Happy New Year everyone!  As you are thinking about the past year and looking forward to 2013,  think about what you can do to improve your golf game this year?  What did you do last year?  Did it work?  Did you struggle trying to figure it out on your own?

If you don’t have a plan for your game, you will most likely just spin your wheels and end up shooting the same scores as last year.  Set some goals for this upcoming season.  A good goal must be measurable.  I want to play better is not really a good goal.  I want to lower my handicap from 18 to 14 is a good goal.  What are you going to do to reach that goal?

Most people really have no idea what they actually need to do to reduce their scores.  Spending hours at the range without a specific plan can actually be detrimental to your game.  You are just grooving the same swing and hoping for a different result.  What is that definition of insanity that we have all heard before…..?

Here are some other good goals with a plan to achieve them:

I am going to reduce my putts per round from 36 to 33.  To reach this goal I am going to practice my lag putting for 1 hour, 2 times per week.  Do most of you even know how many putts you have per round?

I am going to get up and down 2 more times per round.  I am going to take a series of lessons or a shortgame clinic to help me reach my goal.

I want to increase my greens hit in regulation from 6 to 8 per round.  I need to take a full swing lesson with my irons to find out what my issue is and then practice 2 times a week for 30 minutes.

These goals are measurable and with a good plan they are certainly attainable.  Achieving goals like this will ABSOLUTELY lower your scores.  Hitting balls for hours and hours without a plan will just groove the swing you are struggling with.  Even worse is to try something different every few swings hoping to “find it”.

Most players have a scoring leak in their game.  It could be their full swing with the driver or irons (or both), putting, pitching, bunker play, or even the mental game.  It is so important to accurately identify what your problem is and then work on it diligently until you fix it.  Taking a golf lesson will help to identify the issue and then you can take whatever practice time you have to work on it.

The start of the golf season is only about 2 months away.  What are you going to do to play the best golf of your life in 2013?  The winter is a GREAT time to work on your game so you can come out of the gate ready to play in the spring. Our indoor winter training room is set up at the Militia Hill Club House and is ready to go.  I am looking forward to helping you play your best in 2013!

Have a great 2013!

Mark