with scratch golfers (course record holders and club champions) who like to have money on the table. So I feel the charge of competition again, which I was hoping for during retirement. I'm optimistic since I know so much more than I did as a young teen and can play, if not hurting, every day.
I give back by being involved in a local organization that is similar to The First Tee. Some are as young as 8 years old, a real challenge, especially when you're trying to work with several beginners at the same time and can spare only a few minutes with each kid. [I'm giving thought to offering these kids one-on-one instruction outside of our junior golf program, but as a Penn Stater, I know to require the presence of a parent/guardian at all times, and to limit contact to the golf course only.] These kids do have the benefit of internet videos produced by touring and teaching professionals, so if committed, intelligent, and coordinated, their improvement should rival what I experience at that age. That happened for my nephew, and though I wasn't the perfect instructor (for a left-hander), he went on to achieve far more in golf than I ever did with Junior PGA and college competition.