We have survived a record-breaking winter and have finally stopped shoveling snow. Now it’s time to shovel some mulch and we are very happy to do so! Why? Because mulch equals Spring which equals golf courses are open and ready for play! In order to welcome in the long awaited golf season, I thought I would share a piece I wrote a while back on setting goals for the season. Enjoy the read!

When I get together with my students at the start of the season, one of the first questions I ask besides, “What do you think of this weather?” is “what would you like to achieve this season?” The conversation usually unfolds with a reflection of the previous year, the goals that were set, what went well, what could have gone better, if the goals were met or surpassed and how we can springboard from the success’ of the previous year and continue the trend of whole game improvement.  Once we know the game plan, we’re ready to go!

Goal setting is a key component to framing your season and getting started on the right foot. It takes some thought and it also requires honest consideration of the amount of time you have to spend on your game for both practice and play.

This leads me to a follow-up question to goal setting, “how much time do you have to spend on golf and how does golf fit into your life?”  This is an interesting question and I think at times, a tough one to answer, but it helps us set goals that are both realistic and achievable. I’m a firm believer of realistic goal setting with the caveat that we can always raise the bar during the process!

Realistic goal setting is important for success and achieving your goals is based on the time and effort you have to give. Imagine if the response to the question went something like this,  “I love the game, I love to play, and I work crazy hours and only get to play on the weekends and the occasional 9 holes after work. I don’t have time to practice because I’d rather play…I want to go from a 32 handicap to a 20 this year..oh, and I’m playing in a big company event soon..”   This is a very busy person who obviously loves the game and wants to improve but has set a very lofty goal. Considering the time they have available for golf, reframing their goal is key to helping them improve and enjoy the game even more.

What do you want golf to be for you? It’s worth taking some time to consider what you want to achieve  for the season, where you see your golf game going and how you plan to get there. Do your best to be as honest as you can with yourself regarding the time you’re willing to spend practicing golf, getting lessons and working on your goal. Golf is a fantastic game and everyone at every skill level can improve and play better. If you have a specific goal in mind, you can achieve it with a good plan. Whatever you do and however you do it, you want to have fun and enjoy the process. Isn’t that what life is all about any way? So, set some goals for the season and enjoy the journey!