Goal Setting
Whilst the new season may seem a long way away, it will be here sooner than you think. So now is the time to start setting some goals for the next golf season. What will the new season bring for you? The same as last year or do you want to make serious progress with your game? Did you set goals last year and, if so, what happened to them?
If you started off with a general "I want to win a medal" or "I want to cut my handicap" without having a plan in place as to how you were going to achieve your goals then the chances are that you failed. Without a structured approach these are wishes, not goals.
There are three key stages to goal setting: what do you want to achieve? How will you do it and what will success look like? You wouldn't set off from Chesterfield to get to Edinburgh without some map or plan in mind as to how you were going to get there and how you would know when you had arrived, yet it is remarkable how many people start the season with some vague thoughts as to what they might want to achieve without a plan.
The following is a common model for goal setting and helps bring a sense of focus to the process:
Specific. The goal must be very specific rather than just a woolly "I want to improve". What do you really want out of this exercise?
Measurable. How will you gauge what progress you are making? Is it the quality of your shots or a low score? Average number of putts per round or greens in regulation?
Actions needed. What are you going to do to ensure that you achieve or even exceed your goal? Is it committing to a monthly lesson? Number of visits to the range? Time spent practising your short game?
Realistic. There is no point in setting a goal that you have no chance of achieving. If you current handicap is over 20 it is unlikely that you will get to single figures in three months so while the goal may be stretching it should be within reasonable reach. You should also have an element of control over the target - you can't influence how someone else plays in the medal (within the rules of etiquette anyway!) but you can influence how you prepare and play.
Time measured. When is a reasonable timescale taking into account all of the above? Some of your goals should be very short term - how much practice are you going to commit to in the next four weeks? What do you want to achieve over the next two months and so on until you get to the end of the season? If you look too far ahead the targets can become meaningless.
The goal needs to be what you really want, not what others expect of you. One NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) motivational tool to use is to project forward and imagine that you have successfully achieved your goal. Just close your eyes and step into your shoes and imagine what it feels like - what your emotions are, what can you hear, see and even taste? Are you excited, happy, proud of your achievements, no matter how small? Can you hear your playing partners comment on the improvements to your game? Use this technique regularly to keep yourself motivated through the season. If you can't imagine what success will feel like the chances are that you aren't committed to the goal and you should reconsider.
If you would like to play better golf in 2012 why not book one of the coaching packages in the latest newsletter. For more information on lessons and improving your golf contact Craig on 07825168437.
