Whether you aim to break 80, 90 or the course record, you’d better know how to get there.

It’s that time again, a new year, full of possibilities for you and your golf game. Perhaps you’ve evaluated the quality of your game last year and decided you want to lower your handicap, get in better shape or win the club championship. Before you embark on your quest, however, take the time to evaluate realistically your game and yourself and decide what changes you would like to make.

One of the best ways to prepare for the future is to envision what you want to accomplish and then set goals for reaching those dreams. Jim Carrey set a goal to make $12 million in a movie deal while he was still a stand-up comic in Los Angeles. As a commitment to this goal he wrote a check to himself for $12 million. He quit his stand-up gig and took a role on the TV show In Living Color. His success on that show led to movie offers that eventually included Batman Forever, for which he made $12 million.

Say your goal is to break 80 at your home course. Following the Carrey example, you’d write your name on a scorecard and pencil a 79 in the last column. Now how do you get there?

Goals are important for many reasons. First, they provide us with a clear direction. Much like geographical destinations on a map, our goals can show us where we’d like to go, where we currently are and what route to take to get there. Second, they motivate us to work hard and face our fears and doubts about what we are capable of achieving. Third, they can also allow us to discover new things about ourselves.

In order to have the best opportunity to accomplish your goals, consult with others who know you well and are knowledgeable about the aspect you wish to change. If you want to break 80, ask your golf instructor for feedback on that goal as well as on your strengths and weaknesses.

By Denise McGuire, Ph.D.

Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2008