2025 Golfing Goals

I had 2 goals starting this year to try and get out in more weekly comps and to try and break 100. Neither has been successful up to now.

So far this summer bar a few society outings which are great it has been mainly casual rounds. I don't know many members at my club so I am slightly reluctant to add my name to the tee sheet with people I don't know as of yet. (ridiculous I know)

On the break 100 front I have been getting closer, the closest being a 101 on my home course (par 73) 2 weeks ago. 7 bogeys a double and a triple on the front night gave me a +12 49 on the front 9 followed by 3 more bogeys on 10/11 and 12. The wheels came off a bit then with some really poor mistakes I think I had started to think about the 100 and ended up triple bogey 13/14 & 15. Par on 16 and bogey on 17 still gave me a decent chance on the par 5 last hole but after 2 nice shots to put me in prime position i duffed 2 shots in a row from inside 100 yards and ended up with another triple bogey 8 to finish on +16 52 on back 9 for a total of 101.

My best round to date but still left feeling a bit sick tbh. Sums up the game I suppose :)

Thanks a million. I know I need to get over myself and just start booking slots. I am gonna try and get a couple of the comps in the next few weeks

There isn't a comp as you described but there is a midweek scramble which I'm told is good so I might start there and see how it goes.

That's gas @swededmonkey , this is almost exactly how my year has gone, but I feel differently to you about it. Tbf, I was injured until late April & I got one shot back cos of that injury, from my handicap committee. However since then I've actually played a lot, unfortunately to little effect sadly.

I think I shot one 41pts round which was only 3rd that day, and other than that my best days were 33/34/35pts. So not great at all. Equally in team golf, I didn't make our 4 ball final, which is always a goal, & I also missed our interclub competition team as I was only just back from injury then.

The funny thing is I'm not that frustrated at all tbh. My long game is actually really, really good and I'm so happy to be healthy & fit again, and also my home course has been simply wonderful to play this year, it's been in the best condition I ever remember in nearly 30 years playing there. Tbh it's been a dream season really. It's mostly been my short game that has let me down scoring, but that's been getting better & better these past few weeks, so I'm actually feeling optimistic about the winter & 2026.

I feel I can now set some solid, big, hairy assed goals for 2026 now e g. Back down to 10, win a medal (I normally only play in them at all if I'm playing well), try to get at least 1 birdie in every round, reduce my bogeys, & eliminate doubles or worse, hit 2 out of 3 par 3s in regulation every round, and finally hone my short game to become a strength rather than a hindrance....

So a lot to play for!!!

That's brilliant. From the ones you have played so far have you a Top 10?

What's the story there, why would someone be disqualified 4 days later? This is knockout matchplay yes?

I'm hoping to get 2 more rounds in, so I don't regard my year as done yet. But, if people are posting sure I'll join in.

1. I successfully got the snip back in May. Everyone says it's a quick, painless procedure. They're half right, it is quick. But plan for a few days of doing absolutely nothing for the recovery and stick to the plan! On day 4 I thought I was well enough for a bit of gardening. Terrible idea. A few days of ice and a few days of nothing remotely strenuous is what is needed. I'm glad it's done, but I'm glad I won't be getting another too.
2. If I play twice more I'll be on 14. Not too bad considering.
3. Handicap has stayed put. That's partly because I only have 8 rounds recorded from this year and my counting ones at the start of the year were mainly from those 12 left on my handicap record. But there are a couple of decent ones in there, so I don't see it ballooning over the next while. It might go up a little.
4. Penalty strokes are absolutely killing me. I'm averaging over 4 a round, most of those resulting in 3 (or 5) from the tee. I'm even shooting some decent scores with heaps of penalties. 7 lost balls with the society in Rathsallagh this year - 36 points. 8 lost balls in Deer Park - 32 points. It's a miracle I haven't had to walk in from a round due to running out of balls.
5. Only 1 Sunday comp this year. Kids activities getting in the way.
6. I don't think I had any eagle this year. And I'm certain none on a par 3.
7. I got to 3 Boards outings. Not bad in fairness, it was the most I could have made.
8. Hard to improve much without playing more, but my wedges haven't been bad at all. And not duffing them or hitting them thin makes a big difference to your score.
9. The college outing - generally my worst golf of the year. This year was no different. I equalled the worst score on my handicap record in Headfort - 100 shots. The +3 lad wasn't playing, so I was surely going to win the best gross (I even bought and donated a prize to the group for it). One of the lads with double my handicap played pretty well and came in with 98 shots. The problems started in the bar before the round. I'm not a fan of drinking and golfing, but rounds were bought before the round. I lost 2 balls on the first tee. Another off the second. If I remember correctly I lost 5 balls on the first 4 holes. It was not a round to remember, it was the other kind. Unfortunately I did the drinking to forget before the round.

Length is fine. Affected my stance for a while.