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What Are Your 2016 Golf Goals? Official Thread


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Posted
2 hours ago, PEZGolf said:

It is not a typo. You are right---I do have a good short game, and can putt.  For example, on July 10, 2009, before I was injured and before I was limited in playing and practicing, I shot a 75 at a course I had never seen before in Rotterdam, New York---near Albany and Schenectady.  Its name is Briar Creek.  I hit 12 out of 12 fairways, was on the fringe or green on 17 of 18 holes, and had 26 putts, with 3 birdies. From the 2nd to 12th holes, I had 11 one putt greens in a row.  Unfortunately, I three putted 16 and 18 for bogies, but the first putts were from 25' or more.  On the 7th hole, a par 3, surrounded by water, I used too much club and went in the water, over the green.  I then dropped 1 club, hit the green, and made the putt for a bogey.  As I previously posted, I played very little from 2010-2014.  Let me tell you-----I really, really missed golf.  I played at Disney World in 2012, and hit only 4 or 5 solid shots in 18 holes.  I then vowed that if I was going to play like that, I would simply give up the game!  I have told people that I do NOT "play golf" in the sense of being a recreational golfer.  Instead, I practice the game and compete in tournaments, and my practice sessions are designed to prepare me for the next  tournament.                        From July 17 to 19 this summer, I played with my son in a Member Guest at the St. Lawrence University Golf Course in Canton, NY.  All winter and spring, I worked to get ready.  We won the 36 hole tournament, and our winning margin was 10 points over the Defending Champions.  Then, on September 27, I shot a 73, 1 over par at the Stonebridge Golf Course, near Utica, NY, and had 38-35, with the 35 being 1 under the par of 36 on the back nine.  I made only 1 birdie---on #16, but had only 2 bogies, on #3 and 6, the two toughest holes on the course.  In each case, I was on the fringe, chipped decently, but 2 putted. Hopefully, with lots of work this winter at golf simulators and the Golf Dome at the Turning Stone Resort near Syracuse (actually in Verona, NY), I will be able to keep my game in shape, including the short game.        Right now, I am penciling in certain tournaments and matches, and one of them will be a return trip to Briar Creek, with my son, my nephew, and my golfing buddy of 40+ years.  When my nephew and I played there in 2009, his Dad was alive and we had a good time.  So this will be a memorial round for "Tink", who can look down from Golf Heaven, and give me the needle, as he always did!

Makes sense.

:ping:  :tmade:  :callaway:   :gamegolf:  :titleist:

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"I'm hitting the woods just great, but I'm having a terrible time getting out of them." ~Harry Toscano

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Posted

OK, so I've set some fairly vague goals for the last couple of years - not necessarily easily achievable, just kinda boring - so this year I think I'll try for a bit more.  (Note to self: the handicap is 5.0 for the 12/15 revisions, and likely will be 5 on January 1.)

  1. Continue improving my practice regimen.  I got better last year and it paid off, but I want to do it even more this year.  Try to meet the 5 minute monthly challenges as much as possible.
  2. Continue lowering the handicap.  I know that as I get lower, the rate slows down to a crawl, so any amount is good, but I'm going to set the numeric goal at >1 stroke - Get it into the "3's."
  3. Competitively, make sure that I prepare well for all tournaments, and leave nothing to chance.  Research, play a practice round if possible, fill out a yardage book, and stick to a game plan.  Win another tournament this year.
  4. Swing-wise: Get and refine a flight pattern I can trust.  I'm kind of close to being able to eliminate the right side of the course, I am just not close enough to trust it yet.  It hasn't been that long since I was hitting cuts often and I still can't bring myself to aim right of center.  I believe that this can be a game-changer if I can get there.
  5. On the fun side: Try and get my son (turning 7 in April) into it a little more, and buy my daughter (turning 5 in May) her first club to see if she might also catch the bug. :)
  • Upvote 1
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Posted

To break par for nine holes (36) at my local course.  Best this year was 39 so I think it is within reach if I keep practicing.  It seems from my stats this year it is mostly all about my tee shots and eliminating any trip into the trees.

Adam

:ping: G30 Driver 

:callaway: XR16 3W
:callaway: Big Bertha 5W
:ping: S55 4-W 
:ping: 50' , 56', 60' Glide Wedge
:odyssey: White Hot #7 Putter


Posted

1. have no expectations when I play a round. Just concentrate on the shot

2. more putting and sand practice 

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Posted
10 hours ago, ZappyAd said:

To break par for nine holes (36) at my local course.  Best this year was 39 so I think it is within reach if I keep practicing.  It seems from my stats this year it is mostly all about my tee shots and eliminating any trip into the trees.

Are you sure you're an 18 handicap golfer? You might want to update the index section of your profile!

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Posted
10 hours ago, ZappyAd said:

To break par for nine holes (36) at my local course.  Best this year was 39 so I think it is within reach if I keep practicing.  It seems from my stats this year it is mostly all about my tee shots and eliminating any trip into the trees.

 

31 minutes ago, Pretzel said:

Are you sure you're an 18 handicap golfer? You might want to update the index section of your profile!

I pondered over this for a while, and couldn't figure out what kind of Par 36 course would be so easy that a bogey golfer could shoot par on it?

:ping:  :tmade:  :callaway:   :gamegolf:  :titleist:

TM White Smoke Big Fontana; Pro-V1
TM Rac 60 TT WS, MD2 56
Ping i20 irons U-4, CFS300
Callaway XR16 9 degree Fujikura Speeder 565 S
Callaway XR16 3W 15 degree Fujikura Speeder 565 S, X2Hot Pro 20 degrees S

"I'm hitting the woods just great, but I'm having a terrible time getting out of them." ~Harry Toscano

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Posted

2015 offered some improvement over 2014, but a long way to go. 

2016:

1)  Improve putting, especially lag putting.  I want average 33-34 putts per round.

2)  Continue to improve ballstriking (measured by Fairways Hit, GIR).   I improved on penalty strokes, but still miss too many fairways.  I want to average at least 6 FIR, with most of balance near-misses.  Still looking for 7 GIR average.  

3)  Play 20 rounds

4)  Play new courses

6 hours ago, Pretzel said:

Are you sure you're an 18 handicap golfer? You might want to update the index section of your profile!

Do you know what you call an 18 hcp that can break par?  Partner!

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Posted
38 minutes ago, LeftRightLeft said:

Do you know what you call an 18 hcp that can break par?  Partner!

Good one! :beer::dance:

:ping:  :tmade:  :callaway:   :gamegolf:  :titleist:

TM White Smoke Big Fontana; Pro-V1
TM Rac 60 TT WS, MD2 56
Ping i20 irons U-4, CFS300
Callaway XR16 9 degree Fujikura Speeder 565 S
Callaway XR16 3W 15 degree Fujikura Speeder 565 S, X2Hot Pro 20 degrees S

"I'm hitting the woods just great, but I'm having a terrible time getting out of them." ~Harry Toscano

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Posted

par my home course (71)

get back to the 4-5 HC range

work on putting more. I got better this year but need to go one more step and make more per round, thats the main problem holding me back at this time realistically


Posted

Just some golf things I want to do in 2016:

  • Keep a real index, with a target being 9
  • Track basic stats like FWY%, GIR%, Putts
  • Not hurt myself pounding all the balls I will be pounding
  • Keep chipping in the back yard once or twice a day/putting over old credit card in the kitchen
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Posted

I really felt as though my wedge work improved in 2015.  My putting stroke was okay towards the end, but I still want to concentrate on those areas to improve.  I got a new soft stroke grip on my putter at the beginning of the year after having the putter with the original grip more than 10 years. It eventually felt comfortable.  I don't want to spend time reading and trying but I like Stockton's methodology, so I will go over that again in early spring  No new clubs this year, bring back an oldie 3 wood that served me well and see if it still has anything left. My driver worked wonderfully  No scoring goals anymore, Good shots fun rounds with great playing partners makes every golf outing enjoyable and satisfactory.  A Barking Squirrel after the round and  life is beautiful


Posted
23 minutes ago, Mjrowe1 said:

Playoff scratch by this time next year, my GA is 13.7 at the moment. Realistic?

Not really. My goal is to play offor scratch coming in as a 1.0, and it took me a little over 2 years to get this fat from a 14. 

Theoretically speaking it's possible for you to do that. Realistically speaking a better goal would be between a 5 and a 10 depending on your work ethic and time commitment (I jumped from a 14 to a 5 in a calendar year playing more than once a day over the summer). Just keep at it and you'll realize that the lower your handicap, the harder improvement becomes. 

  • Upvote 1
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Posted

Here we go.

My Handicap Index is currently 10.1 (I had A 90 count toward my Index)

1. Try to get down to a 7.5 or less.

in order to accomplish this:

A) I need to work on my putting some.

B) Work on my iron play and getting closer to the hole...

C) Keep my short game at the level its at.

2. Actually swing a little bit longer and faster my Clubhead speed is around 107, I think since I have a 3/4 swing for the most part, I can swing a little further back and get to around 112-115 but would be happy around 110.

3. Stick with one set of irons... You heard it here first... I'm sticking with one set of irons, It will probably be the CU's to be honest, Though they are a little shorter, I know where they are going.... So about the only thing my E8's are good for is the shafts.

4. Finally, shoot a round with 0 others... I had a few ESC mash-ups this year... I need to get those momentum killers under control, for example, in the City Tournament qualifying round I shot 90, but was +7 thru 11 (right on Par with my Course Handicap which is 12)... Finished Double, Double, Triple, Par, Bogey, Bogey, Double... The Par Bogey Bogey was OK, but the 7 over in three holes wasn't I need to know when to make damn sure to make no worse than bogey. PERIOD.

What's in Shane's Bag?     

Ball: 2022 :callaway: Chrome Soft Triple Track Driver: :callaway:Paradym Triple Diamond 8° MCA Kai’li 70s FW: :callaway:Paradym Triple Diamond  H: :callaway: Apex Pro 21 20°I (3-PW) :callaway: Apex 21 UST Recoil 95 (3), Recoil 110 (4-PW). Wedges: :callaway: Jaws Raw 50°, 54°, 60° UST Recoil 110 Putter: :odyssey: Tri-Hot 5K Triple Wide 35”

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Posted
17 hours ago, Lihu said:

I pondered over this for a while, and couldn't figure out what kind of Par 36 course would be so easy that a bogey golfer could shoot par on it?

 

18 hours ago, Pretzel said:

Are you sure you're an 18 handicap golfer? You might want to update the index section of your profile!

I haven't played many rounds this year - 3-4 when I started playing again and I was shooting high 80s low 90s.  After a lot of practice in the summer I joined a club on a trial and have played a few 9 hole rounds a week (back 9 of an 18 hole course) for the last month or so.  Playing regularly has driven my score down so in the last few weeks I've done six rounds at 39-41.  Game Golf has me at 13.8 but I guess I haven't really done enough rounds recently to shift the average down and I'm not really sure what I would be if I played the full 18 (I don't think it would be 2x(39-41))

Adam

:ping: G30 Driver 

:callaway: XR16 3W
:callaway: Big Bertha 5W
:ping: S55 4-W 
:ping: 50' , 56', 60' Glide Wedge
:odyssey: White Hot #7 Putter


Posted

Go under par gross in a club competition. Only done this out of comps so far and one round level gross in a comp.

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Posted
51 minutes ago, ZappyAd said:

I haven't played many rounds this year - 3-4 when I started playing again and I was shooting high 80s low 90s.  After a lot of practice in the summer I joined a club on a trial and have played a few 9 hole rounds a week (back 9 of an 18 hole course) for the last month or so.  Playing regularly has driven my score down so in the last few weeks I've done six rounds at 39-41.  Game Golf has me at 13.8 but I guess I haven't really done enough rounds recently to shift the average down and I'm not really sure what I would be if I played the full 18 (I don't think it would be 2x(39-41))

First of all, your handicap is 13.8.

Secondly, those last 4 strokes could take up to years of effective training and possibly a complete swing overhaul to eliminate. It's a huge milestone for some, and unreachable for others.

So, the reason why I can't see myself shooting par is that playing 9 or 18 doesn't change my scores that much and I shoot anywhere from 38 to 45 (or more) on 9 holes on any given day. I don't see myself shooting anything close to 36 for a long time, if ever. I did play a par 65 course and shot 3 over as a 13.7 handicap a while back, but it was a fluke round on a really easy course.

:ping:  :tmade:  :callaway:   :gamegolf:  :titleist:

TM White Smoke Big Fontana; Pro-V1
TM Rac 60 TT WS, MD2 56
Ping i20 irons U-4, CFS300
Callaway XR16 9 degree Fujikura Speeder 565 S
Callaway XR16 3W 15 degree Fujikura Speeder 565 S, X2Hot Pro 20 degrees S

"I'm hitting the woods just great, but I'm having a terrible time getting out of them." ~Harry Toscano

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Note: This thread is 3491 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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  • Posts

    • They weren't necessarily short - I don't remember the exact specifics of all of it, but some of them were missing a little left or right or both. Day 1 they were landing on the edge and kicking on, where day 2 they were just missing and kicking down into the bunkers and did it a lot. I think all told I actually went into bunkers on 8 holes. Some of them were not good shots. Like a few examples, on 8, the pin was in the back. I hit it solidly, but pulled it and it went long, over the bunker into long grass. I had the ball in sandy earth with long grass around it and about a foot below my feet. That next shot I tried to do what I could but it went into the bunker in front of me. Into a footprint. That one I dug out of the footprint, but still in the bunker. Got that one out of the bunker, but into the fringe grass in front of me. Chipped that one on a bit hard and two putts later made a 7. Another was on 14. The flag was on the little finger of green front left. I tried to play a little past it and a little right. Shoved it maybe 10 yards right of where I wanted to and the carry over the bunker gets longer the further right you go and that one hit the grass between the green and the bunker and came back down into the sand, left it in there and didn't get up and down on the next one. I think carrywise it carried about as far as I was planning on it doing so. Another was on 6, leaked my drive a little right into the fairway bunker. Hit a nearly good shot from there that went a little left and a little short and kicked into the bunker front left. That was a strike thing and just a hard shot. Did similar on 18. Drive in the right bunker, slightly heavy second that hit the bank between green and bunker again and kicked back into the sand. I think the tiredness manifested more as not squaring the face up so well and less as slowing down.
    • Depends on how short you were coming up on these shots. A bit more wind? Also, maybe you were swinging at 2-3 mph slower the next day.  I think the biggest thing is not adjusting. Like making assuming your stock shot is not enough and taking 1 club up. Not sure what type of adjustments you were making in your decision making. 
    • No one should measure a joint mobility away from that joint. If you go to physical therapy, they are not measuring your knee mobility based on your midline. It is based at the joint. Shoulder mobility should be measured in reference to the shoulder joint. 
    • He's using a driver swing, while I used the iron swing. Bryson goes from about 65° B to 15° B, hence the 50°. If you bend your right elbow, you're going to pull your hands across your chest some. Conversely, if you abduct your right arm and hold onto a grip with your left arm, you can see how extending the right elbow as we do in the golf swing during the downswing will "pull" the right shoulder/humerus forward (adducting it, as going from 65° to 15° of abduction is). Even people who pull their right shoulder WAY too far around them eventually get it "back in front" when their right arm/elbow extends. So, such a motion shows up as shoulder adduction even though the movement that causes it is just widening the trail elbow. The left hand on the grip almost "pulls" the hands forward as the left arm can't stretch much (there's some shoulder protraction, but that's almost maxed out at P4). Oh, I downloaded it and watched it (and commented there) before he blocked me. It's what led to him posting the comment in the "update" above. 😄  Single shoulder range of 75°, and that's going out well into the follow-through. 50° Max range up to impact. Manavian's video is bad. He keeps saying "midline" which is just a horrible way to look at it. He also kept saying that the club was moving that amount — also wrong. Adding left and right together is really freaking dumb. Another golf instructor said "That's like saying the player has 100 degrees of knee bend (adding left knee bend to right knee bend) 🤦‍♂️" (similar to what the biomechanist said about squatting). Also, see my post above about elbow bend. That's why Plummer’s alignment stick demo is so intellectually dishonest. A golfer can't get anywhere near that position on the left with his left hand on the alignment stick (quoted below).  
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