Golfing Ambitions That You Should Have in 2025

Whether you have carried on playing throughout the winter months or class yourself as a fair-weather golfer, we have reached the point in the year where it is probably time to think about setting yourself some goals for 2025

The world’s leading tour professionals all set targets for themselves at the start of each season, so why should it be any different for those of us who play at club level or class ourselves as nomadic golfers?

Here are a few suggestions for you to ponder:

Lower Your Handicap

I could be wrong but surely each and every one of us who plays this game, regardless of age or standard, wants to improve. So top of your list for 2025 should be to reduce your handicap. 

Don’t set unrealistic goals. If you are playing off 20 it is probably asking just a little bit too much to think you can finish the year by playing off scratch. But it is not unreasonable to think that you can get down to, say, 18. And from there, the target for the following year would be to knock another two shots off that. 

An obvious way to improve is by booking lessons at the start of the season, but there are also other things you can do. 

You will know what the weakest part of your game is. For most club golfers it is the short game, yet this is the area which we devote the least time to improving. Get out to the practice green and hit pitches and chip shots. Would a change of putter help you to eliminate some of those costly three putts? Keep a record of your statistics and work on specific areas. You just might surprise yourself.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Adopt a Strategy

Do you really need to keep reaching for the driver? Golf is an easier game when played from the middle of fairways. If you struggle for accuracy from the tee, would you fare better by pulling out a three wood, rescue club or even an iron? Eliminating thick rough, water hazards and bunkers is guaranteed to see you reducing your scores. Is that 240-yard carry over water really within your capabilities? Think before you hit!

Get a Handicap

Not everybody has a golf handicap. Lots of people just play the game for fun. But you will get more from your game if you make the effort during 2025 to get yourself a handicap. Why not use Golfshake’s Score Tracker? 

Update Your Equipment

It will not be long before the leading manufacturers launch their new models for 2025. They will promise greater distance, bigger sweet spots and more accuracy. And they will cost a pretty penny. 

But the good news is that when new models hit the shelves it also means that the cost of 2024 clubs starts to tumble. Keep your eyes open for some incredible bargains. Unless you are playing this game at the highest of levels, last year’s equipment will most definitely serve the purpose just as well as anything that appears on the market in the coming season.

Join a Golf Club

If you are a nomadic golfer, 2025 might be the year to consider joining a golf club. It is a great way of meeting new people, playing in competitions and getting and maintaining a handicap. 

As with everything else, do your research first. Draw up a list of potential courses and go and play them. Tell them beforehand that you are considering joining - any club worth its salt will offer a potential member either a free round or a reduced green fee. 

Make sure you speak to club members in the clubhouse to check that it does what it says on the tin. 

Does the annual subscription represent good value for money? That may depend on how often you are going to be able to play. Can you pay monthly? Is there is a five-day option if you don’t want to play at weekends? Is there a joining fee? Are there winter greens? Is the course vulnerable to flooding? Will there be weeks on end when it is closed? Does it have good drainage? What’s the food like? Are the drinks competitively priced? 

If you join, will you be given a "buddy" to introduce you to other members? How difficult will it be to get the tee times you want?

Draw Up a Bucket List of Golf Courses

Whether you are a club member or not, part of the fun of playing this game is to visit other courses. Sit down at the start of the year and draw up a list of other local courses you want to play. Get a group of other golfers together and arrange some days out. When you book your tee times, don’t be afraid to ask for group discounts, and check with the secretary to find out the best deals they can offer you. Will you get a coffee and a bacon sandwich on arrival? Will they include a meal afterwards? Can your group play in the morning?

Golf Break

Get together with some friends and organise a golf break. There is a huge choice out there, and some incredible bargains to be had, whether it be an overnight stay in the UK or a break in the sun. And if you get your timing right, you will find that you can stay and play at some of the best courses in the land without breaking the bank. A golf break with the right group of friends can be an absolute scream and leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.

Keep Your Cool

Why do you play golf? I hit the fairways because I enjoy hitting a golf ball well. But more important than that is the fun I have in the company of like-minded people. 

I see far too many club golfers losing their temper, slamming clubs into the ground, stomping off in a mood after bad shots. Give yourself - and those you play with - a break in 2025 by remembering that golf is meant to be fun. You hit a bad shot, you lost a ball - so what? In the grand scheme of things, does it really matter? Nobody cares. Laugh it off. You will feel much better about yourself if you do. And people will want to play with you.

Practice, Practice, Practice

There is a reason that tour professionals are so good. Of course they have natural talent. That goes without saying. But what they also do is to spend hours on the range beating golf balls. 

Now I am not suggesting that we do that but it is entirely unreasonable to expect that you can walk on to the first tee without any preparation whatsoever and expect to play your best golf. 

You should definitely hit some balls before every round, but why not make 2025 the year when you specifically set aside an hour on a regular basis to spend some quality time at the driving range working on your swing? Most ranges are floodlit and remain open until 9pm or later so even if you have a full-time job, you should still be able to fit this in. I guarantee that your game - and scores - will benefit.

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