Ambitions for 2010

scrubber72

So with this years golf frozen off for the majority of us I reckon its time to post our goals and ambitions for next year. Mine is to make it onto one of the club teams and to retain the GOY I won with the society I play in. Also I would like to get to 15 by the end of the year. I have done a lot of practice during the off season and hope I can follow it up in 2010 with some decent play on the course.

Mr check raise

• Get down to 8 handicap-now at 11.1. easily manageable.
• hole some more birdie putts. i often tend to take a two putt from 15ft, as in lag it so fúck it im goin to start busting them in or 4 foot past!
• Get on the Bruen team. should have got on it this year but was off 13 and didnt get to 11 quick enough.
• get over my phobia on the first tee. for love nor money i cant get it on the course for the last month. its just a recipe for disaster for the round

SuprSi

I would definitely like to compete in some junior scratch cups and club team matchplay competitions, but my main aim for next year is to reduce my handicap from 5.7 to 4.0. I'm hoping with a full Spring/Summer I should be able to get it done.

stockdam

Just to get out and enjoy each round.

Waesfjord

Officially join a golf club as a senior for first time and get my handicap (beginner only).

Hope to <20 by end of summer...watch this space :rolleyes:

charlieIRL

Mine is to start playing competitions and get my 22 handicap well down

G1032

Get handicap down to 3. Went backwards this year and am off 5 again - nearly 6. But i've gotten a few lessons in the last couple of months and am very confident about my game now. It was my goal for 2009 to get from 4 to 3 but that didn't really work out:(, but it will remain my goal for 2010.

thoscon

to join a club for the first time and get an official gui hc
want to win an outing with the society next year ,finished 2nd four times and get my society hc lower than 14

One Cold Hand

Have barely hit a ball for 2 years, so just want to get back into it this year. Was off 9 before I stopped playing, so would just like to get playing consistently to that level by the end of the year.

Aside question: to play interclub golf (Barton, Jimmy Bruen etc) is there a requirement to have played a certain number of competitions in the year before? (I have 5 in my head for some reason, but have no idea where that came from!)

PhilipMarlowe

One Cold Hand wrote: »

Aside question: to play interclub golf (Barton, Jimmy Bruen etc) is there a requirement to have played a certain number of competitions in the year before? (I have 5 in my head for some reason, but have no idea where that came from!)

The general rule for 2009 was 4 returns in Qualifying Competitions for most of the interclub competitions (recorded on your home computer but not necessarily played at home so open singles would count as long as they were qualifying)
Full pdf for 2009 terms here - http://www.gui.ie/uploads/docs/997_GUI_Conditions_09.pdf

liam12989

Want to get handicap down to 2 this year currently just gone to 4 (3.6) but havent played anywhere near good enough last 2 years. and 2011 im hoping to get into few championships.

thegen

One Cold Hand wrote: »

Have barely hit a ball for 2 years, so just want to get back into it this year. Was off 9 before I stopped playing, so would just like to get playing consistently to that level by the end of the year.

Aside question: to play interclub golf (Barton, Jimmy Bruen etc) is there a requirement to have played a certain number of competitions in the year before? (I have 5 in my head for some reason, but have no idea where that came from!)

As Licksy has said 4 qualifying cards from previous year. We had a guy in our club who had taken a two year break from golf and when he returned indicated he would like to take part in interclub comps.
We asked the GUI for a ruling and to take into account the previous playing history of the player only to be told rules are rules. So I would say you will not be able to play this coming year but get your cards in for next year.

kermitpwee

Jimmy bruen, win it out.

curly from cork

female.currently off 12. have been 11 but never lower, would just love to get to single figures. i am dreadfully inconsistant, 43 points once a year lucky to break 32 for the rest of the year ! so my aim is for consistancy...

dlegend3

I've been working hard myself with a new coach , hopefully i can get to single figures .

BUACHAILL

Ok I have been thinking hard on this one. Current handicap is 8 and feel I have the game to get to 5 this year. I think realistically 3 shots is a bit much to ask so I feel 6 will be more achieveable. That's my main goal however I have others there that I know I need to achieve first in order to reach the target. So here they are firstly I want to practice a minimum of 4 days a week and one game on the weekend, secondly I feel I should be more accurate with my approach shots, last year I hit a lot of fairways and didn't really make the most of it, and finally I want to give myself every chance of making the club teams again and think it will fall into place with my extra practice.

Am I being too optimistic on my overall target?

Myksyk

Would really like to get my current hc of 10.6 down to 8. That would be great for next year, but the shots really start to get hard to take off below 9 or 10. Am looking forward to trialing for jimmy bruen and will use that as a motivator. Have started back to the gym too to aid in the overall game improvement. Aim to continue to improve my mental approach too.

Have started to keep very detailed stats over the last four rounds and have a card I've put together which records just about everything. I then have an overall stats sheet looking at various averages etc. Over the next year I am looking particularly at four or five stats which i hope to have improved significantly by year's end. They are fairways hit, GIR, putts per round (and associated number of three putts per round), average distance to hole from chips, scrambling stat and sand save percentage. I want to know exactly if and where I have improved my game over the next year. if I were to prioritise one area it would be putting.

G1032

BUACHAILL wrote: »

Ok I have been thinking hard on this one. Current handicap is 8 and feel I have the game to get to 5 this year. I think realistically 3 shots is a bit much to ask so I feel 6 will be more achieveable.

--secondly I feel I should be more accurate with my approach shots, last year I hit a lot of fairways and didn't really make the most of it.
Am I being too optimistic on my overall target?

No you're not being too optimistic. In fact 3 shots is not too much to ask, and if you feel you can get to 6 then there is no reason you can't get to 5. Make getting to 5 your main goal.

--Being more accurate with my approach shots isn't the way you should set out your goal IMO. I would rephrase it to something like 'I'm going to average x greens in regulation for the season' or 'i'm going to get x% of shots from within 100 yards inside 8 foot' Just being more accurate isn't a goal you can measure properly.

G1032

curly from cork wrote: »

female.currently off 12. have been 11 but never lower, would just love to get to single figures. i am dreadfully inconsistant, 43 points once a year lucky to break 32 for the rest of the year ! so my aim is for consistancy...

Short game. Thats where you'll develop your consistency. If you get a couple of short game lessons and practice what your thought you'll probably see more consistently lower scores.

BUACHAILL

ronaldochokes wrote: »

No you're not being too optimistic. In fact 3 shots is not too much to ask, and if you feel you can get to 6 then there is no reason you can't get to 5. Make getting to 5 your main goal.

--Being more accurate with my approach shots isn't the way you should set out your goal IMO. I would rephrase it to something like 'I'm going to average x greens in regulation for the season' or 'i'm going to get x% of shots from within 100 yards inside 8 foot' Just being more accurate isn't a goal you can measure properly.

Sorry I should have been more detailed on my targets, that's exactly how I will measure it I was just generalising on the previous post, most of my practice will now consist of 7-8-9 irons as this is generally my clubs needed for my 2nd shots. I will put a program in place for my practice so I am getting the best out of my time and will measure it then on gir etc

just on that and don't mean to drag thread off topic but have you or anyone got specific practice drills etc for this?

I can start a new post if preferred

cheers

jackcee

Just looked through this thread and I feel like an interloper, given the standard to which you are all aspiring.

Between business, travel and a catalogue of injuries (all unrelated), I have only managed an average of about 3-4 games each year over the past 5 years - not counting a nice number of (golf) trips abroad.

So, with hopefully an injury-free run and a new sense of "getting out there", I am looking forward to getting out in competition - which I have always shied away from.

With the recession etc., one has to re-evaluate the whole proposition of paying an "expensive" sub every year - and not playing. Would hate to thing how much each round, in my home club, has cost me over the past 5 years.

I imagine that a lot of clubs will see an increase in involvement from members that have been like me - paying up and then not playing. The decision will be to either play on a regular basis (i.e. in competition) or else not renew the sub.

Nerdstrom

Lower Hcap by 2.0 shots, minimum.

This helps towards other goals, i.e. competing for team positions, and gaining entry to events.

Some other goals are impossible to measure statistically, but I suppose the player has their own understanding of what level constitutes satisfactory improvement.
For example...........
I would like to be a faster learner when trying to play away courses, and be more consistently cocky with wedge shots. I have always tended to subconsciously decide (if thats possible:o) before I play, whether or not I am in the "groove" with the short game,and that has had a huge impact on performance that day, usually either or :mad:!!

Another nemesis of mine has been an inability to accept "less than good" shots. I seem to have a black and white view of my own shots, which is either ok, or really not ok!!!

Nothing a little had work on the right areas can't fix.

This will be interesting to look back on in October 2010!!:p

G1032

Nerdstrom wrote: »

Lower Hcap by 2.0 shots, minimum.

I have always tended to subconsciously decide (if thats possible:o) before I play, whether or not I am in the "groove" with the short game,and that has had a huge impact on performance that day, usually either or :mad:!!

Did you ever read Bob Rotella's books? Great books to help with the mental game.

ratzy

I hope to get some serious practice in after june and get my handicap down to about 13 its now at 25 but i feel i can do it.Cant do anything before june because ive got the leaving cert

gcarty

I'd like to get down to 4.0 in 2010. I'm at 6.8 at the moment and lost 2 shots this year. Really have to practice my wedge game if this is to happen! Would like to play junior cup next year and do well in a few U-18 competitions.

Nerdstrom

ronaldochokes wrote: »

Did you ever read Bob Rotella's books? Great books to help with the mental game.

You could say that i have,:P
Iv got Golf is not AGOP, Putting out of your mind, Golf is a game of confidence, The golfers mind, the 15th club and the one i don't like: Golf of your dreams;)

Also I find it handy having the audio books on my zen while practicing, they were not expensive to download on Audible.co.uk

Good suggestion ronaldo, its just hard to actually put the good rotella stuff into practice, as opposed to just knowing it.:(

We'll get there eventually though

curly from cork

ronaldochokes wrote: »

Short game. Thats where you'll develop your consistency. If you get a couple of short game lessons and practice what your thought you'll probably see more consistently lower scores.

i only wish it were that simple ronaldo !! have had lessons for my short game which is quite reasonable, unfortunately the recommendation is to re learn my swing, start from scratch. video footage shows my terrible " over the top |" habit in stark reality .:mad:

halfforward

Join a club for the first time and get a handicap. Play a few comps and become more confident in what I'm doing. Guessing that I'll get around 20 as my first handicap, I'd be happy with that to on.

jimmystars

Practice my short game once a week at least.
Practice long game once a week at least.
Practice putting on the carpet at home once a night.
Have lessons organised so keep them up for 4 months minimum with one every 2 weeks.
Play less during the summer and stick to the above practice schedule. I find my form dips if i play too much without practicing.
Hope my handicap takes care of itself with it going down a few shots.
Will try out for a club team as well.

The_Kew_Tour

Just to play much more Golf this year then I ever have before.

Only played 15 or so rounds this year due work etc so want start plying much more this term.

soundsham

practice less
play less
maintain h'cap currently 8

G1032

Nerdstrom wrote: »

Good suggestion ronaldo, its just hard to actually put the good rotella stuff into practice, as opposed to just knowing it.:(

Have 3 of his books. I find that after I read a book I can put into practice what he suggests but over time then I forget it and fall back into old habits. I think the books need to be read every so often to refresh the mind.........

G1032

curly from cork wrote: »

i only wish it were that simple ronaldo !! have had lessons for my short game which is quite reasonable, unfortunately the recommendation is to re learn my swing, start from scratch. video footage shows my terrible " over the top |" habit in stark reality .:mad:

Sounds like some pro wants to squeeze a few euro out of you. He should be able to work with your swing as it is...

curly from cork

no in fairness to him i think not. he has been working with my swing for the past 8 years but i just find that im stuck at 11/12 ( currently 12 sadly ) a few of the lads i play with who are all low h cappers , generally 5 and below, all make the same observation about my poor over the top swing.. oh for some consistancy

Mr. Larson

OK so my handicap has been brought forward in GolfNET for 2010 and we will be going back to 18 holes in a matter of weeks now and hopefully we've all got a good run of playing over the past few weeks and know what shape our respective games are in - so it's time to put down on paper what the goals are. It's always good to look back at these in October and compare progress versus plan.

• Handicap from 12 to 9 or better. I've been losing 3 shots a year on average so why not?
• Break 80 in a Medal Competition. Have had a few 79's in Stableford and a few 75's off the Green Tees... but my lowest recorded Medal score is an 87 when I was off 18! :eek:
• Keep 1 putting more than I 3 putt and/or keep average putts per hole below 2.0
• Stay away from the driving range.

That's it really, short and sweet.

G1032

Jabberwocky wrote: »

Stay away from the driving range.

Why this?

Mr. Larson

ronaldochokes wrote: »

Why this?

It's just a personal thing really - bit of a long story. I tend not to be able to practice properly as my tempo gets all messed up whenever I go to the driving range and hit golf balls - it brings be back to a place I don't want to be and that's being in a "training the golf swing" mentality.

It just does nothing for me at my current level so I'm better off staying away. I don't doubt that to get to a really high standard of golf, let's say if I was off single figures, say 8 for e.g. and trying to get lower I might need to consider it then. But for the moment I'm fairly happy with my long game and if I can continue to concentrate improvement on my short game I'll get from 12 to 8ish please God.

I used to dissect, analyse and overcomplicate the golf swing for my 1st few years playing and it resulted in some pretty erratic golf. Hooks, pushes, pulls, tops, fats... you name it. In the last 1½ to 2 years I've just focussed on picking targets and not thought at all about how I've been swinging the golf club. The drawback to this is that my shot shape changes regularly. One day I might have a draw. The next day a fade, another day relatively straight. But the plus side is that I'll have the draw for the whole round so I quickly adapt. And the ultimate plus is that I have massively reduced the amount of hooks, pushes, pulls, tops, fats...

Make sense?

5989

Jabberwocky wrote: »

It's just a personal thing really - bit of a long story. I tend not to be able to practice properly as my tempo gets all messed up whenever I go to the driving range and hit golf balls - it brings be back to a place I don't want to be and that's being in a "training the golf swing" mentality.

It just does nothing for me at my current level so I'm better off staying away. I don't doubt that to get to a really high standard of golf, let's say if I was off single figures, say 8 for e.g. and trying to get lower I might need to consider it then. But for the moment I'm fairly happy with my long game and if I can continue to concentrate improvement on my short game I'll get from 12 to 8ish please God.

I used to dissect, analyse and overcomplicate the golf swing for my 1st few years playing and it resulted in some pretty erratic golf. Hooks, pushes, pulls, tops, fats... you name it. In the last 1½ to 2 years I've just focussed on picking targets and not thought at all about how I've been swinging the golf club. The drawback to this is that my shot shape changes regularly. One day I might have a draw. The next day a fade, another day relatively straight. But the plus side is that I'll have the draw for the whole round so I quickly adapt. And the ultimate plus is that I have massively reduced the amount of hooks, pushes, pulls, tops, fats...

Make sense?

+1 massively......For the last three years I spent a fair bit of time on the range.....Could not score for my life on the course...I figured this year, that it was due to the range-obsession of trying to hit the next shot pure and straight...all well and good but not related to the on-course pressure situations where you find yourself devoid of the alignment dividers of the range and the soft, yielding range mats. I decided to get out and play more and focus on scoring on the course and getting the ball on the course..

I also get the different day-different shot shape thing but I can live with that!

billy3sheets

I posted a very detailed breakdown of my goals for 2009 & for the most part they did not work out at all

For 2010, I am going to simplify it all.
1. Get to a stage where, from inside 100yds:

1. I expect to get down in 2
2. I never take more than 3

2. Play as often and on as many different courses as I can.

I think if I achieve this, then the handicap and the prizes will look after themselves

dlegend3

Thanks to my new coach & 8 weeks hard work i've shot a 72 , 73 & a 71 in my last 3 games. The improvement has been dramatic but i did put in some long hours working with Darren & practicing. Here's to getting the handicap slashed soon.

Mr. Larson

dlegend3 wrote: »

Thanks to my new coach & 8 weeks hard work i've shot a 72 , 73 & a 71 in my last 3 games. The improvement has been dramatic but i did put in some long hours working with Darren & practicing. Here's to getting the handicap slashed soon.

Nice! What are you playing off currently? Were those forward tee 'placing' scores?

irish_man

play in more competitions,
be more consistent
and get my handicap from 22 to 17 or lower

Obni

Try to move from 16 to 13 or 14 this year.

This means...
(a) Play more qualifying opens away from Druid's Heath, and get cut, so my handicap is a truer reflection of my general golf and I can enjoy competing in society golf without being embarrassed by the consistently high 30's and low 40's stableford scores.

OR

(b) Finally, crack Druid's Heath and get my handicap down playing there.

Sionnachster

dlegend3 wrote: »

Thanks to my new coach & 8 weeks hard work i've shot a 72 , 73 & a 71 in my last 3 games. The improvement has been dramatic but i did put in some long hours working with Darren & practicing. Here's to getting the handicap slashed soon.

Are you not off double figures or am I mistaken? What sort of practicing were you doing?!?!?!!? :eek:

Sionnachster

More realism this year is my first goal!

1. Increase time spent on short game Par 18 and putting drills each week - never less than twice.
2. Represent the club on one of the two panels I'm involved with.
3. Play as many weekly competitions as possible and post a solid score in at least 3 medals.
4. Reduce handicap to 7
5. Enjoy it more and relax some of the pressure I put on myself, whatever happens, happens!

(6. Try remember the content of the Roatella books without desperately reading books again)

Whyner

Obni2 wrote: »

Try to move from 16 to 13 or 14 this year.

This means...
(a) Play more qualifying opens away from Druid's Heath, and get cut, so my handicap is a truer reflection of my general golf and I can enjoy competing in society golf without being embarrassed by the consistently high 30's and low 40's stableford scores.

Eh? Doesn't your society cut you?

ShriekingSheet

Whyner wrote: »

Eh? Doesn't your society cut you?

Society rounds no longer cut your GUI h'cap immediately, as a home club comp or Open would. Instead, you report all the scores and your h'cap sec takes them into account at the end of year review.

It is possible to play such good golf in a society all year without being cut.

But Obni, did you not report all your scores? The kind of scores you alluded to would definitely have had you cut in the review!

Whyner

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Society rounds no longer cut your GUI h'cap immediately, as a home club comp or Open would. Instead, you report all the scores and your h'cap sec takes them into account at the end of year review.

It is possible to play such good golf in a society all year without being cut.

But Obni, did you not report all your scores? The kind of scores you alluded to would definitely have had you cut in the review!

I'm talking about his society handicap. My GUI is 19 but my society is 15. I played really well in my society last year and got cut. Also, if my GUI went below my society then that would replace my society.

Obni2 - Can you get cut in your society?

donvito99

Get down to 10, hopefully.

Obni

Got cut straight away in each society (I'm a member of 4, 3 work-related and 1 pub-related) and reported all my scores to the club, and 3 of the societies also have a policy of retruning cards directly. It seems some clubs don't seem to consider any competition in which you haven't swiped your GUI card.
Either that, or the fact that my home stableford scores regularly dipped into the high 20's, may have cancelled them out under review.

Whyner

So after getting cut in each society why are you still getting embarrassingly high scores?