Golfing Goals 2022

Digging this up as I consider the season over…

1. Yup, all of 4 times
2. Nope, lost by a point.
3. Nope
4. 20.1
5. Yup

Very happy overall. Player of the year with local society with wins on 3 outings (I seem to like away courses vs home club), decent HC drop. Gutted re last putt of the “friendly” comp.

• Yes, Handicap is lower. At lowest ever currently, 6.4
• No, probabky didn't really improve here overall
• Yes, broke 80 at least 5 times I think, including lowest ever gross, +2
• Yes, just about, at Bayhill
• Yes, just about, at Sawgrass (hit green and parred 17)
• Won 2 boards events in a row, Greystones and Dundrum
• Made Jug team, but lost our match
• Won a couple of class prizes, but no overall wins at home
• Won our winter matchplay so an over-performance there
• Hit the last target easily, great year of enjoyable golf

66% success rate.

Only played 13 counting rounds.

However, not only did I keep to single figures but my handicap went down almost a full shot. So overall, very happy with my season.

we stayed there. It was all booked through a golf tour package. I believe if you want to play the course, you most likely have to stay on site. Bayhill was same.

We didn't really notice the cost because it was bundled together with the rest of the trip....... but is it worth it..... hell yes... i was was to do it again, and i think Space will agree with me, we stayed the night before, but we should have stayed an extra night also.

Just don't do what I did and get pissed the night before 🤣

Seve covered it off.

It's really worth it. Course is spectacular, and no real snobbyness about the place. Cool clubhouse and warm up facilities.

Think i saw someone complaining on Twitter that currently it's around $840 for a 4-ball.

We also had to take a fore-caddy in each group. Cost split 4 ways, but worth remembering it as a potential extra cost

1. Achieved for the most part: I did plenty of short-game work but not quite as much putting. Got lessons in both which really helped particularly a set putting stroke and a couple of key drills for gauging pace/speed and keeping the ball on the intended line.
2. Not achieved but I dropped to 11.6 and hold this until next season.
3. Not achieved but I did record a new pb of 83 (prev 84). Quite confident I'll break 80 next year.
4. Achieved. Towards the end of the season, it all came together. All of my counting rounds are now in the 80s.
5. Achieved. Lots of rounds with 2 birdies.
6. Not achieved. I did add a couple of new holes to the list but still a number of holes outstanding for next year.
7. Achieved. Still too many doubles on most weeks 😀.
8. Not achieved. I did get a stand bag but I didn't use it often enough tbf.
9. Not achieved. Sorry but I'm a new gear pervert like most of us. I didn't buy any new clubs but I did get a couple of used ones.
10. Not achieved. Had options but I didn't take them.
11. Not achieved. Changed job and lost my bank of AL. Probably won't have the chance next year either.
12. Kinda achieved. Won PGA tankard (secondary comp on a Sunday). Also called a 2-shot penalty on myself in another comp where I finished ultimately finished 2nd - don't ask but it was a great lesson.
13. Not achieved. I did make the final round in all of the majors I entered.
14. Achieved. Played interclub mixed and entered club matchplay comps.
15. Achieved. No covid meant more chances to socialize. Definitely had more craic on the course and enjoyed the process to practice/lessons to get better. The matchplay comps were a great time to meet someone different and often followed up with a couple of pints or coffee.

Extras of note:

1. Made my first eagle which was a hole out from 60 yards on par 4.
2. Won the club long handicap matchplay comp. Recorded a pb in the final match which inluded 1st-time birdie on a tough hole and reached a tough par 5 in two also for the first time. I did 3-putt it like most of my other eagle chances 😂.
3. I really have an appreciation for how important golf is for some people. I'm not talking about playing your best or winning.

For point 3 above, I can say that golf is much more than just a game to play. A lot of the senior members don't have a massive amount of outlets for fun and socialising. Eg. kids have grown up and they are also now retired from work. Golf offers them a fantastic little community and weekly outlet. Not to mention regular exercise. There are always committees or little jobs in the club that they can assist with too.

I'll have a think about next year's goals over the coming weeks. The main one will be to break 80 and drop to single figures.

1. Success, finished at 16.8 and definitely would have went much lower if Sep and Oct weather wasnt so bad
2. My secondary injuries cleared up for summer, this is really from now on to give me a chance to get off flyer for 2023
3. Failed, was at 20.8 in May and was 20.4 in July
4. Finally got a lesson in late August, feel a lot more confident but i will still put whenever I can (fluked a hole out on Saturday)
5. New irons got, with wedges and 5w. Didnt do it early enough. I think part of the reason I was still in 20s in July was I had no idea how far they went (maybe some practice next year). They go a lot further, like 30 yards further for a 7 iron (125-130) to (150-165)
6. Still weakest part but getting better, shafts in old irons were way too heavy causing the issues (maybe practice on range)

Mixed bag for me this year golf wise. Didn't play as much as last year due to baby arriving in late August so missed a good portion of the calendar, typically play my best golf in August/September but barely played during that time but can't complain as hit some of my goals.

1. Not quite, 3 rounds in the 70s and an 80.
2. Done, off 7.6 now thanks to a good run of rounds around the 80 mark that replaced some higher counting scores.
3. Done, also got a putter fitting which has allowed me to commit to my current putter as it was ideal for me anyway so a win/win
4. Done, got fit in March for P790s.
5. Didn't play a single event, initial outings just didn't suit and as the due date for the baby got closer i just didn't have the time.
6. Played 2 but they were in my dads club so not really what I had in mind.
7. Done, some interesting stuff in there but no great surprises. Bad driving is still what kills my rounds, if i'm in play i do well
8. K Club was only fancy course i got to this year but hope to try get more in next year.

I played 37 counting rounds and a good few casual rounds that I didn't record for various reasons. Started season on 14.9, went out to 16.4 by July but came back in to 13.6 at the end. Some good scores in mid-80s and minor prize wins. I had 1 eagle and lots of birdies.

I got 3 lessons over the season on iron play and I'm striking it much better now. Also did a good bit of mixed practice most weeks.

I'm way more consistent and have way fewer really bad rounds. I really enjoy going out to play now and realize that there will be days when I'll get the breaks and sink the putts but also days that I won't.

As regards goal setting, I'm happy enough with just getting consistent quality in my shots at the moment and seeing what drops out of that in terms of measurables like GIR, lack of scratches/doubles, birdie/eagle count, wins, HI reduction etc.

Or not!

from my top 8 scores in golf ireland they are 72-74. So I have been okay. My last 5 counting rounds have been bad though, over 82 each of them which means my handicap of 7.8 could almost double if I don't start putting in some decent cards. Injury was a factor this year again. Hard to get consistency when you have a body made out of matchsticks

I blame focusing on match play golf. Haven't had chance to enter the comps when I was playing well.

Birdie challenge is interesting, the lack of tournament play means I am probably not going to achieve this. I have 12 of 18 so far. Birdied all off the back 9. 3 on the front, I reckon I have the other 6 covered in matchplay but doesn't count in my challenge

most disappointing thing was the lack of interclubs. Just not getting much of a look in this year. I dropped too low for teams I was on last year which explains it a bit. Disappointing though because it is the best thing about playing

Didn't make it to Donegal but I did make it back to Carne.... Heaven

The biggest win for me this year was starting to enjoy the game again, even on bad days. I was in a very bad rut coming out of 2021, but a short break and time spent on lessons got me 3.6 off my handicap after going up 2 the year before. Having a pro identify body limitations and creating a feasible work around rather than having a model swing made all the difference.