Hope—and resolutions—spring eternal in every golfer’s mind at this time of year. Pelham CC head pro Mike Diffley knows the feeling well and urges us all to embrace it. “Having passion in life is really all any of us can ask for,” he says. “A way to keep the flame going is to set goals and then lay out a plan to reach them. Let’s make 2016 a great golf year and enjoy the privilege of being able to spend time chasing those goals.”
Diffley, who is not only a great player with a career list of wins that include the Met Open but a recognized expert on the mental side of the game, says that we should set four types of goals. His examples aren’t meant to fit everyone—you should establish your own goals depending on the state of your own game:
Real Goals – like winning the club championship, breaking 80, making the cut in the Met Open, or qualifying for the US Open.
Reach Goals – such as breaking a course record, winning the Met Open, or winning the “B” flight at your club.
Work Goals – exercise three times per week, hit balls five times each week, make 100 four-footers three times each week, hit 25 half, three-quarters, and full wedges three times each week.
Process Goals – do a full routine on every shot, do not judge any shot, when practicing, change your target and club after every five swings, take time to study what you are doing.
So what are your goals? Do they include some really aspirational ones as well as some that are more realistically achievable? Have you committed to working on your golf as well as playing at it? Notice how specific each of Diffley’s goals are. There’s a lot more to them than just “I’m going to play better this year.” They are all pretty quantifiable so can not only check that you’re trying, but can measure your progress as you go.
As Diffley says, “Goals are dreams with a deadline!”
