How to Set Golfing Goals That Improve Your Game

If you’re really getting into the game of golf, likely you’ve been thinking about some goals for yourself.  Even if you don’t pull out a pad of paper and pen, you may have wondered, “what do I want my game to look like next year at this time?”  Taking time to set golfing goals for yourself is one of the best ways to achieve improvement and we have a few pieces of advice from out team to get you started.  Yet, many people are unaware of how to set effective goals, and end up giving up on their dreams or stop playing golf altogether.  These tips will help you achieve better performance and increase your enthusiasm for the game.

Tip 1:  Don’t focus too much on specific outcomes.  

It’s easy to look at your average score and set a goal to lower it by X amount by the end of the season.  Of course, you want to better your score, but putting it as a goal won’t do much to help you actually achieve it.  You can’t control the outcome, but you can control implementable strategies designed to achieve those outcomes.  Focus more on goals around strategies versus holding yourself to achieving results.  

What are goals around strategies?  Work with a professional trainer on the coach to identify three to five things you could do to perform better on the course.  Some examples are:  “I will participate in a golf lesson at least once a week for the next six months,” “I will implement what my coach taught me about my swing on every drive,” or “I will make an effort not to become frustrated when I hit the ball into the rough.”

Tip 2:  Consider the experience you want.

Yes, you may want to improve your score, handicap, or game consistency, but why is this important to you?  Think about why you enjoy golfing and what you want to get out of it.  What do you want your day at the golf course to feel like.

What are some goals around experience?  These goals require a more intrinsic look into your core being.  Some examples might include: “I want to feel relaxed and refreshed after finishing a round of golf,” “I want to enjoy networking with associates on business trips,” or “I want to improve my skills, so I no longer feel anxious playing with golfers I don’t know well.”  

Tip 3:  Be wary of goals that are too challenging.

The whole point of creating a goal is to achieve it.  Often people get sucked into setting BHAGs, a term we learn in the professional world of work that’s short for “big hairy audacious goals.”  In our careers, we learn to create enormous goals designed to excite and motivate our teams.  You don’t need this for yourself on the golf course; instead, BHAGs in your personal life can squash your enthusiasm when they are too difficult.

How can you set realistic goals?  Think of something you feel confident you can achieve.  It can be as easy as saying, “I am going to golf twice a week for the next month.”  Don’t be afraid to write that down.  Enjoy the win when you achieve it.  Next time, set a slightly more challenging goal.  Each time you accomplish a goal, you build momentum.  Before you know it, you’ll be setting challenging and achievable goals!

For more advice about how to set golfing goals, contact our Eagle Point Golf Club Academy.

We encourage our members and guests at the Eagle Point Golf Club to take advantage of personalized tune-up sessions.  These mini-lessons are designed to help golfers warm up and fine-tune a handful of skills before hitting the greens.  During a session, we’ll introduce you to some easy warm-up exercises designed to achieve balance and alignment on the course.  

Next, one of our professional trainers will observe your swing in a few different scenarios.  We’ll pinpoint specific issues getting in the way of your game, such as aligning the perfect swing on the chipping green.  Next, we’ll introduce a few simple exercises for you to practice to perfect your short game.  By targeting just a few critical items, you’ll be headed to your game in no time with a manageable number of techniques to practice.

If you’re ready to take your game to the next level, call the Eagle Point Golf Club at 541-826-8225 to inquire about golf lessons.  We’re excited to see your game improve!