How To Hit Your Golf Goals in 2023

There’s nothing quite like the start of a new year to get the ambitious juices flowing. We make resolutions about starting new habits and eliminating old ones, all in an effort to become the best version of ourselves.

As common as the resolution, the failed resolution is equally prominent once February comes around. Bustling gyms full of motivated people soon return to normal once the novelty of the changes have worn off and things have returned to normal.

Much has been written about habit change, some of it great but most of it not. The best book written about habit change is, without a doubt, Atomic Habits by James Clear. In the book, Clear discusses the framework for creating new habits and explains the science behind his theory.

Before we can talk about the habits needed to reach our goals, we first need to know what those goals are. To do that, click the link below to open the PDF. You can either print the document or simply create your own using a layout like I have below.

This is a system taken from a product called the Passion Planner, which was launched on Kickstarter in 2013. The link below contains the document laying out the goal setting system.

Passion Planner prescribes to set a timer for 5 minutes, and start with the 3 month box. Write down as many things as you can around the box that you’d want to accomplish in your “golf life” in the next three months. From there, repeat the process for one year, three years and then lifetime.

An example for three months could be, “turn my slice in to a draw” or “learn how to hit a proper bunker shot.” For the one year category, you could say, “go from a 16 down to a 10 handicap” or “play 20 rounds this year.” Three years could include, “become a scratch golfer” or “go on a golf vacation at Pinehurst”. Lastly, for lifetime goals, things like, “play St. Andrews and get a picture at the Swilcan Bridge” or “make a birdie on 17 at TPC Sawgrass” come to mind.

The important thing here is to be as excited as possible and to not limit yourself.

Once the five minutes are up, look at all four categories and circle one goal in each category that means the most to you. Take the goal you circled under the three month category and flip the page over. Put the goal in the center of the sheet and begin to map out the different things you need to do in order to achieve that goal.

Number all of the components in order of what needs to be done first. You likely need to get fit for a new driver before you can BUY a new driver, for example.

Lastly, put deadlines next to each component of the goal and place the paper in an area that you will see on a regular basis. Take those deadlines and place them in your calendar. Work backwards and schedule the practice sessions, etc. that you will need to do in order to stay on track for your deadline.

This is literally the method I’ve used for the last 9 years to accomplish any goal or learn any new skill. It involves no magic, just a simple way to identify what it is you want, figure out what needs to be done, in what order, and then schedule the time each day to make sure you are spending your time accordingly. What gets measured gets improved!

For anyone interested in getting some help putting together a goals sheet, click the link below to book a Zoom call with me where we can discuss the pieces needed to accomplish your goals.

All the best to you in your life both on and off the course in 2023!