As we enter into a “new year, new me” lines are being thrown around, if you’ve got some new goals of your own you want to hit this year, make sure to read on to ensure you’re not one of the many new year resolutioners who’s commitment to reaching their goals doesn’t even make it out of the second week of January! The following are my 7 keys to smashing your goals over these next 12 months:
1) Write down your goals.
Write down your goals for a start. You can’t start a journey if you don’t know where you want to go. Many of you might’ve seen Justin Thomas’s list of goals he shared with the media at the end of his major winning 2016/17 season that he’d typed up on the notes app on his phone. He has continued this trend annually ever since. I like the idea of having your goals close to hand like this, as you can easily glance at them for motivation to keep pushing onwards during the days were you don’t feel like it.
2) Get specific
Make your goals detailed, make sure your goals are measurable and make sure they aren’t outside of your control. Put a date on when you want to hit your goals and exactly how you’re going to get there. This is where your stat tracking comes in, if you are that way inclined to collect data on your game. Your goal could be to get your handicap down to x,y,z. You analyse your stats and see your greens in reg. stats are holding you back, you identify that you don’t hit enough greens and the majority of your misses are short and left, for example. You can then plan out your road to improving this e.g. you decide you’ll hit the range to work on your iron play twice a week after work, aiming at a specific target on the range and giving yourself some form of motivation to succeed such as attaching a reward/forfeit system for a task you set yourself based around improving this facet of your game.
3) Know your motivation to succeed….. “know your why”
What’s your motivation for success? If you achieve this goal, what will this allow you to get or allow you to do? How will this make you feel when you achieve this? How will you see yourself differently? How will others see you differently when you achieve this?
4) Coach led advice
On this journey, I’d strongly advise anyone who’s serious about achieving their goals to seek out a coach they trust to help guide them on their path. Find a coach who’s taken players to the level you want to reach. They’ll help speed up the process and prevent the wheels from coming off.
5) Practice smart
Go to the range with a plan of what you’re going to work on. Don’t just mindlessly rake balls one after another after another. Otherwise, at best this is just exercise. At worst, it’s potentially further ingraining bad habits.
Log your practice. Keep records of your practice in a notepad. Your own practice diary/journal will help keep you on task and help you to make the most out of your practice sessions.
6) Network
Speak to other players you look up to who’ve won titles you want to win or have a handicap you’d like to play off. Pick their brain and learn what they did to accomplish this.
7) Visualization
Be confident in your ability and see yourself becoming the golfer you dream of being, the golfer you’re actively working on becoming. You can call it the law of attraction or whatever you like but it’s vital you see yourself in your mind where you want to be often.
Now that you’re armed with a realistic strategy of achieving your Golfing Goals this New Year, I wish you the best of luck. Enjoy the process!
“Life best lived is a life by design”
– Jim Rohn.
I would agree with Jim’s quote absolutely. Hopefully the above advice will allow you to implement a system in which to design the golfing life you wish to experience.er’s Day coaching gift vouchers are also still available with both online payment and online delivery of vouchers as an option to maximise your conveniency ahead of the big day on Sunday.
Are you thinking seriously about improving your game? Do you wish to receive as close to instant feedback on your practice sessions as possible to accelerate your development process? Contact Seán.
In-Person coaching is provided at The SMG Studio (Kilcock), The Halpenny Golf Driving Range (beside Dublin airport) and Online Coaching via Skillest as per links below:
Seán Marks PGA Professional
 |  |  |  |  |  |