Before I set myself some targets it’s useful to know where I my game is currently at.  It may also give some insight into my thought processes.

So how good am I?
The answer is two-fold - I’m not as good as I think I am and I’m not as good as I would like to be.

I am currently submitting 3-cards at my new club
After 2 rounds I am on track for a Single Figure Handicap

Now depending on the standard of your own game, I will either be considered a Sunday morning hacker, fairly average, or pretty good…and that’s the great thing about everything in life, your own perspective can be very different from someone else.

On my day I am capable of great things, as well as absolutely awful things.   I’m sure we’ve all got good and bad memories about the rounds, holes and shots we’ve played.  To give you an insight to my game, a few years ago I was playing in a round on the Volvo Amateur Tour, it was at the Old Course in Vilamoura.  We were playing a 550 yard par 5, it looked like a tough hole from the tee but I hit the best two three-woods I have ever hit and made a four foot putt for an eagle.  More recently I was playing with Rich, we were on an easy looking 496 yard par 5 -  I went for the green in two and found the water…10 dodgy minutes later I shot 11….So 8 shots different!

I have spent most of the last two years going sideways, having gone through the sh*nks – I can’t even bring myself to write the word.  It’s the most debilitating part of the game.  I hope you never have the misfortune to experience them and if you have…well I share your frustrations and I wish you all the best.   (Rich will cover some techniques to get rid of  them at some stage)

Rich and I have worked hard to get things flowing properly…in fact we decided to go right back to the beginning and start from scratch…new grip, new swing, new golfer.

Right now I lack confidence in my all round game, but there are glimpses that I am starting to find a repeatable swing.  It does take time for the changes to become ingrained and while I’m no where near where I’d like to be, occasionally I hit a shot like I have never hit before…pure, straight, high, long…just an awesome feeling…I bet you’ve done the same.  The trick is to do it more often.

Off the tee used to be the hardest part for me, but having gone through Drive For Show, I am confident when I pull Driver.  It’s what I do with the ball after I’ve split the fairway that needs the work.  On the bright side I am convinced that I am about to turn the corner and make some decent progress.

I’ll set some targets in the next post – where I’ll talk you through my setting ‘smarter’ goals process.