2023 Goals

[ChuckZ]

I have not played golf since December 12th due to mild scoliosis and degenerative back issues.  My goals for 2023 have already begun. 

1,  Started physical therapy in mid January with a clinical sports specialist as directed by my neurosurgeon.  My surgeon states that surgery at my age (76) is not recommended.  My team's goal is to build strong core around spine so that I can return to golf sometime in March or at least taking baby steps.  My CSS say we never poke the bear. 

2.  The next step is to take refresher golf lessons, which they are in agreement with.  I am sure that my body and memory are NOT tuned in to hitting a golf ball properly.  In PT they are teaching me how to slow down in my exercises, which my golf instructor has been trying to do for years and that WAS going to be one of my goals this year.  I have scheduled seven lessons beginning March 14th and ending on April 25th.  They are for one two hour lesson each week, which are from the beginning starting with putting at a intermediate level. 

3.  If all goes as scheduled, I will be able to make full contact by the end of April.  My goal is return with a more flexible swing with a better tempo.  I have been playing through pain for over ten years and with my teams assistance, PT and PGA instructors, can help me enjoy the one reason I retired in 2011.  

4. Just play golf, have fun and visit some interesting places.  

[BFitz]

Now a septuagenarian, my main goal is to keep playing and walking the golf course.  A bonus would be to break 80 again.  Haven’t done that for a few years.  To do this:

1. Get back to the gym.  Haven’t been since pre-COVID.  Have been doing core work and stretching at home, but no weight work.
2. Get some swing speed back.  Got a RypStick and started training around the first of the year.  After two weeks of training saw about 5 mph improvement.  Then, after 3 years of successfully dodging it, I caught Covid.  I’m fine but haven’t yet restarted the speed training.  Accomplishing #1 above will also help with this.
3. Eliminate double bogeys.  I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to score a double bogey on the 18th hole to then finish with an 80!  Better course management will help here.  Don’t be a hero.  Use enough club to ensure carrying the hazards.  
4. Spend as much time on the practice green as I do on the range.  This is such an obvious way to improve my scores - why am I not already doing this?
5. Keep having fun on the golf course.

Best wishes for everyone to reach their goals!

-B.Fitz.

[David Leighton Reid]

Being 12 weeks post shoulder surgery, my first and foremost goal is to get back to playing.  Hopefully by March, I will be back on the course again.  My main goal every year is to break 70.  I have shot 70 once in my life and I would like to hit the high 60's before Old Man Time says it's not going to happen.  Last year my summer league handicap raised from 2 to 3, so I would also like to reverse that trend.  

[David Leighton Reid]

18 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Along with the general play better type goals which I'll go more into and have in my state of play thread. I want to play 4 new courses. It's simple, but variety is important and fun so hoping this will happen!

Come to Missouri and I will take you to 4 courses you haven't played before!

[JeremyD]

Number 1 is to lose 40 or more lbs. The thinner I am, the better I play

Commit to practice or play a minimum of once per week

Play more than 20 rounds. I played only 14 in 2022

Try 2 new courses that I haven't played yet down here. One will be a Pinehurst resort course. The Gift certificate is burning a hole.

[Kenny B]

8 hours ago, BFitz said:

Now a septuagenarian, my main goal is to keep playing and walking the golf course.  A bonus would be to break 80 again.  Haven’t done that for a few years.  To do this:

1. Get back to the gym.  Haven’t been since pre-COVID.  Have been doing core work and stretching at home, but no weight work.
2. Get some swing speed back.  Got a RypStick and started training around the first of the year.  After two weeks of training saw about 5 mph improvement.  Then, after 3 years of successfully dodging it, I caught Covid.  I’m fine but haven’t yet restarted the speed training.  Accomplishing #1 above will also help with this.
3. Eliminate double bogeys.  I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to score a double bogey on the 18th hole to then finish with an 80!  Better course management will help here.  Don’t be a hero.  Use enough club to ensure carrying the hazards.  
4. Spend as much time on the practice green as I do on the range.  This is such an obvious way to improve my scores - why am I not already doing this?
5. Keep having fun on the golf course.

Best wishes for everyone to reach their goals!

-B.Fitz.

From one septuagenarian to another that's 200 miles up the Columbia, that sounds like a plan to me!  Good luck this year!

[Kenny B]

11 hours ago, RCGolf said:

I’ve been so busy with work and teenage daughters , my game has been…neglected. Get out once a month or so, either shoot 75 or 82 depending on short game and putting. But for the last 4 months I’ve made time, built an area in my third bay of my garage, bought a used GC3, a Rapsodo (for when I go to the range, and down the line video with my iPad), net, mat, 70” Samsung from my neighbors yard sale and set out to get back to scratch. My biggest areas of concern were poor posture and everything that comes with that, most notably, the dreaded “EARLY RELEASE!” Hitting a minimum of 100 balls every other night, with few swing thoughts other than posture and picturing my butt up against a plane of glass. I have made so much progress, my best friend and playing partner said “holy s***, that looked like you 15 years ago!” on the first tee on Sunday. Shot 73 on a really tough track (Wigwam Gold Course). Sorry for the long winded answer!

Just got back from your area after spending 2 weeks in weather just as cold as it is here!!  Played Great Eagle, Cimarron, and Palmbrook CC.  Also played Stonecreek, Coldwater, and McCormick Ranch... played Wigwam Red last time I was there.

[DavidLPS]

So I injured my right Achilles tendon in mid-October just before my series of ten golf lessons began at Golf-Tec.  I also turned 70 in November. In my life I had had four total lessons from four different instructors each at least a decade apart. I was always frustrated that each instructor wanted to change everything. My lifetime low index achieved in January, 2022 was 13.5. After my annual Michigan golf trip my game went downhill and my index went up to the maximum under the hard cap rules of 18.5, where it presently is. Frustrated, I signed up for lessons, willing to start from scratch if that was what was necessary. My instructor changed everything except my grip. So I didn’t golf at all between mid-October and today, though I did take my ten lessons during that period. I shouldn’t complain but the weather here in SoCal hasn’t been great with January rainfall of eight inches some days temps not even reaching 60.  So it was easier to be idle and allow Achilles to heal and strengthen. Today I played my first round after all the inactivity and shot 48-42 with 37 putts. It felt great to be out playing in 76 degrees. My 2023 golf goals - 

- target playing close to my personal   record number of rounds that I did in 2021 of 132.

- get index back to the 13 range. 
- improve on my FW’s hit.  My five year high was in 2022 with 71%
- as bad as it sounds, I want to hit 30% GIR.  My five year high was 22% in 2021. 
- generally, I want to improve my GIR putting, having never averaged better than 2.09 putts per green and my total overall putting having never averaged better than 1.80 putts per green. 
- reduce the percentage of holes I score double bogey or worse. My lowest was in 2021 when I still shot DB or worse on 28% of the holes. Since I par between 23-27% of the holes and birdie just 2% of the time, this is my greatest opportunity. 
It is amazing how consistent (for better or worse) all my stats are over 493 rounds played the last five calendar years. 
It was great to play today. The four month injury layoff felt like four years. I grew up in Wisconsin and spent most of my life in the Midwest before moving to CA about 14 years ago. 
Good golf everyone!!

[RCGolf]

12 hours ago, Kenny B said:

Just got back from your area after spending 2 weeks in weather just as cold as it is here!!  Played Great Eagle, Cimarron, and Palmbrook CC.  Also played Stonecreek, Coldwater, and McCormick Ranch... played Wigwam Red last time I was there.

Nice!! Yeah, it’s been chilly. People don’t realize it gets cold here in the winter it’s a dry-cold, so it’s different. Love all those tracks. I play at Cimarron and Granite Falls in the summer for 20.00 after 11:00. The Red Course is one of my favorites too. I’m about 10 minutes away. 

[Shifty]

Shoot under par on my home course.

Get to 180 BS, am around 174 max now.  Taking Axius core, so this should help.

[Dennis K]

Here are my goals:

 

Golf Goals 2023

1.   Improve handicap from 7 to 2 (5 shot improvement) by year end 2023

2.   Qualify for CDGA Senior Amateur & Illinois State Senior Amateur Tournaments 

3.   Gain 5 MPH ball speed on driver from a baseline of 150mph to 155mph

4.   Total Strokes Gained for the year vs. a 2 Handicap, +5 strokes 

6.   55%+ Fairways hit with driver (currently 43%)

7.   60%+ GIR (currently 55%)

8.   Chipping from 0 to 25 yards, improve up & Down percentage to +50%  

9.   Average 30 or less putts per round

10.         Accomplish 1st hole-in-one during the 2023 season

11.         Mega Bonus Goal: Shoot under par for the 1st time during an 18 hole round

12.         Walk at least 50% of my rounds during 2023

13.         Play 45 plus rounds in 2023

14.         Make 90 birdies or more in 2023

15.         Play 15 plus rounds without a double bogey or worse in 2023

Summary

·      Keep Grinding

[GolfSpy TCB]

On 1/9/2023 at 7:55 AM, MWL_9 said:

1. #Lose23in23 - clocked in at 222 lbs on 1/1/23

I'm in MWL!  23 in 23.  I am at 202, so goal of 179

[GolfSpy TCB]

On 1/9/2023 at 5:53 PM, Kenny B said:

For everyone making goals, I encourage you to make a plan for each goal and you write them down... accountability!!

Remember -  a goal without a plan is just a dream.

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Relevant 

Time Sensitive

[Jim Shaw]

I set my golf goals in October, after the National Championship, I sit down with my coach, go over any physical swing changes, mostly fine tune what we have been working on for 4 years. 

[cksurfdude]

23 hours ago, Dennis K said:

Golf Goals 2023

1.   Improve handicap from 7 to 2 (5 shot improvement) by year end 2023

2.   Qualify for CDGA Senior Amateur & Illinois State Senior Amateur Tournaments 

3.   Gain 5 MPH ball speed on driver from a baseline of 150mph to 155mph

4.   Total Strokes Gained for the year vs. a 2 Handicap, +5 strokes 

6.   55%+ Fairways hit with driver (currently 43%)

7.   60%+ GIR (currently 55%)

8.   Chipping from 0 to 25 yards, improve up & Down percentage to +50%  

9.   Average 30 or less putts per round

10.         Accomplish 1st hole-in-one during the 2023 season

11.         Mega Bonus Goal: Shoot under par for the 1st time during an 18 hole round

12.         Walk at least 50% of my rounds during 2023

13.         Play 45 plus rounds in 2023

14.         Make 90 birdies or more in 2023

15.         Play 15 plus rounds without a double bogey or worse in 2023

Summary

·      Keep Grinding

Wow! Lotta serious goals there .. wish you well on your journey!!

[Placasse61]

2023 achievable goals 

1. continue to get better at consistently striking the ball and aim.

2. Play a round in all 12 months of 2023 (already played in the 2 tough months Jan and Feb)

3. bring my index down to 21

4. better a score of 16 over par.

5. Continue have fun with family, friends and new acquaintances while playing a variety of beautiful and new courses!