Readers share their resolutions

1/7/2021

One resolution for 2021: Aim for the center of the green more often instead of the pin.

Golfers tell us what they hope to accomplish in the game in 2021

We asked SoCalGolfInsider.com readers in December to tell us their New Year’s golf resolutions. In addition to expressing their hopes and dreams for the game in 2021, they also were entered into a random drawing for a chance to win a dozen Titleist Pro V1s. Congratulations to Chris Loo for winning the random drawing and golf balls.

Now, here are some of the resolutions submitted by readers:

For whatever reason, despite playing plenty of golf in 2020 (there wasn’t a whole lot else to do), I’m going to finish the year with an index almost three shots higher than when the year began. My resolution in 2021? To remedy that.

But that’s not all. Here are some of the other resolutions I’ll probably abandon by mid-January:

• Stop telling people about how your index has gone up almost three shots in 2020.

• Reduce cursing after a bad shot to just two dozen times per round.

• Stop boring your wife by telling her the one swing key that will fix everything.

• Quit checking your phone between shots. This is the outdoors, after all, a chance to get away from the emails and Instagram for awhile.

• Speaking of taking pleasure in being outside, with friends, among nature. More than ever, it’s not something to take for granted, and there is no reason to let a chunked chip or a three-putt from 20 feet ruin that.

• Try to show up more then 5 minutes before your tee time, so your warmup can consist of more than a 10-second stretch and a handful of 125 mph practice swings on the first tee.

• Try to go at least a month without hitting your ankle with your putter head, the worst pain known to man.

• Cherish the good shots just as much as kicking yourself for the bad shots. Hit a cut eight-iron just the way you envisioned it? Pat yourself on the back. (Maybe not literally, but at least in your mind.)

• Stop calculating how many over par you are in the middle of the round. Let the score at the turn or after 18 be a surprise. Golf is hard enough without mid-round math.

• With anything more than a wedge in your hand, aim for the middle of the green rather than the flag. The mind finds it easier to hit a 60-foot wide target rather than a one-inch one. Or take Harvey Penick’s advice and “take dead aim.” One or the other.

• Don’t try to hit a big draw on that dogleg left if you haven’t hit a draw in three weeks.

• Continue to walk whenever possible. Carts have their purpose, but there is nothing better than walking the course, and it makes you feel a little less guilty about those post-round beers and cheeseburger.

• Remember, after all, that this is a game. It’s a great game. It may be the greatest game ever invented. Enjoy it, and never forget why you fell in love with it.
– Adam Brady

My goal is to get friends who have stopped playing back on the course for some good laughs. How I am going to accomplish that is first getting them to the range and working on their swings. Get them to accept that fade (more like slice) they have is a good thing and learn how to use it. Once their confidence is up, let's get them on the course where we enjoy each others company and share great stories.
– Boris Chung

My goal for the 2021 is reduce my handicap from 5.2 to 2.0 or lower and be more consistent on the golf course. Work on the mental game, as my wife said, “You can do it because you were a pitcher and you should be able to have a great mental game.”
– Sean Tucker

After surgery in October and a second knee surgery in January my only wish is to be able to play golf again in any form during the new year.
– Les Coutee

My resolution would be to finally break 90.
– Thomas Ungphakorn

Shoot my age.
– Jim Fuchs

Shoot my age for the 3rd time.
– Bill Moeller

Play more golf!
– Chris Loo