What Are Your 2024 Golf Goals?

[klineka]

7 hours ago, StKildaSenators said:

Main goal:

- Drop my handicap index from 20 to 15 or lower.

I think I can achieve this through:

- Getting much better at chipping. I blade or chunk waaaay to many chips.

- Continuing improving my driver. I used to always hit a massive slice. Now I sometime do, but not always due to trying to keep my hands closed. But to get my hands closed I have been using a very strong grip. So when I don't slice I will hit somewhere from low baby fade to low baby draw. While definitely an improvement, there is still more room to go.

Based on your post in a different thread you should be able to just about get from a 20 to a 15 by working on your putts inside 2 feet, right?

 

8 hours ago, StKildaSenators said:

What brings me down is absolutely terrible chipping, throwing away 3 or 4 strokes a game due to struggling with putts inside 2 feet

Sounds like this should be your #1 focus in the short term while working on chipping and driving over the mid/long term.

[snapfade]

8 hours ago, StKildaSenators said:

Main goal:

- Drop my handicap index from 20 to 15 or lower.

I think I can achieve this through:

- Getting much better at chipping. I blade or chunk waaaay to many chips.

- Continuing improving my driver. I used to always hit a massive slice. Now I sometime do, but not always due to trying to keep my hands closed. But to get my hands closed I have been using a very strong grip. So when I don't slice I will hit somewhere from low baby fade to low baby draw. While definitely an improvement, there is still more room to go.

 

How I plan to achieve this:

- Take a couple lessons. I've done this the past 2 or 3 seasons and it has definitely improved my game.

- Actually practice more often. I rarely go to the range and even more rarely the chipping green. I will try and change that this year and hopefully go at least once a week.

-Try and golf more. I'm a mature student so I don't have tonnes of discretionary income at the moment. But last season I didn't golf as much as I did the season prior. Playing regularly makes such a huge difference so I want to make sure that I'm getting those swings in. 

Taking  5 strokes off your handicap is no small feat. I would agree in meeting with an instructor and practice. One thing that will help you is getting something that tracks your shots, i.e; Shot Scope or similar. After a handful of rounds that will give you true data on where you need to focus your practice. Also, take a look at your course management, that's a whole different topic but something to look at. I met with an instructor a year or so ago and in one quick look he identified my alignment issue in my set up, made a change and it helped considerably. I meet with with the instructor more often now and hopefully this time next year I'll be a little lower. Currently 15.7. It's a journey. Another thing that will help you is to compete. There's various tournament leagues, maybe one at your course that's flighted you can get in. Makes you think before you strike. If you want to get better once a week at the range probably wont be enough. There's drills here you can do inside or in the backyard if you have one. Do something everyday. Oh you said you don't have a ton of discretionary income so one thing you can do is post your swing here and Erik  @iacasand a few others can give you some pointers. It's free, they are happy to help. 

[iacas]

Remember, folks, this isn’t a discussion thread.

@StKildaSenators can start a topic or a Member Swing topic to discuss specifics.

[windlaker]

I'm not going to be "SMART" on my reply.

I was in and out of the hospital since the first week in December with complicated Diverticulitis.  Lost 30 pounds, a lot of muscle mass.

First week in April I finally had surgery, where the doc took out about 18" of my colon.

So my goal is simply to PLAY GOLF.  Was at the range today for the first time.  Felt great to swing a club. Had zero distance...only hit my 7 iron about 140 yards.

Will be great to be out on the course, but I have no expectations of lowering my handicap this year.

People, be grateful for your health and ability to play. 

 

[TourSpoon]

My goals this year are really not much different than last year. I am a little late but here they are: 

1. Ball speed consistently 150+

2. Handicap to 3 

3. Scrambling at 50% or better 

4. Compete in events 

Coming off an injury and then rehabbing the speed training had to be put on the back burner. Ball speed last week was averaging 147 so close but not quite there. My handicap at my club when I joined was 4.2, went up to 6 and is currently at 3.9 from the Men's tees. I did hang out with 2 ex Korn Ferry guys at my club and got some great short game help really controlling low point. Scrambling is just over 40% and climbing. It is something I am really working on. I have been competing more and made the qualifier for our club championship (last place qualified by shooting 81 with a quadruple bogey on the 6th hole). I went to 18 against a former club champ and lost 1 down on 18.  I got skunked at the Member Guest championship flight but won the championship flight in our Member Member (got knocked out in finals). The progress is there, and now that I retired and am consulting on my own, I do have more time to practice and play. 

[collegefbfan]

You all are light years ahead of me (just starting out).  My goals:

1. Have two lessons this summer.
2. Become a lot more consistent with contact especially with irons and hybrids.
3. No matter how much I want to hit driver, that is a focus later on.
4. Spend at least an hour each day in the backyard hitting into the net or going to the driving range.
5. Play a par 3 or this easy course about 25 minutes away.

[Zeph]

• Get control of my swing by improving contact and swing path. I want to get rid of the out-in and get a more consistent shot pattern. If I can get my scores down to handicap 10-12 I'll be happy with that. My local course is not the best for handicap purposes, but if I can achieve the third goal, it'll be a good indication.
• Play more golf (not very difficult since it's been almost zero for a many years).
• Play at least 3-4 courses around where I live other than my local one.
• Play more local tournaments. Not very competitive, mostly social fun, but it's a way to put some pressure on myself and the swing.
• Use Evolvr, be patient and smart about swing changes.

[NZ Golfer]

One part of my game I'm really working on is the mental game of GOLF .. having no expectations not putting undue stress on my round ..certainly not easy if I'm going to make another CLUB matchplay semi-final which the last one I was under so much stress to beat a guy I know I can beat 8 out of 10 times ..but pretty much served up the match on a silver platter as I had a shocker front 9 ..back by 3 going into the turn ...

I feel I'm on the right pathway and recently won my first Club Medal after I had a shocking warm-up practice at the driving range hooking then slicing drives off the tee or hitting fat thin irons off the mat.. I really thought I was going be playing for the country rover.. but mental I was thinking juts have fun enjoy the day try your best and far out I just keeped backing up decent enough shots and dropping some really hard putts ...even near the end of the round when your looking at your card knowing its going be a great round if you can just keep it together for the last couple of holes I somehow only hit my bag once with a club LOL.