In Spokane we are weeks away from the flood gates opening.. And by "flood gates" I mean golf courses. So.. What can you do to make 2022 your best year yet?
Let's offer up a few tactics to ensure you stay on the straight and narrow
BALANCE - Balance your competitive play with fun, and practice rounds. It's equally important that you spend time out on the golf course just having fun.. Example: Think of a PGA Tour Player's typical week. They show up Monday/Tuesday for a Thursday tournament and they go on the course to play practice rounds. These practice rounds are time on the course that are low stress. They are learning the golf course as well as hitting shots from multiple locations to study and understand the course.
PRACTICE TECHNIQUE - Preferably early in the season to hone in on what you're trying to accomplish. Technique practice should be a part of the pie that is your total improvement plan. This is ONE OF THE GREATEST AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY for most amateur golfers that lack the foundation skills to grow. If you don't have a clue where to start booking your swing analysis here at the academy is where we build out that road map to improvement. CLICK HERE to get book your first visit.
PUT EVENTS ON THE CALENDAR - Set some dates with your golfing partners to go do something awesome. Maybe that's a golf trip, tournament, or anything of the sort that will get you excited! The important thing is not only the event, but that having an event on the calendar will help keep you focused in stretches of season where you may otherwise not be. I really like having dates on the calendar as an advanced form of advertising your goals.
MIX UP YOUR PRACTICE - Variety is the literal spice of life when it comes to golf practice.. Remember this.. Long-term we want to build skills.. You cannot build skills if you don't practice skills. Examples of this type of practice would include doing things like shaping the golf ball right/left, playing games around the green to help hone in your short game skills, practicing hitting different trajectories to further your understanding of shotmaking, basically any style of practice that allows you to be creative and try things you would normally be uncomfortable with.
GET OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE - Learning happens outside of your comfort zone.. If you're not spending time outside of your comfort zone.. You are not learning. There are many varieties of ways to practice this.. It could be as simple as playing with a new group. It could be as advanced as signing up for a tournament that is over your head. Or just playing small games with your cohorts that require you to level up your focus and perform under pressure.
At the end of the day.. I want you to remember that golf should be fun. So should learning golf! Remember to find joy in the process, because not every day will be a career best score. Over time you can make substantial progress with this game if you continue to work on the things that are holding you back (usually outside of your comfort zone).. That can be hard to look in the mirror and diagnose, but it is so important. If you follow these steps above you are certainly on the way to making 2022 a great year. Remember that much of the progress is in the follow through, get it?! Follow through with your plan! And when in doubt, swing hard, and hope for the best!
Tim Connor, PGA MEMBER & COACH
Comments