2009 - Resolutions, Targets and Plans

The year is dead, long live the year!

We've all made our resolutions, targets and plans for the New Year, both on and off the course.  So what are yours and how confident are you you will achieve them?  Here's mine: -

• Lose weight and get fitter (I say that monthly so my chances are as fat as me!)
• Spend less time working and more time with the family (a promise I have made to myself that I intend to keep as I'm becoming a workaholic)
• Shoot a sub-85 round (I'll be disappointed if I don't)
• Get handicap down to below 18 (17.9 will count!)
• Have a round where I net par or better every hole - my measure of a consistent round (I was close on New Years Eve with only three 1's and no blobs, and two of those ones had a penalty drop on them)

And finally, the countdown is on.  At 3:00pm on Saturday 23rd May 09 I will be doing the right thing and marrying Jo after seven years together.  The biggest goal of all for me in 2009 is to make sure that it's a day she remembers for all the right reasons and to make sure that I keep her happy. 

Ive been married to Jo for 16 years now and its brill...

As for my 2009 goals:

1) Learn as much as I can about diabetes in order to look after myself.

2) Continue my 3 times a week visit to the gym.

3) Stick with what my pro has told me - I know he is right.

4) Reduce handicap to 15.

5) Shoot level par or better on the last 5 holes at our club.

Here are my objectives for 2009

1)  I'd like to get my handicap down to single figures.

I started last year with a handicap of 21 and ended the year a 15 handicap.  If I can play as often as I did last year and sort out my driving then I think a single figure handicap can be achieved.

2)  Be more consistant.

I've noticed with my golf that I don't play to a consistant level.  I'll have a good round which will drop my handicap down a shot or two, but will spend the next 15 or so rounds going up point one.  I play with a few consistant golfers who I know will go around a golf course within five shots each time they play.  Me, I can be ten over par or twenty over par, I never know until I start playing.

3)  Hole In One

I've never had an ace whilst playing golf so I'd like to be able to say I've done it, even if it is only once.  Hopefully I'll get an ace when I'm playing with someone!

4)  Make new friends

I've made a few new friends over the last year and I'd like that to continue.  Hopefully I'll manage to get a few golfshake events in this year.

So there it is, my hopes for this year.

It will be interesting to look back at this next December and see if they have come true.

Russ

First of all, congratulations Chris - glad she's going to make an honest man of you.  If you really want it to be a day she remembers how about having a game of golf instead of attending the ceremony - she certainly wouldn't forget it and you probably might after the wounds have healed!  Nah, seriously, happy for you - I lived 'in sin' with Ruth for 7 years and have now been married for over 20, but there comes a time when you just need some new crockery and a good party.

Back to the topic - I'm not really one to make resolutions but would like to:

- Keep enjoying myself playing

- Visit more and interesting courses

- Make some more buddies for golf

- Make fewer duff strokes

If I do this and my handicap comes down then all well and good, but it's not the b all and end all. 

Thanks Tim.  Same for us as you; we will having been living together for 7 years and 1 day when we get back off honeymoon.  Hope we can make it to 20 years too.  Oh, and as we don't get married until 3:00pm, I'm playing golf with her brother (who's also my best man) on the morning of the wedding - with permission to do so!

Chris,

Congrats, when's the stag do??

My resolutions for last year were to

• join a private golf club (done)
• get an official handicap (done)
• play in some monthly medals (done)
• conquer the 'mind' element of golf (almost there)
• & most importantly enjoy the game more. (done)

For this year my resolutions are to

• try to reduce my handicap to about 12
• play some links courses
• lose about 2 stone (joined a gym)
• get fitter (see above)
• spend quality time with the family
• & improve my long putting.

 John.

my aims are

1:practice my short game more

2:aim to break into the heavenly single figure handicap bracket

3:practice my short game more (that important i have mentioned it twice)

my aims last year as a 21 handicapper was to break into the teens handicap

so decided to have a lesson with my local pro.within 3 months i had my first

minus 8o round(and last)

so with a positive attitude i am going for it this year.

My main aim this year is to score more holes at bogey or better than at double bogey or worse.  That should see me achieve all my scoring aims.

Side aims are to enter 3 Golfshake comps and play at least 10 courses new to me.

My aims for 2009 are:

1.  Play more golf (it's ok this has already been approved by her indoors...)

2.  Submit cards to get a proper handicap at my club (still mostly playing games with friends and colleagues and tracking them on Golfshake)

3.  Lose the weight which is currently making my trousers struggle to meet at the button.....

4.  Be more consistent and cut the 8's and 9's from my card (which contribute to flying golf clubs and the merriment of my playing partners...)

5.  Stop lingering on the bad holes/bad shots and focus on the hole/shot I'm playing

6.  Play in some medals and meet new guys from my club

All realistic for this year but I wonder how many of them will form part of my new year resolutions 2010.....

With a quarter of the year nearly gone and the clocks about to change I thought it would be a good idea to get a progress report on the aims and resolutions above.

I'm just about on target for my main aim as I currently have 51% of holes at bogey or better this year.  I've managed 2 new courses so far and I am adding a third next week.  Entered my first golfshake comp at the Belfry last week and have put my name down for the East Midlands Qualifier.  Feeling rather smug and glad I didn't include anything about being thinner or fitter. 

I would like to achieve category 1 status and lose 3st, 1 stone down 2 to go.

As for my update, I've managed to play new courses at The Lincolnshire, Mapperley, Doncaster, Pinta, Silves, Gramacho and Conwy.  Had a few more visits to the Belfry and am enjoying playing as well as managing a small handicap drop.  Had my swing taken to pieces and am currently re-building it mechanically (the only way I know), got a new driver and made some buddies in Portugal.

Not a bad start - captaining the mighty Northern warriors will just be a bonus.. 

Continue winding people up Santo and living another year may not be possible

Ermmm........

Ermmm........

Ermmm, sub 95 would be nice........

Ermmm........

Ermmm........

I think I need to reassess. 

Update from me

• try to reduce my handicap to about 12 (haven't done this in the medals but have played loads of friendly rounds where I have played to 12)
  
• play some links courses (played Conwy once & playing there again in May)
  
• lose about 2 stone (joined a gym) (lost nearly a stone but haven't been to the gym!!)
  
• get fitter (see above) (see above!)
  
• spend quality time with the family (have agreed to have a weekend off from playing golf every 3rd week in the month)
• & improve my long putting. (getting there)