Goals for 2008

[FIJIGolf23]

I've been waiting on this thread for a little while now so I figured I would go ahead and make it. Erik, think you can "sticky" this thread like previous years' threads?

Topic: Like the title suggests, what are your goals for the 2008 season? Be detailed and update them as the year progresses.

[FIJIGolf23]

Improve consistency: I did a pretty good job of this in 2007, but I want to improve. I would go a few weeks without that bad round, and then I would blow up one day and shoot an "80" which would infuriate me to no end.

Improve confidence: There are some shots that I stand over and just never feel confident. To venture into that plus handicap region I firmly believe this is something I need to get rid of. I want to feel confident over every shot I have.

Reduce my career low: My career low for 18 is -4. That was shot about 4 years ago. My goal is to shoot something in the 66 region. I shot a -4 round on 9 holes this past summer, but it got too dark so I couldn't finish the back nine.

Improve putting: Again, this is something that drastically improved this year, but it can be better. I need to drain a lot more putts within that 10-12' range. Anything inside of 6-8' needs to feel like a gimmie.

Reduce wayward tee shots: This is a big one that costs me numerous strokes when it happens. I tend to get super quick with my lower body on some drives and my upper body never has a chance to catch up. This usually results in an O.B. tee ball on the courses I play.

Improve fitness/endurance: This is something I have been getting pretty serious about the last couple months. I want to eliminate some of my belly pudge and put on a little muscle as well. I need to keep myself running a few miles a day, 4-5 days per week.

Qualify for 2 big tournaments: In my sig are the "big" tournaments I intend to attempt to qualify for. I think if I can keep improving like I have been over this year that I can easily qualify for 2 of them.

[JonnyGolf]

Goals:

Improve driving consistency. This is mainly tempo and confidence. I'm on the right road, but still need to improve.

Stay focused during putting. My putting is pretty good, but every once in a while I drop my preshot routine and it shows up with a bad putt.

Stay fit. Keep working on flexibility and strength.


Outcomes:

Qualify for the match play in my club championship.

Qualify for PubLinks Championship

[gogolfing]

Goals:

1. Play more golf. I got in quite a bit of practice this year, but did not get out on the course much.

2. I'm working with one of the pros at my club. I want to stick with this and hope to get my handicap down to single digits. Main areas to work on will be driver consistency and mental side of things. I also want to get better with my up and downs.

3. My son turned six last August. He has his own set of clubs. I want to get him out to the course more often, both to play a little and practice, to get him to enjoy the game. My club offers a 'Junior/Junior Membership' for kids 6-11. It's only $60 per year and then we can go out when it's not busy and he can play a little. It's a full length course so I'll walk with him, drop a ball 100 yards out and let him have at it.

4. Get more fit. I did a golf fitness class a couple of winters ago and it really helps with hitting more solid shots. I want to start this program again.

If I can do these things in '08, it will be a great year for me in terms of golf.

[ram22592]

This year I have made great progress. I am 15 years old and working on being competitive in several big tournaments in the coming year. I broke 90 for the first time the first day of summer vacation (June 1) by shooting 86. And on October 16 I broke 80 for the first time shooting 76. Both on the Old Hickory course from the blue tees, 70.2/133 (black tees course ratings are in my signature). Since then I have broken 80 3 other times, and am working on my consistency.

I am still a short hitter, only about 220 average, and have been working on strength to improve this, as the tournaments I will be playing in are from the tips and will play 6,600-6,800 yards. The tips (black tees) on my home courses play just over 6,700 and 6,600 so I will be moving back there soon.

My goals:

Work on greens in regulation! When I shot 76 I hit 9 greens, and that is the best I have done in this category to date. I would like to start averaging well over 50% in order to be competitive, as I am a great putt reader, and on bermuda greens I feel that I can make every putt I look at. Part of this will naturally improve with distance; with shorter irons in my hand I should be able to fire at flags more often.

My putting is good, and I would like to lower my average to less than 30 putts per round.

I would like to average over 250 yards with my driver, which should help me with my scoring significantly.

Getting my Handicap down to scratch or better! I know this sounds crazy, but I have brought it down 15 strokes since summer's beginning.

I am excited about 2008, and working towards these goals.

[Jack_2251]

My goals for 2008 are:
Reduce My Handicap to 8I would just love to be single figures by 09.

Improve Consistency Get my swing more consistent and hit more good shots

Hit more fairways and greens

[neudi]

My goals for 2008: I started the thread to where I am going to begin getting in shape which I have.

1) I'm hoping to drop my weight from 173 to 165 with about 10 % body fat ( obviously not going to happen in 4 months, but I will continue during golf season)

2) Drop my handicap to where 2 out of every 3 rounds are under par at my home course of 73.2/136 7100 yard par 72...career low is 66 shot twice.

3) Qualify for at least the second round of the open qualifier and make it to the match play of pub links.

4) Just enjoy golf more, I think if i think more about what I did wrong instead of getting angry I will play a lot better.

[Steaksauce]

By March 1 I want to get down to a 3 handicap in time by my highschool golf team tryouts

I am looking to make the team and also become a starter as a freshman.

I'll work on improving my putting and getting under 31 putts a round

Hopefully I will get to play some nicer golf courses this year. I've only been able to play for free at a municipal course in Philly due to some recent econonical problems.

Then I am looking to be scratch or better by the time I turn 16 at the end of summer.

Also gonna try out for some national tournaments such as the Public Links and Junior Amateur.

Progress from last year; 35.2 to a 7.1 from last March to November.

[Shindig]

I started 2007 at 128 lbs. I'm now 141.5, and I want to raise that to 155 by Dec 30 2008. Naturally, one way to do this is to drink a lot of beer. But I really want to do this by making it good weight. Since I exercise regularly, with weights, stretching, and yoga, I think I can make this. I also eat regularly, but good food. Lots of protein.

I'd like to get my handicap down to the teens by my birthday (June 28). Seeing as how I've already posted a differential in the teens (19.x), I think this is doable if I keep playing. This isn't so much a goal as a symptom of two other goals. Which brings me to:

No downtime! I have Mondays off of school next quarter and my Fridays end at 10am; at least, this is for official obligations (classes, etc). I'm going to spend some of that on research, for sure, but with all that time, I should be able to play at least twice a month, preferably weekly. I'll use a game on Monday to reward myself for the past week's worth of making progress on my research, and it'll keep me alert and focused on both my goals (academic and athletic).

I want to keep my focus on every hole, or at least every shot. I'm getting really annoyed after rounds when I realize that it was only 2-4 holes that destroyed my score. My "best ball" score at my home course is 70 (there are 4 holes I've birdied at some point, and only 2 where my best score is bogey). So, if I keep my focus, I should be able to play well.

Really, my goal is to continue having fun playing golf. Keeping my focus and playing regularly will help me with this goal. The fact that I'm playing means I'm having fun. I believe my handicap will enter the teens as a symptom of this.


Oh, and I'd really like to have a round with fewer than 30 putts without artificially causing this. I realize I could deliberately miss each green and chip on and make a few saves and end up with fewer than 30 putts, but I'd like it to be natural.