2011 Golf Goals - How Did You Do?

[iacas]

With the year coming to a close, it's time for our yearly self-assessment thread. Here's how this will work...

Quote your post in the 2011 Goals thread , then write something below your quoted post to let us know how you did! Simple!

Please do not reply to the posts of others people. This thread, like "What'd You Shoot Today," is not intended to be a discussion, but merely a list of people's goals and how they fared.

Again, here's the goals thread for 2011 and here's one for 2012.

[zipazoid]

Since I am new to the site, I wasn't able to put in my 2011 goal, so here it is:

Get my game back.

A year ago (Oct 2010) I was in the middle of a lot of personal turmoil that distanced me from the game. I had probably played 5 times over the previous two years. I was depressed and, frankly, dying. But as has been the recurring thread in my life, golf was my salvation. I made a commitment to start playing again, with the help of a dear friend. I wrote a blog story about it -

http://zipsclips.blogspot.com/2011/05/mike.html

So how have I done? Well, got my handicap down to 6.9, which isn't as good as I once was, but I will take it. When I stand over a shot I have a decent idea where it's going to go.

I got my game back, got my life back. Was a great year.

[Stretch]

Wow, Christmas comes earlier every year!

Originally Posted by Stretch

1. Play through the whole year without injury. 2. Get my index down to 5.0. 3. Shoot par or better on my home course.

1. Wouldn't want to jinx myself, but so far so good. Couple of tweaks, nothing serious.

2. Actually got down to a 4 for a few months, but have slipped a bit since.

3. Shot 72 twice. Had a 33 on the back nine, too, which felt good!

Happy with that.

[iPutt]

1) Legitimately break 100 for the first time- I've done it before but never with fully counting penalties and the like. My last full round of the season last year I shot 100 even. Didn't lose a ball, had 2 unplayable lies, 4 putted the 16th green, and had 40 putts total for the round. I'm feel that I'm a much better golfer than my scores show and this season I really want to break this door down. I feel that on a good day I could break 90 but for now I'll take things one step at a time.

2) Play at least 30 full rounds- For some reason I just never play more than about 10 full rounds a season. This year I plan to change that even if it means waking up at 6am or earlier. With college ending earlier than high school, I now have 3+ months to achieve this goal. So about 8 rounds a month (2 per week) should get me to this mark.

3) Practice on average 3 times a week- This should be easy. 2010 was more sporadic practicing like going 5 days in a row, and then maybe a week off. Now I plan to get up early if I have to, hit the range even if only for an hour or so, and then get on with my day.

4) Find a way to practice the short game- The first thing I want to do is make sure I practice my wedges more from 100 yards and in because I feel that I can stronger in an already strong point of my game. Then I'm definitely going to go to the putting green more, but putt with a purpose, not just mindless hitting. I want to be able to get consistently under 36 putts per round. I also will try as hard as I can to find a practice bunker and chipping green. This will be one of the hardest things as I do not belong to a private club or anything, and the ranges around me are mostly just mats and nothing else.

5) Make my schools club team- This is more of a long term goal as I'm shooting at this one for junior or senior year. I really want this one and to do it, I need to be able to shoot low 80's, high 70's consistently. This summer I plan to make it halfway there to about low 90's and maybe possibly high 80's, then work on it more next summer. Definitely my number one goal overall though.

So this is it. I feel that this is the season to really make an improvement like never before. I don't have a lot of specific goals with percentages and stats, I just want to really make the game a major focus of my summer. I just want to end next season being able to say "wow, I really got a lot better." And if I can do that, I'll consider it a good season.

1) Check - Completed on the third round of the season with a 98. Continued to shoot in the 90's for a majority of the season, even going as far as to shoot an 87 (48-39). Was a great day and one I will never forget considering how zoned in I felt on the back 9, making only 4 bogies along with 5 pars.

2) X - I believe that I got in 18 recorded rounds, although there were a bunch of 9-hole rounds, and a handful of rounds that weren't recorded as I was pretty much going out just to have fun with friends and what not. I probably could have gotten a few more in although I broke my finger in early September so my season was ended prematurely.

3) Check - Besides the end of the summer when there were some personal issues that got in the way, this goal went pretty well for the summer. Practiced a ton and also took weekly lessons. If I didn't play or practice for a few days, it was like I was going through golf withdrawal.

4) Check - Although I found a place (practice bunker and short game area where I started taking lessons), I really didn't to use it much as I only discovered it more than halfway through the summer and it's over 40 minutes away. I also found a public grass range, but it as well is somewhat far away. So I found the places, next year is to actually go.

5) X - Though like I said, I had a feeling it wasn't happening this year. I'm getting closer and was even going to try out, however I broke my finger and wasn't able to.

So yes, I got miles better this summer. I improved in every aspect of my game, especially my driving and ball striking. I went up at least a club in distance, had 2 drives lasered at over 300 yards, was about 8 inches away from my first hole in one. My handicap must have dropped at least 10 strokes (I know because I keep my own handicap now) and I can really see the improvement. I'm almost exactly a bogey golfer now, and I can't wait until next year to keep breaking down walls. Great season, and I'm enjoying the game so much more.

[Roblar]

Originally Posted by Roblar

I just want to find the bottom of my swing.

(If I cut fat / topped shots out, or just limit them much more, I think I'll consistently play in the 80s.)

I'm still searching for the bottom of my swing, but I'm getting closer to finding it!

I generally don't top the ball anymore, but I do hit fat shots fairly often.  I'm getting a couple more lessons in the next few weeks, so hopefully I can improve on that area too.

That said, my game has improved significantly in the past year: half of my rounds were below 90, and I broke 80 three times (once from the whites, once from the blues, once from the blacks/tips), and the average of all my scores works out to almost exactly bogey golf.

[Hairy Feet]

Like Zipazoid I wasn't on the forum so can't quote something from the beginning of the year. However, I had set myself a target of playing more and practicing some...

The playing more didn't happen for the same reasons I didn't play enough in 2010. Old age and arthritis are a real pain in the ar5e. I didn't enter the Matchplay Knockouts for the 2nd year running, and the Club Championship(36 holes in a day) for the 3rd year running all because some stupid bitch decided she'd rather drive on the sidewalk at speed. And yes I am pretty pi$$ed by it.

Practicing was also missed for the same reasons. 24/7 pain makes getting out there hard work.

Enough of the moaning; I posted some great rounds and managed to finish 21st out of 91 in the summer league. My handicap was 5.2 at the start of the year, and with all the ups and downs it finished on 5.2.

Here's hoping for better pain mgt and a better 2012

[mihi4]

Quote:

1.) Get fitted for my new KZG clubs ASAP

2.) Play at least 5-6 tournaments through the year

3.) According to "2.", improve my hcp <20, or even <15 (did shoot 85 and 87 last year)

4.) play a round in or under Par on my homecourse (short 9-hole par33)

5.) improve my long iron and 3/4-wood game to reach greens >180m (200yds) consistently

6.) put better (a lot of put training in the living room during the winter, already progressing great)

1. Didn't do it, got some nice fitted Mizuno irons instead

2. CHECK.

3. CHECK (-17.3)

4. NEARLY (+1 during the Club Championships)

5. CHECK. I'm more confident now with my 3-wood from the fairway.

6. SADLY NOT. Couldn't transfer the training sessions to the course greens. Will work on posture and routine more during this winter break.

greetings

michi

[inthehole]

Just finished my first year - didn't realize my goal of being a bogie golfer (averaging between 95-100 most days).      Played a lot of golf (estimate between 60-70 rounds total since May - alot of 9 holes after work).    No matter how much range time I put in, I'm still way too inconsistent with my driver & chipping around the green is KILLING ME (by far the worst part of my game & where I give up the most strokes - I'm so bad at it, it's getting in my head).     Learning to hit down on the ball with my wedges & taking proper divots is coming along nicely (that is fun stuff).     Hybrid is a reliable club now.     Overall, I am not unhappy with my progress, but still disappointed I haven't reached my goal ...

[joepro23]

Originally Posted by joepro23

Goals for 2011:

1) Play some new courses. Planning a trip to the west coast for the first time and bringing the clubs for sure. That is a start.

2) Break 70 again. Haven't done so in 4 years. Oh so close dozens of times, but it always seems to slip away (usually when I start thinking about it ).

3) Work on my wedge game - 60-100 yard shots

4) Work on my fade with the irons. Naturally a draw player, and I have never felt comfortable using this shot when it matters.

I did pretty well actually...

1) Played a bunch of new courses. Played in California for the first time in Feb, and did an epic trip to Scotland (Turnberry and St. Andrews) in August with my family. Trips created a lot of great memories. Probably the best golf travel year I could imagine. Going to be awhile before any new trips like that $$$.

2) Close, but no cigar. I actually shot 70 just a few weeks ago. Had a late 3-putt and bad chip that derailed me on 15 and 16. Made a nice birdie and 10-ft par putt on 17 and 18 to shoot 70. Could have been worse after the two bogies, but I know I could have easily parred one of those two holes I screwed up. My season got off to a late start because of the bar exam, so my game didn't really come into form until the fall. Other than the recent 70, I had a few 73s and 74s, but didn't really scare sub-70. Maybe a few more rounds could have led to something, but the season is running out in the Northeast.

3) Wedge game from 60-100 was great all year when I did play. It was the putter that let me down after wedge shots from that yardage. I felt really comfortable all year from any number 60-100 yards, and stopped any deceleration that had been sneaking into some of those wedge shots last year. Visualizing the shot shape/flight and choosing to go with some more low spinners helped.

4) I did work on the baby fade iron shot and the only thing I still need to work on is controlling the yardage with it. I know my natural slight draw yardage to within a foot or so, but the fade loses a few yards and I am learning that new yardage with each iron. Didn't get a chance to test the shot under pressure.

[the fish]

Quote:

I just started playing at the beginning of the year, so I have a few goals:

1) take golf lessons

2) hit my irons consistently (I tend to hit a lot of shots thin)

3) Score less than 100 on a par 72 course

1) I had one lesson earlier this year, but due to work did not have time for more.  I am thinking about taking lessons from Evolvr, as I can take and upload video around my work schedule.

2) My iron play has gotten much better.  It is the strongest part of my (admittedly weak) game right now.  I do believe a significant factor in this was having my irons fitted (+1" and 2 deg. upright).  I have also tried to make it to the range at least once per week, which has been difficult to schedule at times.

3) I shot a 96 on the day before my wedding.  Played once, poorly, on my honeymoon, and hope to improve upon my scores now that I'm back home.

[DaSportsGuy]

Quote:

1) Get Handicap down to single digits
2) Play all public courses within 30 minutes from my house
3) Hit 50% of fairways
4) Hit 25% of GIR
5) Play in at least 5 tournaments(non-scholastic)
6) Have a 9 hole scoring average of 42 or better
7) Have an 18 hole scoring average of 83 or better

1-No, close though. 11.1 to date.

2-No, 17/25 so far

3-Not even close. I still suck off the tee and am way too inconsistent.

4-Not even close. Can't hit greens when you can't hit fairways

5-No. Only 4.

6-No, it's right around 43.

7-Not even close. 88.32.

Reflecting back on this season, I had a terrible year. Didn't reach any of my goals, and for the most part, I played like crap. Had a couple good rounds, but I'm just way too inconsistent. Any given day I can go out and shot an 80, but I could also shoot a 90. I had alot of 9's in the 30's but just can't put two 9's together and shoot in the 70's. Next year I have got to find a way to make my swing repeatable.

[Golfs-for-Fun]

I pretty much just started playing this year about 10 weeks ago or so.

My goal was to get to where I could bogey and double bogey as many holes as I can. So far doing pretty well.

I ended up getting bogeys on a par 4, par 3 and a par 4 right in a row today, which is the first time Ive gotten 3 in a row. Off the next par 3 I managed to get the ball about 6 feet from the hole off the tee. Of course then I ended up 3 putting and blew my birdie right out of the water. I am getting some pars as well. My putting STINKS so far. Its accounting for a LOT of my high stroke counts.

But given that I did just start Im very happy with the progress at this point.

[Dad-2-3]

Originally Posted by Dad-2-3

Goals for 2011 are to drop the index to a 10 or better. Practice with a purpose (from 100 yards and in) rather than just beating balls at the range with my full swing.

Edit to add the obligatory break 80 goal

Got down to as low as 10.6 I believe, but did not crack into single digits, so that was a fail. I did knock 5 shots off my index this season though. I did practice more on my 100-yard-and-in game and the results were pretty good. I did break 80 this season as well one time with a legit 79.

[Unkynd]

I don't remember if I posted in the 2011 thread, but my goal for 2011 was to break 100.  This was my 2nd year playing and in my first year my lowest score was 116.

I broke 100 in April, and the proceeded to break 90 by shooting 87, 85, and 89.  Not sure what my goal for 2012 will be.  I don't think breaking 80 is a realistic goal, but I might just set it to give myself something to work toward.

My current handicap is a 22.2, so I think my goal will probably be to get down to a 13 in 2012.

[Kieran123]

Quote:

Break 80 more than once this season ( shot an 80 last round of the season...missed a 7 foot birdie for 79 and my second 79 :( )

Drive it straighter

Handicap to single digits

Broke 80 twice. Same course, same score ( 79 ). Shot my lowest 9 ( 37 ) too.

Still not driving it straight ( case of the hooks and blocks ), and still driving the ball low. Really need to try sort this out in Winter

Got handicap to single digits. Was hovering at 10ish for a long time but made it.

[number1hacker]

I have just completed my first year playing and my goal was to break 80 in the first year. This didn't happen but I was not to far away, 82 being my best score. Last weekend I had a putt for a 79, missed it and carded 80. I still wouldn't have acheived my goal as I was into my 13 month. 39 was My best score through 9. That was beaten last week by 1. Over all I am very happy with my progress this year.

So the new goals for next year are still to shoot under 80! Win my first tournament (in flight A), more consistent short game, improve putting (if I could putt I would have broke 80).

I am quite lucky. I live in Thailand so no winter for me people! Plenty of weekends to break the 80 barrier. Just a shame my local course, which is 10 km up the road is still under water so no driving range for a while yet. Just have to make do with my mates Flight Scope sim in the evenings. :)

Happy Hacking people!!

[kcgolfa1]

I was pleased with 2011. Shot my career low 75 (+4) on my home course and dropped down to a single digit handicap. Would like to be a 5 HCP or less in 2012.

[TourSpoon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TourSpoon

1.  Handicap a solid 5 or lower

2.  More fairways (average 60%)

3.  More strokeplay events

4.  Putting average down to 30 or less

5.  Work on impact position

1. Yes

2. Almost @ 53%

3. Nope

4. Not quite at 31.7

5. Yep, I worked on it!