SETTING GOALS

Hopefully you read yesterdays post about making the decision to improve your game and so a logical next step is to set a few goals. Where would you like your game to go in the next 6 to 12 months? You can’t hit a target that doesn’t exist so having goals in mind will be key to your success.

The Challenge – Better results are what we want but we can’t focus on them.

Here is what I mean. A good drive is the product of a good swing. A putt that goes in is the product of a good read and a good stroke. A good score is simply the result of good decisions and strong execution. We must learn to focus on things we can control and not the things we can’t. Setting a goal to shoot 79 today is a poor goal because it focuses on the result and not on the process needed to achieve that result. Is this making sense? You can set a goal to shoot 79 but then you must identify the process necessary to take you to that goal.

So What Is A Good Goal?

Good goals are ones that keep you focused on the process. Here are a few examples.

• Today I will use my pre-shot routine on every shot.
• Today I will take 1 extra club on all approach shots and swing smooth.
• Today I will play to the center of every green to give myself the best chance of hitting it.
• Today I will stay in the moment and previous mistakes will not affect the swing I am about to make.
• Today I will control my temper regardless of what happens.

These goals are all process focused and keep your energy on things you can control during the round. Trying to control things you can’t control will stress you out. Results in golf are a toss up half the time anyway. Some drives hit down the middle end up in a divot. That can’t be controlled. Other tee shots that start way off line hit trees and bounce back into the fairway. You can’t control that.

Stay focused on what you can control and watch the scores improve. Learn to become oblivious to results and see how much better you play. Try to intentionally lose track of your score and simply do your best on each shot. I experienced this about a month ago when I played an entire round without knowing my score. I didn’t realize how well I had played until the card was totaled at the end. It was such a good lesson about staying in the moment. None of us can change what happened on a previous hole so let it go. Much easier said than done but it is possible.

Stay in the moment, make good decisions, execute to the best of your ability and your desired results will begin to unfold!

Pick a great “Process Goal” next time you tee it up and see how it works for you.