Well, if you live North of the Mason-Dixon Line it’s finally starting to warm up (at least a little bit).
And while we all know that weathermen occupy the only profession in which you can be wrong on a daily basis and still keep your job, let’s hope they’re right because we’re all sick of looking at the snow.
Before Winter gives its last gasp and your local course finally opens, there are a few little things you can do (that don’t even involve a golf club) that will ultimately make you a better player at the end of the year.
Schedule a Lesson….NOW
Don’t wait until June to get your first lesson of the year. Most people only want help when they start playing bad. Don’t take this approach.
You haven’t really played in four or five months so your body hasn’t yet gotten comfortable with your swing. As a result, many of those bad habits that usually plague your game haven’t yet developed.
Get on the phone and find a teacher in the area. Schedule a lesson sometime soon so you know what you need to get better at before your swing takes its usual form.
Set Goals
Goal setting is one of the most important things you can do on your way to becoming a better golfer. Whether it’s breaking 90 or going an entire round without any 3-putts, you need to have something to strive towards in order to monitor your progress.
Next time you’re daydreaming at work, take out a napkin or a piece of paper and write out what you want to accomplish this season. If you want to get really serious, make a timeline for when you want to achieve your goals.
You might not be able to hit all your marks, but at least you’ll know if you actually are getting better.
Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses
You’re not perfect. Whether you’re a scratch golfer or a 30 handicap, your game needs work. Identify which parts need the most work and commit to working on them when the season starts.
Try to figure out where you’re having trouble and where you’re not and then when the weather does break, have a plan to get better.
Read the Rule Book
If you haven’t read the USGA rule book, you’re at a disadvantage, plain and simple. I know the book is a little dry but you’ll truly be amazed at what you can and can’t do on the course.
No one said you had to sit down and read the entire thing in a week. Just read a couple of rules everyday. I can guarantee you with 100% certainty that you’ll save shots in nearly every round you play in.