Learning to play golf usually takes between six months and a year. Of course, the speed at which you learn the game of golf will change depending on your athletic ability, your previous knowledge and the speed at which you practice and play. Some people are very dedicated to their golf careers and spend a lot of time. Usually, if your swing is naturally good, it may take you a couple of years.
If you're like me, it will take a lot of good instruction and something like 3 to 4 years to be reasonable. As I learned to take the shorter shots, I found that those shorter shots complemented the longer ones, making them easier to learn. I created this website after hearing the same questions from my students over and over again as a place where new golfers can come to learn and improve their golf game. Anyway, I can help you get a good idea of how long it takes to learn the game of golf.
I don't think learning the game from green to tee will get you on tour somewhere, but I've seen too many examples of people breaking 90 consistently in a short period of time using this learning scenario. This is one of the easiest ways to get answers to your golf questions so you can learn the game faster.