2024 Season Goals - What Say You?

[GolfSpy_APH]

Will be giving this more thought however a few things to start

- Play 40 rounds this season
- Play 2 new courses
- Break Par
- Birdie every hole completion. 

[Samuel09152]

What a great topic! 
 

I didn’t really have goals in 2023 because I have so much going on. However, I have already wrote about 6 goals for 2024 starting with:

1. Break 85

2. Lower my handicap to 15

3. Limit 3 putting

4. Have fun

5. Find the positives in each shot/round

6. Continue to practice and work on fundamentals 

[Old Joe]

While recovering from left rotator cuff tear, been working on making short game a strength like when i was a teen (more than 1/2 century ago). Having lost 30 yards through bag from injury, 2024 goal is to keep index in single digits and shoot my age for 3rd straight year.

[tsheaffer23]

First and foremost, get in better shape physically. Haven't worked out, especially weight training on a regular basis for over four years and it shows in my overall strength and loss of distance with every club in the bag.

My tee shots, especially with the driver have been my biggest weakness over the past few years, am averaging 5-6 fairways hit per round which puts me at a disadvantage on many holes.

More consistent ball striking with my irons and a fitting for new irons. My current irons are 10 years old and showing their age.

Most of all, my goal is to be a better playing partner and to enjoy each round and those I'm with.

Edited November 20, 2023 by tsheaffer23

[Slight shank]

Fitness- get back to mostly walking. My group is been riding and a little too much alcohol.  I bought a click gear 4 cart this summer and only used it 4 times.  Been working out consistently but plan on mostly walking next year. Hopefully my handicap will drop as a result. I had quite a few 38/44 rounds due to 7 or 8 beers kicking in and throwing a grenade at my score card on the back 9 lol. 

[OldSchoolFlusher]

Really love this topic… so my goals for 2024 are shaped about building more sustainable golf / round building.. this is broken down in technical / performance / fit for golf goals for me. The performance attributes I’m aspiring to are as follows (these are averages for the year to drive scores)

Performance

Greens in Regulation : 12/18 (66%) (includes looking at proximity v GIR as well)

Fairways in regulation 50%

Putts per round : 30

Sand Saves / Up & Downs : 50%  

Note - I use ShotScope to monitor / automate looking at this and help to focus where needed

Technical

Continuing work on swing with coach - main focus improving transition and impact position to help consistency 

Putting - use of Visio / Putting Mirror / gates to improve consistency of stroke 

Review of ShotScope data with coach to identify / focus on areas of improvement

Fit for golf 

Improve flexibility / core strength as getting older

Keep with meditation and strengthening mental approach with game

Competition

Play more competitive rounds as didn’t play as much as liked this year.

And most importantly for me, keep smiling, keep enjoying it and adapt the above if needed.  Look back at this time next year, see where the WHI is, plan for 2025. 

Ah one last one - Q1 get custom fitted for my new Mizuno irons ahead of the season. 

 

 

[Fongle]

I'd really like to just stay healthy, avoid more injuries, and keep working on my chipping.

 

Driver has been a missile launcher this year, I've been striking my irons beautifully, putting fantastically, but I've got the yips with a wedge in hand lately. Need to work on that, and just keep working on consistency. Getting fit for some new irons in a couple weeks too, hoping to try bring my flight height down a bit, and just get some better feel and workability out of them. Would love to get back close to being scratch again

[Preeway]

So many things I could list here. First and foremost, improve my fitness. Want to get my weight back under 180. Second, more time on the range or using my net in the garage. Too much playing and not enough practice time this year led to some erratic scoring patterns. Third, track my stats more closely. I was 55% GIR and 50% hitting fairways but I want to delve into shots gained in more areas than just those two categories. Anyone have tips on good apps for that? Will add more once the coffee kicks in and put them into the sheet. 

Edited November 20, 2023 by Preeway

[Rygolf32]

This is a great thread, awesome idea! Unfortunately, I think you may be right about golf season ending soon here in Nebraska, hopefully I can still get out once or twice more!

 

2023 goals - 5/6 isn't too shabby 

Get hdcp under 4 - ended year at 3.7

Shoot under par at least once - nope 

Play more golf - joined a club this year, definitely accomplished this with 34 rounds of 18 holes and weekly golf league from May to September

Play more tourneys - Played in our club championship, 4 scrambles and two 'couples night' scrambles

Think through rounds more/be more consistent - had 4 rounds in the 80's through early June, then only one other round in the 80's the rest of the year, the other 26 rounds all in the 70's

Get my wife out to learn/play more golf - she played 6 times this year which is more than the previous 4 combined. I have a feeling she'll play even more next year

 

2024 goals - 

Get hdcp under 2

Play at least 45 rounds of 18 holes

Play club championship/match play and Nebraska mid-amateur

Hit more fairways - over 50% as I was quite inconsistent this year with the driver

PUTTING - far too many mistakes/3 putts, keep more rounds 30 or under

Play more rounds with the wife/daughter - try to get at least 10 with them

Walk more - bought a nice push cart last year, still rode far too much.

Break 70 multiple times/set new personal best (67)

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

Love these every year. I accomplished my two goals this past year (lower handicap and more rounds played). So this year early look this is what I have:

1) Play more rounds this past year again (past year was 32 full 18 holes)

2) Play 2 new courses that I have never played before (1 this past year)

3) Lower my handicap to a 3 (5 right now)

4) Get one MGS group meetup round in (small or the group meetup if I can make it)

5) Continue my off season work into the season (saw a noticeable drop off in play middle of the year when I was not)

[WaffleHouseTour]

1 - get the driver speed up to 105mph

2 - improve strike/center of the club face w said driver

3 - lower my Strokes Gained Approach to -2

4 - lower handicap to 5

[Dezzy93]

Like a new years challenge, I love it.

Break 70 (par 72)

Get better at the up and downs

Keep the total putts to 28 or less

Play 2 new courses

[russtopherb]

I really didn't have any 2023 goals other than to have fun and get better. I accomplished both.

For 2024, I'd like to break 85 and get my handicap as close to 10 as possible (currently a 13.7). I'd also like to make sure I'm golfing at least once per week, even if it's just a twilight 9. 

[rjacobs4]

Goal #1:  Reduce handicap by 4 strokes.  My handicap went up by two this year.  Time to turn that back around.

Goal #2:  Reduce average number of putts per round by 3.  This was a big part of the reason why my handicap went up!  Totally lost my stroke and just starting to get it back as winter starts to settle in.  Subgoal…practice putting at least twice a week Dec-mid March.

Goal #3:  Break 80 at least twice.  If I fix my putting this will happen.

Edited November 20, 2023 by rjacobs4

[GolfSpy_KFT]

Great stuff, keep it coming everyone! Will get the google doc updated for those who did not see the pinned message to add them to that!

[jbern]

Awesome topic @Jnoble89! I added my 2024 goals to the google doc, but my 2023 goals are below:

1. Break 80 > 5 times - MET - I ended up breaking 80 6 times this year and shot under 40 in quite a few of my 9 hole rounds.
2. Play 5 new courses - MET - This was kind of cheating because I bought a mid-Michigan golf pass, which give you one round at 12 different courses. I hadn't played at 10 of the courses on the pass. I ended up playing 11 new courses in 2023, 10 from the pass and 1 when I was visiting family in NC.
3. Get HDCP in the 5s by the end of season - NOT MET - I went from a 11.2 down to a 7.4. My ball striking and keeping the ball in play was improving so much in early 2023 that I thought I could do this one, but the short game is not quite there.

 

[JRDuck40]

My 2023 goals were to

Qualify for WI State Amateur

Sub 5 handicap 

Did not hit either... But I did take 34th overall, missed cut by 4 and was down to a 5.9 at one point this year. Onward and upward. 

[Jim Shaw]

I have a meeting with my team next Friday but for now I believe my goals for 2024 are....

ON COURSE.. narrow my splatter pattern with my scoring irons, 7-56 degree wedge

MENTAL...work on keeping negative thoughts out of my mind

PHYSICAL..reduce sugar intake 

COMPETITIVE...play more events closer to home, work hard on getting off to a solid 1st. round start. Make the BC senior team. 

SOCIAL..Try and seque to having more of a social outlook to my friend rounds, it is hard for me as I am try and start out with a "who cares" outlook but always feel bad when I dont perform score wise. 

[Matumbo]

I started playing just last year. I played maybe 4 or 5 total rounds in 2022, but this year I've played around 40+. I typically try to get 9 in a few days a week after work and at least 9 in each Saturday and Sunday.

 

I have some lofty (but I believe doable) goals coming up for this next season. 

 

1. Get handicap to low 20's or teens. I ranked as number 2 most improved at my club and I hope to make the list again this next season. 

2. Reduce number of three putts (I've already gotten much better in this aspect and putting in general, but still have quite a bit of improving to do). 

3. Break 100 (break 90?). My best round was a 101. If I can improve similarly to this season, I think low 90's could be possible. I took a few lessons this season that seemed to really help, so I plan to start the next season off with some lessons early on. 

4. Increase my average driving distance. I won't say a specific number, but I would really like to increase this considerably. I think with time and practice it will happen. A lot of people I play with can outdrive me considerably, but they've also been playing a lot longer than me. I'm not necessarily trying to keep up with them, I would just like to have a decent average driving distance that puts me in a better position on my second shot. 

Generally just have fun playing. I tried to get my wife to play, but she wasn't really into it. She was in the futures league at our club, but didn't take to it. I hope to be able to convince her to do some scrambles, etc. that we have.

My daughters enjoy going in the cart with me while I play, so I'm going to try to do that with them more. My older daughter did a clinic at our club and she seemed to enjoy it. I haven't had much success getting her out there to play since, but fingers crossed. 

[EMJL]

1) Get the handicap below 8

2) Come up with, and stick to, a pre-shot routine

3) On the course, always be positive

 

[hoppman]

Get back fusion surgery to help with my leg pain, be mostly pain free this year so I can at least practice again.

Get healthy enough to play golf in Ireland on my June vacation if the above srugery goes well.

Try not to buy too many new clubs!

 

[bens197]

Attainable goals...

Maintain my 3.5 index

Improve putts per round from 32.8 to sub 30.

Continue to make golf fun for my daughter

Reachers...

Get back to the level of play where I can break par on 18 holes

 

[Gmangolfr]

#1 - Get my handicap back to single digits.

#2 - Break 80 again for the first time in 30 years.

 #3 - It will help #2 if I can hit more greens in regulation

[GolfSpy_KFT]

4 hours ago, Preeway said:

So many things I could list here. First and foremost, improve my fitness. Want to get my weight back under 180. Second, more time on the range or using my net in the garage. Too much playing and not enough practice time this year led to some erratic scoring patterns. Third, track my stats more closely. I was 55% GIR and 50% hitting fairways but I want to delve into shots gained in more areas than just those two categories. Anyone have tips on good apps for that? Will add more once the coffee kicks in and put them into the sheet. 

No need to add, I am on it! 

[ejgaudette]

Little later to the party hear but here are some goals I have

• Fitness, always fitness mostly running but also some strength work
• Get on course speed up to 110 with the Stack
• Work to improve approach play, my biggest weakness, will use strokes gained for this
• Finally, make the State Am this is the big one, looked at some of the qualifying tournaments and given course length as long as things are not crazy tougher than an average day a really good round and I could do it. This is the be biggest stretch but hey that is part of the fun

[Ho Lee Khrab]

After pretty much missing out on the last two seasons due to fatigue post Covid I this winter need to get back in some kind of shape. Otherwise I can most likely forget reach my play goal.

• Reach the back tees - may need some explanation I guess I start out on the front tees at my home course and can only move further back when I break par for the round
• Convince the wifey that we must build an "Attefallshus" as an entertainment central (or rather a large man cave with a golf sim )

 

[Placasse61]

2023 review:

*On track to play at least 1 round of 18 holes in all 12 months 

*Played the most rounds of golf ever (right now 38) hope to get at least 4 more

* Played 2 new great courses this year Sunday River (bucket lister) and The Ranch

* Dropped my index for 22.4 to 20

*4 rounds in the 80's with my best round ever 85 (46/39) and broke 40 for the first time.

2024 Goals:

*Play 45 rounds

*Drop my Index to 18

*Play more golf with my son and grandson

*Work on my short game!

*Play 2 new courses with one from my bucket list. (Belgrade Lakes)

[mackdaddy]

My first goal is to double my rounds from this year!  My second goal is to get back to practicing my short game at least 20 minutes before every round and hit at least a small bucket before each round.  

Play goals:

I want to take the extra club and keep every swing smooth.

I want to play shots aggressively to conservative spots.

I want to think each shot before I hit it.  (considering the angles and yardages I want to leave myself for the next shot)

I want to play fast and yet never rush a shot. 

I want to get back to being a scratch golfer.

 

 

[Shifty]

Last years goal was to break par on my 9 hole course.  I shot -1 twice.

This years goals;

-shoot minus par on back to back 9's on my home course (18)

-continue with Axius Core workout program see where that leads (Sexiest man in Canada??? lol jj)

[William P]

Having returned to the game in 2023 after an 8 year break due to shoulder surgery and a hesitancy to possibly re-injure it, I discovered a few new issues needed attention. First and foremost, it became extremely apparent that I would not be able to continue playing my current set of irons. While the old JPX800 heads were still in good shape, my swing speed had diminished to the point where the Project X 6.0 shafts did little more than cause my hands t ache after a range session. I decided at that point that goals for 2023 were as follows:

     1. upgrade equipment to current technology available

     2. take it slow and ensure no further injury to the shoulder 

     3. enjoy time spent practicing and playing as much as possible while reentering the field of battle

I have to say that the enjoyment of time spent practicing, playing, and getting to know other enthusiasts was immediate and made me realize how much I had missed the game. I eased back into it slowly with numerous short sessions on the range o ensure I didn't overdo it. when I felt like I was ready for the course, (meaning I didn't think I would embarrass myself too much), I joined the local Seniors association and embarked on my first round. While it wasn't pretty to put it mildly, I had a great time and got to meet some good people who served to encourage me to continue my endeavor.

With a newfound energy to return to the game I had to immediately start the research and testing to replace the old equipment in my bag. Having been partial to Mizuno irons previously, my first thought was to just run down to the local shop and buy a new set. Fortunately, one of the members in the group I played with the following week recommended I get fitted for the new irons and recommended a company he had used previously. with nothing to lose I scheduled a fitting and was truly amazed how far the process had progressed since I had been away from the game. Long story short I was fitted into the Titleist T 200 irons with Aerotech SteelFiber shafts. While I hadn't given much thought to graphite shafts in my irons, I was pleasantly surprised how soft they felt when struck purely as well as off center. Once I received the irons it had immediate effect on my ability to practice longer as pain in my hands was no longer an issue. Additionally, while I haven't recovered my former swing speed, and doubt I ever will, I am now able to carry the ball yardages acceptable to me for the club used.

Next issue was Driver and Fairway wood/s for which I have always been a Titleist person. I learned that Titleist was holding a fitting event at a local venue and made an appointment to remedy this issue as well. Going thru the fitting process I found my swing speed was at 95 on average which was a significant drop from the past but not unexpected. True to form the fitting was as expected and I left the event having ordered a new driver and 3 wood.

At this point in the journey back I have been able to post some mid to upper 80's but I must also say that I have had a few clumsy rounds that have led to the high 90's and while i can't say I was thrilled with scores at times I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent interacting with my playing partners.

So, with all that said I am happy to say that I have met all goals for 2023 at this point.

 

2024 Goals:

     1. Increase driver clubhead speed 10% (approx. 105)

     2. Consistently shoot in the 80's (occasionally break 80)

     3. Get a professional swing analysis and determine 2-3 swing flaws to target for improvement.