I find myself sitting in front of my computer. I am a bit reflective around the events of the past year, and I am hopeful about what the new year will bring.
The major question I ask myself is, "Why did I stop writing in my blog?" I have to give that one more thought, and then maybe I will write about it in the future. The past year has been full of life lessons, but none that you can really write about until they are in the past, and you have had time to reflect upon them.
I will start out 2012 with a look back at how I performed against the goals I set out for myself at the beginning of the year.
They were:
- Qualify for the Golf Channel Amateur Tour(GCAT) National Championship in my flight.
- Shave 5-7 strokes off my handicap and break 80 at least once in 2011.
- Place in the top 3 in a GCAT Major Championship
- Improve physical flexibility for better execution of the golf swing.
- Improve nutrition and lose 35 pounds for better stamina during rounds.
- Understand how the mind effects your golf game.
- Perform well enough at my job to pay for all of this stuff :-)
- Improve handicap to a level that I can participate in the Children's Miracle Network Golf Classic Pro-Am.
- Blog about it all as it happens
Let's talk about the goals that will need to carry over to this year.
Blog about it all is it happens
Easy to see from the timeline of my blog, that unless time stood still for the past 9 months, then I fell down on this one.
Lose 35 pounds
Good news is that my weight has maintained; however, this will be a major effort for me in 2012.
Break 80 at least once in 2011
This goal was very aggressive, but I felt with my planned approach that I could achieve this one. The closest I got was an 83 on Disney's Magnolia Golf Course. A couple of bad holes mid back 9 made it tough to achieve on that day, but I was proud that I focused and par'd the two tough finishing holes. Many rounds await me this year. More focus on staying in the moment - and executing each shot - will make this happen.
Now Let's Talk about the Achievements
In 2011 I participated in 3 GCAT Majors.
I placed 2nd at TPC Deere Run in May with strong winds, low temps, and elevation changes not found much in Florida. I love the course and planned to return this year, but they have moved the location of the tournament away from TPC Deere Run.
I placed 2nd at the Disney Masters on the Palm and Magnolia courses. A tough day one made victory difficult, but a great showing on Day 2 brought me up a few places into 2nd. I will be participating again this year.
I had a very bad showing on day 2 during the Major at PGA National. I injured myself in a freak accident dropping off my score card on day one. I played on day 2, but a very high score took me out of the running. Part injury and part mind blew up day 2. A little minor surgery in early 2012 will fix the physical issue, and hopefully, prevent this mishap in the future.
My finishes at TPC Deere Run and Disney automatically qualified me for the GCAT National Championship at PGA West. I chose not to attend for reasons I may discuss in later blogs. In hindsight - I should have attended - enough said for now.
My handicap steadily lowered over the year, and I currently sit with a handicap of 16.0. This is two under the 18 needed to participate in the Children's Miracle Network Classic Pro Am. It is also 5 strokes below where I started at the beginning of the year. My tournament index is still above 20. The focus on mind will help here.
My three pronged approach of mind, fitness, and swing coaching paid big dividends this year. I won't go into detail here, but all three legs are equally important.
I am on the right track with fitness and swing. My regular focus with a TPI Certified trainer has me doing things with my golf swing that were not physically possible for me a year ago. Continued focus here will only make things better.
I want to dive deeper into the mind piece this year. This training was hugely enlightening to me; however, I need to find a coach that is local to Orlando. If anyone knows of one, then let me know.
I am currently finalizing my 2012 goals and plan of action, and I hope to get those posted soon.
Until then - long and straight!
