I was having some trouble coming up with some words of wisdom for all of you to start your new year. Then, I remembered the article I did last year at this time. I liked it and thought it might help some of you. So, with a few revisions, here is my New Year’s Golf Resolutions for pretty much every year. They are good for me and hopefully good for you.

Now that the Holidays are over, I hope if you made some resolutions for the New Year they were reasonable and attainable.  

Did you make any resolutions for your golf game? Hopefully if you did, you didn’t set the bar so high you can’t possibly reach it! Sure, I want to play on the Champions Tour, but it’s probably not going to happen. 

If you’re having trouble coming up with realistic goals let me suggest a few.

1.  I will determine my “Personal Par” on every hole before I play, making sure to not get too aggressive or optimistic. For now, this should be the score you make at least 75% of the time you play the hole. And, I will make a realistic plan of where I can and should hit the ball each shot in order to make my “Par”. Then, I will stick to my plan to achieve my personal par rather than taking unnecessary chances.

2.  I will not try shots I know I have little chance of being successful with.

3.  I will remember 1/2 of the shots are supposed to be putts. Therefore, I will spend 1/2 my practice time on putting and the short game. It may not be fun to practice hitting a short distance, but this is where you will “make your money” when out with your buddies.

4.  I will always remember I am not a professional golfer.  Professional golfers have bad shots and bad holes, so it’s OK for me to have bad holes…Even a lot of bad holes.

5.  Golf is a leisure sport we do by choice. You chose it you enjoy it. No enjoyment, choose something else you can enjoy.

That’s it – 5 simple and very attainable personal rules to golf by for 2017.  

I can guarantee you’ll have lower scores and more enjoyment if you dedicate yourself to using these rules. You will find you start adjusting your “Personal Par” down on some holes after just a few rounds.  

That’s it! Short and Sweet! Give it a try. What do you have to lose besides a few strokes?

And, I hope 2017 is a very good year for all of you and your golf game improves and provides you with much more enjoyment. 

Kim Anders is a PGA Professional at Estrella del Mar Golf Community residing in Mazatlan, Sinaloa Mexico. You can reach Kim via email at jkanders4@gmail.com.