On The Green, Issue 10
Ahhh, the new year has begun! But is it really, new year, new you? I’ve never been one for resolutions. To me, they seem forced. Sure, the numbers on the calendar are different, but is it necessary to inflict abrupt changes in my life to pursue some re-imagined existence? Don’t we wake up every day with a chance for something new, regardless of what year it is?
My other issue with resolutions: most of them are flawed in some way or another. Either too lofty, impossible to measure, or just plain unrealistic. I prefer a more pragmatic approach to goal setting. In business, the concept of SMART goals is taught just about universally. If you’re not familiar, allow me to expand on the idea. SMART goals follow a simple criterion. They must be:
Specific / Measurable / Attainable / Realistic / Timely
Putting it into New Year’s Resolution context: “Eat healthier” is most certainly not a SMART goal. However, “Consume 20% more vegetables on a daily basis” does follow the SMART criteria…assuming it’s a realistic target. And for most people, let’s face it, it’s not realistic. The most common resolutions are in fact, not SMART and it’s a big reason why they don’t last. If they did, we’d eventually stop making New Year’s resolutions.
Golf doesn’t always imitate life, though. And it’s because of this that we’re dedicating this issue to your golf-specific New Year’s resolutions. Eating healthier? Lame. Trying to bring your greens in regulation stats up? Far more enticing!
Read on for our Top 5 Golf New Year’s Resolutions to help jumpstart your 2023 season.
Fore please,
Ross Evans
OTG Creative Director
The iconic pennant-shaped flags of Ekwanok Country Club
Resolve to Increase Swing Speed
Swing speed isn’t just a hot topic on the pro tours. Golfers of all ages and abilities are finding joy (and shorter approach shots) with higher club head speeds. The benefits of increasing swing speed aren’t just about distance gains, either. Increasing swing speed helps with stamina and consistency, especially late in a round. You don’t have to go full Bryson DeChambeau to see the benefits. Programs like The Stack System and Super Speed use proprietary apps and equipment to walk you through techniques and exercises needed to safely increase your swing speed and fitness level.
Photo credit: Golfers Authority
Resolve to Travel with your Clubs
A personal favorite, I’ve set a goal of playing golf in at least two states I’ve never played in this year. Make it a goal this year to bring your clubs on your next business trip, or just hop in the car and cross state lines to find a course you’ve never played at. While traveling with golf clubs isn’t always the most convenient, the benefits of playing in new places far outweigh the travel struggles. Looking for a simpler way to travel with your clubs? Try a service like Shipsticks. Or, a rental set could be the answer. Make it about the experience of playing in a new place and not as much about your score at the end of the round.
Photo credit: Golf.com
Resolve to Speed Up Pace of Play
Golf participation has seen its ebbs and flows over the last few decades. Not since the heyday of the early 2000s have golf courses experienced as much traffic as they did in 2022. With this influx of golfers comes a sharp increase in the length of a round. A Golf.com survey in 2017 (when rounds played in the US were dipping sharply) found that 61.5% of golfers said slow play irritates them the most. We all want to play as much golf as we can, so let’s keep the pace up. A simple method (assuming you’re not in a tournament): before teeing off, agree with your foursome to play ready golf throughout the round.
Photo credit: Golf Digest
Resolve to Mix Up your Playing Partners
You see it at every club in every state around the country: the same group of golfers playing together day in and day out. I love my regular group of guys, but I also love meeting new people on the golf course. The world shrinks dramatically when you strike up a conversation with a stranger over the course of a round. Sometimes the challenge here is just getting comfortable being uncomfortable for those first couple of holes of playing with someone you don’t know. Massgolf posted this super helpful article with tips about playing golf with strangers. Worst case? You have a bad experience which gives you a great story to tell your regular foursome.
Photo credit: GolfWRX
Resolve to Track your Game Differently
The idea of tracking stats on your scorecard is not new. Most folks are comfortable with the idea of tracking strokes, fairways, GIRs, and putts. Those are important and meaningful to many. But try this next time you’re playing: at the end of each hole, make a note of whether your play on that hole was Great, Good, or Good Enough. This method is modified from a practice taught by Lyn and Pia from Vision 54 and is a great way to learn how to keep a positive attitude, even after a bad hole. Eventually, you’ll know what “par” is for each category and you can measure progress using those simple options. A less complicated scorecard may even help you keep your pace of play up!
Photo credit: GOLFTEC
