2025 Golfing Goals

I had a pretty decent previous year but lost my swing towards the end of it. Reseting this year with a few lessons and some incremental improvements hopefully.

My main goals this year are

• Handicap down to single figures. Lowest last year was 10.2, currently 10.6. This should be doable with a small equipment change I've made and the lessons hopefully.
• 3+ rounds in the 70s. This would be a requirement for the above but I only had one last year along with two 80s. I would love to be breaking the 80 barrier with a bit of consistency this year.
• Represent my club in matchplay. I played in a few last year although no longer eligible for a couple. Would like to play Barton Cup again if I'm selected and we've entered some mixed matchplay comps which sound like fun.
• Win a boards outing. I've come close the last 2 years but would like to win one.
• Make the Jug team. I managed this last year and it was a fantastic day so would love to repeat.

Just read Mcllroy sets elusive Masters crown as his “main focus” for 2025 whilst setting only 3 goals for rest of career.

“I've realised that all I can control is myself." LOL that's the one thing Rory cannot control.

Constantly mouthing off about the next big win, putting undue pressure on himself.

If Goals help you improve your performace, great, but never at the cost of playing enjoyment

For me it's just play again.

Started back in October 23 which was a washout, ended up travelling all the way through 24, and only back now, so this is my first full year back at it since a teen.

Have joined the soc, got the GolfPass, and also signed up for a season ticket at my local (waiting list for memberships) and an iGolf membership, so hoping to absolutely make the most of it this year.

"Handicap" (according to my Garmin watch) is 21, so would like to lower that. Shot an 88 last summer on one of my few outings, so would like to regularly break 90, get out to a Boards soc event and not embarrass myself, and then hopefully play a few open comps once I get the handicap together. Not really interested in the prizes, just want to challenge myself competitively.

I had some other name for you in mind…😎

See ya in a fortnight..

I've forgotten to write down goals the past 2 years, so I better put them in writing this year.

What has held me back more than anything in the last few years is a lack of golf played. And what held me back in terms of playing more than anything is having children. We've another on the way in June. So the golfing number 1;

1. have a vascetomy. Every child resets the clock in terms of getting back onto the golf course, so this will be a major step in the right direction.

Even with the kid on the way, I'll try to play a bit to not slide too far back. Goal number 2;

2. Play at least 15 rounds in the year. I think it's achievable. And concentrate on those rounds so that I'm putting in somewhat decent scores. Goal number 3;

3. Don't balloon the handicap. I'm 12.something at present, I'd love to finish the year there. It'll be tricky not to duff chips and slice drives when I'm not playing much, but if I keep the concentration I'll hopefully be able to put in a few decent cards. Most if not all of my counting rounds are in the last 10 anyway, so I've a little slack here to work with.

4. Cut back on penalty strokes. These are virtually all from the tee and typically massive pulls. I used to battle a massive slice and that's not completely gone, but in an effort to combat it I've introduced a ridiculous pull as a miss. Again, concentration can keep this in check to a large degree. But I've had good scores where I've had to reload 3 times on the tee. And one respectable score with 8 reloads on the tee. If I could cut these back to an average of 1 a round I'd find decent scores far easier to return.

5. Get out in at least 3 Sunday club comps. I need to get a babysitter for these due to kids activities, but for me while all rounds are now real because you can submit the cards, these ones are really real. I suppose I value these scores more than the casual ones or even open comps. And I only got out in 1 last year.

6. Get an eagle (ideally on a par 3). That's not so much a goal as a hope, because there's nothing different I intend to do to achieve this. They're just nice to get, or so I've heard about them on a par 3.

7. Get to 4 boards outings. There are 5 that are possibilities for me, so if I can make 4 of these I'll be very happy. Boards outings are a lot of fun.

8. Learn more control on my wedges. They've always been a part of my game that has not been strong. I get far too much height to hit full wedges 90% of the time, but when I try to take off speed I'm massively likely to duff / blade them or just hit it practically full power anyway. The duff is the best mishit here, I'll generally just have a shorter wedge shot next. A blade or a full power shot will be through the green where terrible things await.

9. Play well in my college outing. It's been going about 10 years, I think I'm yet to return a score of 30 points or more. Those college lads must think I'm putting in dodgy scores to get my handicap because every year I look like a mid 20s handicapper. I'd absolutely love a score of less than +10, but I'd be very happy with a 33/34 pointer.

That'll do for this year. I look forward to rereading this post in December and crying.

My goals for 2025:

1. Improve my chipping around the green to a level where I can get more up and downs.
   
2. Improve my putting from 8 to 15 feet, I don’t get enough of these down in 1.
   
3. To get a round under par, my best round was 1 over, next best was 2 over. Level par would be great too.
   
4. Achieve a hole in one, not something I can really work on but hopefully keeping giving myself chances and maybe one will fall in eventually.

Measurable Goals

Index to single figures:

Failed on this last year. Which is criminal considering over the year I shot a 79, 78 and a level par 72 on St.Stephens day. 

I feel that my mindset for counting scores is holding me back. During matchplay, every shot counts, I'm constantly focused on winning the hole. Whereas in stableford/stroke play I just don't be as switched on. If I can fix this, my index will come down I'm sure. 

Break 80 on Golf Ireland counting score:

As above, my counting scores don't reflect what I am capable of shooting. 

Eagle a par 5: 

I have eagled a par 4 but would like a par 5 eagle. I have managed to not 3 putt every eagle putt so there is progress here! 🤣

Practice Based Goals: 

Tempo: 

My tempo has improved massively over the winter, but at the moment that is only true for wedges and short irons. Need to keep working on this for longer irons and woods. 

Driving: 

Whilst I can hit the ball a long way, it's capable of going anywhere. My driver swing is so unstable and inconsistent. I'd like to get to the stage this year where I'm considered a good driver of the ball. Happy to give up a little distance for a more stable, controlled swing. 

Short game: 

Picked up a launch monitor so need to dial in sub 100 distances. 

Courses: 

I have booked the 3 courses in Rosapenna and Narin & Portnoo for June. Would like to maybe add Ballyliffin to that trip. 

And then pick up a few random nice courses throughout the year. Maybe Old Course St. Andrews if I get the chance to go over.

Very late to this as wasn't expecting to play much.

1. Get a handicap (joining a club in coming weeks)

2. Beat said handicap at least once by end of summer.

Will keep it modest for now, could be tough when have only played 2/3 rounds per year for last few years.

Didn't realise I forgot to do my goals for this year. Unfortunately I broke my ankle a few weeks back so it's put me out of action for the counting season at least. So it's pretty much season over.

A pity as I was just beginning to make some progress in my game.

If I had remembered to record my goals would have been something like.

1. Finish the year with a lower index than Jan 1st. (Dropped just shy of 1 shot and trending down).

2. Break 80. (Had a big 4ball score that game me an "80" differential. Otherwise 83 was my best proper singles score).

3. Play abroad. (Played in Brazil back April, really great experience).

4. Give comps and matchplay a good run. (Picked up a category voucher in an open for my first prize in almost 3 years. Won my 1st round matchplay on 18. Was top 10 on the OOM when I got injured. Lost 2nd round on 17 despite being nett 3 shots under my handicap. That was a brilliant match with birdies on 15 and 16 only matching my opponent for halves).

5. Make multiple eagles (had 1 away from home for the 1st time).

6. Get rid of short game yips and put in the practice hours. (Didn't get lessons but I did practice a huge amount in the previous couple of months. Had a few chip ins this year and was making loads more bogey/par saves compared to the last 2x seasons. Probably the biggest improvement in my scoring was down to short game work. No headworms over chips and pitches now which is huge progress).

7. Enjoy the game and social side irrespective of scores. (Separating scoring from enjoyment has made the game less frustrating. Always making sure I use up the bar credit post round adds to that).