The Golf Blog's 2010 Goals

After just about every range visit I work through, or any round of 18 I play, my objective is to always report all developments on the progression of my game to my readers.  The only problem with this strategy: how do you measure progress without goals? 

We all have them.

Whether striving for a better job, a more rewarding relationship, a better fitness routine, or a healthier eating habit, without a concrete target to hit, we'll never know when we've made it.

With this in mind, here are my 2010 golfing goals:

- The most popular amongst us all, a better score.  But simply "a better score" won't suffice.  To this point, the best I've ever achieved has been an 88.  Secretly, I'd like to think an 83 is possible, but aiming too high (or too low in this case) can be harmful to one's confidence. (After one round of 93, the mind will start wondering how 10 strokes better is even attainable.)  Instead, to begin with, my goal is one stroke better than my best, 88.  If I hit this mark, I'll adjust this goal to read: one stroke better than my best, 87.  

- Next, a round of 18 holes with 36 putts or fewer.  The catch: there must be at least two birdies mixed in.  Because in all seriousness, two putts per hole sounds easy to do, no?  I'm sure some will claim I'm naive to believe so, but by practicing four to five foot putts off the course, and always focusing on not three-putting on the course, a round can easily consist of less than 36 putts, or two putts per hole.

- Although I've succeeded in accomplishing this next one - playing a full round with just one golf ball - I'm looking to move to two rounds.  (Not the same ball, of course.)  If I feel the need to switch balls due to some scuffs causing unwanted movement, that's fine.  I just can't lose a ball.  I mean, really, how many strokes can we save if all we did the entire round was not lose a ball?  You are taking penalties for lost balls, right?  I hope so.  Policing yourself is what makes this game so terrific.

- As for the amount of golf I'll play this year, 10 rounds is my floor.  I'll gladly accept more golf than that, but for right now, 10 seems like a solid number.  This brings me to my last goal.

- I would like to play a round of 18 holes with one of my readers.  This can't be someone I've already played with. (I'll of course still play with anyone I've done so with before; it just won't count towards this goal.)  If anyone is interested, contact me at info@sportsfanIQ.com and we'll set something up.  The round's on me!

These are my goals for now.  There are others, and perhaps some that will arise halfway through the year, but these five seem the most reachable for now.  Maybe around August I'll feel the urge to try and hit half my greens in regulation.  If so, I'll be sure to state it here first.  But for now, my game's not there yet, so it will have to wait. 

If you have any goals you feel would benefit my game, let me know.  I always invite insight.

And I encourage you to set your 2010 golfing goals.

Hours of practice: 355