Diary

[iacas]

I'm looking forward to the upcoming year. One of my goals this year is to keep a diary or journal (http://thesandtrap.com/archives/tip_of_the_day/keep_a_diary.golf).

As such, I'd like to create a PDF (perhaps in a few popular sizes). What kinds of information should be present on the Golf Journal?

Date (obviously)
Notes (general area for notes)
Swing Thoughts
Weather Conditions
Trends
Score/# Putts

You can't crowd in too many fields, because the point of a journal isn't to detail every nuance (like "hit one funny shot on #3, but none like it again the rest of the round), but to offer a quick way to keep track of the "big picture" in your swing. Golf statistics programs keep track of the minutae and whatnot.

So, what fields would you include in a standard template for most individuals?

P.S. My software company may also be looking to create software that does this, too, and allows for searches and whatnot. The software version, unlike a piece of paper, would allow you to create your own fields, so a static template would be useless. My company may also be doing a statistics program as well - we aren't sure yet.

[pahonix]

I think with the fields you've got there, it's more than enough to satisfy the journal aspect of it. I've done the minutae recordings of rounds before and I have yet to go back to read them again. Who knows, though.

Anyway, it looks like it's set up for an entry-per-round kind of thing. What about for a day that's just spent on the range/practice green? I, for one, spend many more sessions on the range than I do out playing. At least at this point. I'd *like* to play more rounds, but it just doesn't work out that way some times.

Something to think about anyway.

[iacas]

Indeed, practice rounds and whatnot could warrant a separate kind of page. If it were software, you'd simply create a different kind of journal. Thanks.

[muskegman]

Thanks for the idea... I think you are on to something here. I like the idea of branching away from mere statistics and scores to journaling swing thoughts and general approach to the game. These things are, after all, what we are thinking on the course to help improve our next shot and therefore improve our scores.

In the spirit of what you are developing I started a journal (mainly for my own benefit) using blogger. It's listed in my signature. It will be a place to do what you have described: archive swing thoughts, techniques, and the latest things that I'm wrestling with in golf.

Jeff