It is that time of year where I start to focus on the end of golf season. There is a possibility of playing for about another month, but I generally pick a date and put the clubs away for the season. This date is very close and as such, I am looking to the future to see what I am going to do to fill my time. For now, I am focused on my upcoming golf trip to the Niagara Falls region to play in the Fall Hickory Classic. Knowing that my golf season is coming to a close, I do have some things I need to do to prepare for the off season so I can still keep my hand in swinging the clubs.

My plan for the upcoming off-season is threefold. The first thing I am going to do is start my fitness program. I generally do this every year, but this time I am setting specific goals of trimming down, becoming more flexible, and building some strength. They all seem reasonable goals to achieve because I will have about six months to work at my target. One of the challenges I faced in the past was starting too fast and becoming bored after about a month because I did not set specific goals. This year, I will remedy that oversight and create reasonable milestones that I can achieve and stick to it. Health and fitness are my top priority during this off-season.

Hit more balls in the winter. I spent a great deal of time building my DIY golf area over the past few years. It is time to put this training area to use. I will take some time off between the end of the season and December, but after that I will dedicate time to keep my swing in relatively good form. Last year, I used my area sparingly because I did not create any goals to achieve. I am not suggesting that I am trying to revamp my swing or anything, but working on a more pronounce turn might be a great place to start. More to follow on what I want to achieve in future posts.

Lastly, I am going to learn how to fix golf clubs. I purchased quite a few used clubs from garage sales. It is time to see if I have the ability to repair clubs. I could take a course, but my friend Blair lent me a book on club repair and I am sure there are enough videos to help me on my way. This particular off-season golf activity will be for fun and I am hoping to expand my handyman skills. At this time, I do not have any expectations, but I am sure I will come up with something.

As you can see, my off-season will involve keeping my hand in all things golf. I am fortunate to have a location that will facilitate expanding my golf interests. Additionally, I am planning to set specific goals to achieve. I perform best when I have something to work towards. Age is becoming a factor in my life and now is the time to set up my efforts to remain health, fit, and focused so I can continue to enjoy my passion.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!