What are Your 2017 Golf Goals?

[WUTiger]

1. Be systematic in my approach to golf. I'm finally resolving some distracting responsibilities / entanglements in my life, so my schedule should be more predictable.
2. Redo my short-game matrix for my new wedges. I tested wedges at multiple demo days before I selected them. Three wedges should be simpler than four.
3. Post some new footage to my Member Swing thread. (I lost most of the summer to right-side tennis elbow).
4. Keep swinging smoothly to avoid reinjury of arm. (My wife complimented me at the Golf Galaxy Christmas Party for swinging in balance rather than trying to kill the ball).
5. Get my HDCP below 20. Pathway: get better handle on wedges, short game (fell off last year), and maximize my new driver.  // Decide if new irons would help my game. 

My wife retired in September, so she will be joining the Women's League at the course. She plans to play more overall, which will help me with goal #1.

[InTheRough]

1. Get my handicap below 4.0 (on GameGolf-not sure if I will get an official handicap)

2. shoot under par for 9 holes

3. shoot an even par round

4. average 75% GIR over a string of 5 rounds

Have a lot of plans to take a more methodical approach to practicing this year.  Last year I put a premium on getting on the course as much as possible which certainly helped, but this year I am going to focus on the weakest parts of my game---short game.  I have a putting mat at home to work on stroke and starting my putts on line and can do the same with short chipping around my apartment and as soon as the weather turns in the spring I can get on an actual putting green once a week.  My long game was definitely a strength this year and I have plans to solidify it again with lessons over the winter with the pro that helped be break under the 10 handicap barrier.  

[rkim291968]

1. Get to HI in 12s at least once in 2017.

2. Finish 2017 with HI in 14s.

My  "do not" goals for 2017:

• Do not swear at other golfers.
• Do not hit into front group.
• Do not cry after scoring a 10 on a hole.
• Do not break any golf clubs.  
• Do not buy another golf set (see above bullet).
• Do not buy another golf practice gadget.  
• Do not blame others for my golf shot.
• Do not generate lame excuse for my golf shot.
• Do not play during pouring rain.  

[NorCalHacker]

Consistently play in the 80's. 

[rehmwa]

I'll start simple:

Get a couple videos of my swing on my "My Swing" thread and see what my friends here can advise.  I have them already, I just have to move them about.

It's been a long time.

[gogreengolf]

Become more mindful and pay attention to the details in my swing. 

SLOW my swing down. I'm 6'4" so I have a tendency to let it rip (club speed about 120), which results in inconsistencies.

Relax my shoulders when swinging.

Enjoy the round - it always beats working!

Always working to improve small areas of my game. 

[cutchemist42]

1- Current HI on GG is 16.4, I would love to get down to 12ish.

I plan to do this by identifying where I lose the most shots with more consideration of GG stats as well as some spreadsheets I use, and working on that.

2016, my worst area was mid-approach shots for total shots lost, while my highest average lost was driver. Driver causes me a lot of penalties from OB. I would love for my average shots gained on driver to match my approach shots.

I hope to reduce that by more video work of what Im doing wrong by being more active in my swing thread.

2-This past winter was the first one in my golfing "career". I was surprised by how much catch up is involved in your first few weeks back in April/May. I plan to avoid this mess by doing mirror work and indoor golf dome more frequently than last year. (I went to the golf dome once last winter)

3-Stop over-thinking putts, I was actually better at putting when I first started because I didnt know enough to over-think things. I dont really intend to practise putting, but I want to approach them with a new routine I've been practising.

4-Listen to my body to avoid injury, lost 1.5 months of golf last year by pushing it at one point resulting in wrist bone/tendon problems.

 

Edited December 21, 2016 by cutchemist42

[J M Brown]

My goal is to make the time to play golf.  The last 2 years I've only manage to get one round a year in.  I've got two boys that play year round baseball and I'm always on the go to practice, lessons, games, and tournaments.  I would really like to set a goal of playing once a month.  I do manage to find time to putt and chip around the house but the course time is really nonexistent.

[b101]

Two goals:

1. Make more time for practice, particularly when work is hotting up. I intend to block out Wednesday afternoon and Sunday morning for range sessions and will hopefully play at least once per month outside of holidays. Beyond that, mirror work and putting mat practice at home needs to be more regular than it has been. This is the most important goal for me - I love the sport but find it hard to prioritise time for myself during term-time. When I do practise, don't cheat and keep being specific with what I'm doing.
2. Get below 11 by the end of the year. I am currently at 11.3, so there isn't miles to go, but this means continually getting cards in, making sensible decisions on the course and ensuring that target #1 is being met. To really get to this goal, I have to improve my putting from over 10 feet, particularly in terms of distance, keep working hard on the swing tips from evolvr and teach myself the safe driver shot from the tee to keep it in play.

I think I could get below 10 if I really worked at it; it's just the time constraints and the pressure of performing in comps - my poor shots really come out in the first 9 holes when I know a card is on the line and I need to get over that.

 

Edited December 25, 2016 by b101

[shortstop20]

1. Get down to a 5 handicap.

2. By working on my full swing setup and hand path(deeper) on the backswing.

Also, by improving my putting stroke. I need to keep a consistent setup and get the hands inline with the shaft with a slight forward press. 

[sgvg]

As I still consider myself a beginner:

1. Develop a swing with all of the correct fundamentals

2. Be able to control the pace of my putting

3. Not give up on a round because of bad first couple of holes

4. Reach a handicap lower than 18

5. And many other goals which will arise due to problems I will encounter!

[kwjewell67]

Well third season back playing since I quit playing 30 years ago. This years goals is to continue with lessons on my short game and get my handicap from 9 to a 5. 

 

[DavidMatthew1978]

2017 goals:  Play at least 50-75 rounds.

                     get back to single  digits handi-cap

                     Shorten my swing and swing slower

                     Have confidence in every shot, even if the last shot were horrible. Learn to regroup                        immediately and think positive in next execution.

                    Spend less money on Brand New Pro V's, search better  during  downtime when                         walking for my ball. $5 dollars a new ball is insane when I find at least 10 good balls                          a  round!!  When I start hitting scratch again, which i did 20 years ago,I will                               buy  a sleeve of brand new balls!   lol   heheh hohoho Happy Holidays

                    

[Mico]

Here are my goals

Overall: Reduce my handicap to under 10 from current 15. 

A. Improve swing. Generate an inside out swing so that I hit the ball more consistently and accurately. My current swing is very inconsistent and leaks power

metrics

fairways hit 7/13 from current average of 5/13

GIR 5/18 v. current average of 2/18

this improvement should reduce my score on average three strokes per round

Actions

5 minute swing practice every day with Sklz swing trainer and golf clubs

Once a week range/golf practice

B. Short game improvement 

I would like to improve my chipping and putting so that I can close out holes even when I miss GIR.

Metrics

saves per round 4 (compared to two currently)

reduce three putts to average of 1.5 per round v. current two per round

reduce average total putts to 32 per round (versus 33.5 currently) 

This improvement should reduce my score on average two and a half strokes per round

Actions

practice chipping with almost golf balls at home

work on putting once a week at course (maybe invest in practice surface at home) 

C. Invest in instruction to achieve outcomes. Periodically throughout the year, I will seek instruction to stay on track with my improvements

january: professional instruction one hour

march: professional instruction one hour

June: professional instruction one hour

sept: professional instruction one hour

dec: professional instruction one hour

 

 

[Shindig]

Well, I don't think I set 2016 goals, and that was a mistake.   

In September, my goal was to continue playing through the end of the year (weather here permits that).  I did... for September.  Then I got hurt in October.  The worst thing about that injury was that, unlike some previous falls, there was time in my schedule to practice and play.  It was like that episode of The Twilight Zone.  There was time but no, one thing after the other.

I figure there's probably some science to making goals that says there's a better way to do this, but:

* Keep up that 5 minutes/ day as many days as I can.  Even in months where I miss a day.  Hit the rest.

* Play once per handicap period (once between days 1-15, once days 16 - end).

* Don't get hurt again.

[ElWagonne]

1) Get back into real competition golf, whether it's the Golf Channel Am Tour or state competitions

2) Shoot 75 or lower.  

3) Knock 2 more shots off the handicap

4) Make my game strong enough to where I can shoot at least low 80's on most tracks.

[Golfingdad]

My goals for 2017 are going to be somewhat similar to my 2016 goals:

1. Keep improving.  To be specific and ambitious about it; get my handicap into the 2's.  This year I got into the 4's and stayed there without many hiccups, and I've been at 4.1 for awhile now, so we're really only talking about just over a stroke of improvement.  I re-upped with Evolvr just a couple of weeks ago with the intention of getting back into practicing well (and often) again.
2. Keep playing competitive golf.  I will enter the same local association tournaments that I entered last year (socal am and socal mid-am) and will enter any larger association qualifiers that I can qualify for (which for now might include the Cali am, but if I get better in time it could also include the US Mid-am just like @kpaulhus), and I will start playing in a few club tournaments as well.  Club championship, City championship at my home course, and our match play championship.  No Golf Channel Am Tour events this year.

[Wanzo]

7 hours ago, Golfingdad said:

My goals for 2017 are going to be somewhat similar to my 2016 goals:

1. Keep improving.  To be specific and ambitious about it; get my handicap into the 2's.  This year I got into the 4's and stayed there without many hiccups, and I've been at 4.1 for awhile now, so we're really only talking about just over a stroke of improvement.  I re-upped with Evolvr just a couple of weeks ago with the intention of getting back into practicing well (and often) again.
2. Keep playing competitive golf.  I will enter the same local association tournaments that I entered last year (socal am and socal mid-am) and will enter any larger association qualifiers that I can qualify for (which for now might include the Cali am, but if I get better in time it could also include the US Mid-am just like @kpaulhus), and I will start playing in a few club tournaments as well.  Club championship, City championship at my home course, and our match play championship.  No Golf Channel Am Tour events this year.

Those are some fun goals. I hope to get to where you are eventually with your hcp and also playing in some more tournaments. How long have you been playing in local tourneys?  What's your your best score in a competitive round?  Do you know what area of your game needs to change to get to a "2" or maybe what your priority piece from evolvr is?  Happy new year and best of luck in reaching your goals!