2009 Season in Review -- Part II

Last January, as I do every year, I set forth a list of golfing resolutions -- or goals -- for the coming year. I am currently constructing my list for 2010, but I thought now would be a good time to reflect back on last year's list and see if I achieved any or all of my goals.

2009 Golf Resolutions:

* Get myself physically ready to play golf before the season starts. -- My wife and I began a program of walking 2-3 times a week starting in March. While this certainly benefited my golf game, we did it more to lose weight than anything. Still, as someone who walks when he plays golf, this really helped me out, especially late in rounds when my legs still felt fresh.

* Begin playing as soon as weather permits, but no later than the first week of April. -- I played my first practice 9 holes of 2009 on April 5, and managed 5 practice rounds before my first posted round on May 17. I also hit the Driving Range 6 times.

* Play a minimum of 30 regulation and practice rounds combined. -- As I posted in my earlier 2009 season review, I played about 25 regulation and practice rounds combined.

* Play those rounds on at least 10 golf courses, with at least three being courses I've never played before. -- I played on 17 different courses last season and 3 where ones I played for the very first time: Mainland, Green Pond and Heritage Creek.

* Lower handicap to 20. -- My handicap stayed around 24, but I think the main reason for that was my awful putting last year. It was the one part of my game that was terrible throughout.

* Keep equipment changes to a minimum. -- I continued to be an equipment junkie. I will detail all the equipment I played in 2009 in a later post, but the biggest change I made was going back to predominantly TaylorMade after switching to Wilson Staff equipment at the end of 2008.

* Better emphasis on course management. -- I could have done better in this area, but overall, it wasn't bad. Of course, poor putting didn't help.

* Practice my short game, including putting, chipping and pitching. -- I did practice my putting a couple of time during the season, but after straining my elbow practicing during the spring, I tried to restrict my practice time in order to save my elbow for playing.

* Visit the driving range at least once a week from March through May. -- I didn't make it to the Driving Range once a week during this time, but I did go 6 times, which helped some.

* Break 90 on a course of Par 70 or higher. -- I had two real chances this year. I shot 90 at Mainland after making a 6 on the final hole, and a 92 at Bensalem after making a 7 at the 18th.

* Have FUN playing. -- I ALWAYS have fun when I'm playing golf, so this was the easiest goal out of all of them.

My Golfing New Year's Resolutions

With the first month of the last year of the first decade of the second millenium almost over, I thought it was time to finally put down my golfing resolutions for this coming season. I did this last January and had one of my best seasons in several years, so I think it is a good idea to outline my goals once again. My list was a little long last year and it will long about the same length this time. In fact, many of the goals will remain the same, while some will be modified a bit. Some here is the Muni Golfer's golf resolutions for 2009:

* Get myself physically ready to play golf before the season starts.

* Begin playing as soon as weather permits, but no later than the first week of April.

* Play a minimum of 30 regulation and practice rounds combined.

* Play those rounds on at least 10 golf courses, with at least three being courses I've never played before.

* Lower handicap to 20.

* Keep equipment changes to a minimum.

* Better emphasis on course management.

* Practice my short game, including putting, chipping and pitching.

* Visit the driving range at least once a week from March through May.

* Break 90 on a course of Par 70 or higher.

* Have FUN playing.

Again, this is a pretty substantial list, but if I focus on at least working on these goals, and accomplish half of them, I think 2009 will an even more successful season than 2008.

Mid-Year Review of My Golf Resolutions/Goals

Since the calendar now says July, it's a good time to review the golf resolutions, or goals, I set for myself back in January. I ambitiously made 10 resolutions. Here's an update on where I stand in keeping or meeting those resolutions/goals:

1) Get myself physically ready to play golf before the season starts -- I got a late start to the season and while I did try to do some things, I was not really in the best physical shape when I did finally get on the course. My wife and I have been occasionally walking at night, so this has helped me a bit, but we need to do it on a more regular basis.

2) Play a minimum of 30 regulation and practice rounds combined -- I've played less than 10 regulation and practice rounds so far, so unless I play deep into the fall, this resolution/goal may be tough to achieve.

3) Play those rounds on at least 10 golf courses, with at least three being courses I've never played before -- Although I have played less than 10 regulation and practice rounds, I have managed to play them on six different courses, two on which -- Rock Manor and Center Square -- I played for the first time, so this one is well within reach.

Rock Manor Golf Club

4) Play more rounds with family and friends -- While I've made attempts to play more with friends, it hasn't happened as much as I would like.

5) Lower handicap to under 25 -- My handicap is down almost two strokes since the season started and now stands at 26.5, so this one is achievable if I continue my good play.

6) Emphasis on course management -- I'm not taking as many low percentage shots as in the past and the fact that my handicap has dropped is evidence that I am managing my game much better on the course.

7) Practice my short game, including putting, chipping and pitching -- Except for some putting on the carpet, and some warm-up wedges at the driving range, I have not practiced my my short game at all. My putting has been pretty bad this year, particularly from five feet and in.

8) Visit the driving range more regularly -- Early in the spring, when I wasn't getting out on the golf course, I was visiting the driving range weekly. In April and May, I went to the driving range -- Fishers Glen and Burholme Golf Center -- five times, about four times more than I normally do in a season.

Fisher Glen Driving Range

9) Break 90 on a course of Par 70 or higher -- If not for a missed seven foot putt on the 18th Hole at Center Square, I would have already achieved this one. But it did give me confidence that I CAN do it!

18th Hole at Center Square

10) Have FUN playing -- My handicap is going down which means my scores are going down, so how can I NOT be having fun on the golf course?

So, as you can see, I have some things to be optimistic about, and some things still to work on in the second have of the year.

New Year's Resolutions for Golf

Well, a new year has just begun and even though it might not be ideal conditions for playing golf here in the Delaware Valley, it is a good time to think about some golf goals for the upcoming year. So, just as we make New Year's resolutions for our daily lives, I am going to make some 2008 resolutions for my golf:

* Get myself physically ready to play golf before the season starts.

* Play a minimum of 30 regulation and practice rounds combined.

* Play those rounds on at least 10 golf courses, with at least three being courses I've never played before.

* Play more rounds with family and friends.

* Lower handicap to under 25.

* Emphasis on course management.

* Practice my short game, including putting, chipping and pitching.

* Visit the driving range more regularly.

* Break 90 on a course of Par 70 or higher.

* Have FUN playing.

I know this list is probably too long, but if I accomplish at least half--five--of these goals, 2008 will have been a successful season.