With 36 days to go before opening day, my anticipation for playing golf continues to grow. Many of you in the warmer climes have dusted off your clubs and are hitting the links already. Of course I am jealous, but there is nothing I can do about it at this time. With snow banks over 6 feet high in some areas, indoor golf work will continue for the foreseeable future. One of the positive aspects of the having so much time on my hands is my ability to plan out how much golf I plan on playing this season. And believe me, it is going to be alot!
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My 2018 Golf Report Card
Well, it is the last day of 2018 and I have to say that my golf game did not unfold as expected. I had high hopes for a fantastic season, but as you know I had other battles to fight other than lowering my handicap index. That is okay and I am not complaining. I am grateful for the time I did have on the links and 2019 is just around the corner. However, I do have an internal assessment on my 2018 golf season. Continue reading
The Blanket of Snow Ends Golf For the Year
All my hopes of sneaking out for one last round is officially over for another year. As the weather started its slow march towards zero, we golfing fanatics always kept that glimmer of hope for a warm front one last time! Well, that pipe dream is in the books for another year.
As I lazily got out of bed this morning, the sun was shining, the air was crisp and as I looked out the window…GASP! A light snowfall had covered the ground!
Out My Back Window. First snow of the winter.
As I slowly recover from the shock, my thoughts will eventually turn towards the off-season. I have written about preparing for the off-season before and will likely build on my previous successes. For now, I will lament over the cold days to come and dream of the warm days to come.
In the near future, I will focus on my new training goals for the off-season and my expectations for 2015. For now, it is time to grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the day!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Setting Goals for 2014
As in previous years, I set goals at the beginning of my golf season. I find that by setting goals, it keeps me focused throughout the entire season. Sometimes, I achieved all may goals and more, others….not so much! I am always excited about each new season because of the fantastic opportunities improves my game it offers.
Today, I hit the range and putting green. I had no expectations and no real plan. It felt fantastic to be be playing again. Normally, I have a plan on the range, but being the first time this year I just wanted to hit balls. I was quite surprise at how well I struck the ball, but I am sure it was beginners luck! A quick note to my buddy in the UK, I still want two strokes aside!
2014 golf season is upon us and it is time to make goals. Experience tells me that reaching for the stars is great for my ego, but not necessarily for my game. So as I progress, I need to build a plan and set goals to achieve my dream of being a scratch golfer. Setting goals in golf is important for players serious about lowering their score.
Previously, I came up with following to prepare me for the season:
- get fit – focus on exercises designed to improve my golf game;
- research – the drills and techniques required to improve my game;
- practice – dedicate time to practice to improve my game; and
- compete – either formally or informally compete every time I hit the links.
It is fair to say that I have successfully accomplished the first two goals. I have remained fit and completed my research on different drills to help improve my game. So now it is on to phase three – practice.
My practice focus will start from the green out. Putting is critical to lower scores. Grooving my putting stroke early will help save strokes in the long run. Next, will be chipping from the fringe and moving further from the green. I will be using the 3-6-9 drill to simulate playing on the course because it will help hone my short game.
I am not ready to compete. Having swung the club for the firs time today, competing would be stretching even my expectations.
Setting goals is a helpful way to improve anyone’s golf game. This year will be a special year because of my goal to be a scratch golfer. The plan is in place and my desire is strong…I am ready to succeed!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Time for Golf!
Golf can be a time-consuming sport. A round of golf could last up to 6 hours depending on the pace of play. Although 6 hours is ridiculous, it is not uncommon at public courses on the weekend. Time is a precious commodity that needs to doled out with caution….or does it?
The amount of time any player dedicates to golf is directly proportional to their desire to play and/or improve. My goal this year to be a scratch golfer highlights my in creased desire to play better and therefor the need to adjust how I spend my time. My four step plan comes with a renewed commitment to be a better player, but also a requirement to change how I spend my time.
There is no question that my family will always be my number one focus and thus the majority of my time will be spent with them. Next are my hobbies. Of these, I want to spend the next largest allotment of time. These are the things that make me happy and help me to grow. Inside this group is golf.
As stated earlier, I need to change how I spend my time. My first step of my plan is to become healthier and more physically fit. This is extremely important because without my health, the rest does not matter. Brett Wilson’s book Redefining Success has helped me rediscover this tenet important to a happy life. To accomplish this step, I adjusted when I go to work and what I do with my time after work. For me, this has not been a large change, but a necessary one.
To stay accountable, I have dedicated the time to update my blog at least every second day. More if possible, but at least every second day. This may not seem like much, but there is a requirement for 1-2 hours every second day to keep this commitment.
As you can see, even in the early stages of my play requires a commitment of time. As I move forward, more planning is required to make sure that practice and playing are also maximized. Not to mention the days where opportunities arise to participate in my favorite sport.
Time is important. I discovered many years ago that I have plenty of time to do the things I enjoy and the things I must. Mostly, I have gained the time from not watching too much TV. That is a personal choice and one I do not regret. Also, through planning, I have been able to identify the best times to do certain activities that maximizes my availability to be with my family and enjoy my hobbies.
If you are contemplating a golfing goal that goes beyond your current expectations, time management will be a factor. It helps set the stage for success if you account for time and are willing to change how you use it.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 