So back earlier this year I asked people what their 2007 golf goals where. I was thinking with the season basically over, it would be a good time to review our goals and how we did.

My goals where things like: shooting 7 round sub-80; getting my handicap under 6; card 1+ birdies per round; improving ballstriking and fairway wood play;

So looking back, I had 8 rounds in the 70s (one (74) breaking my previous low score); Last month my handicap was 5.8 but it's moved back to 6.1 (began the year at 6.9); There were times this year I felt my iron play was solid, that the ball just flew where I aimed it (not quite there now though); and my fairway game has gotten a lot better since Bill suggested I replace my un-trustable 3W. So, all and all I feel I've done pretty good in most of those areas. The driver/3W are working pretty well but could be better. But the big thing I realized is that I haven't done much with putting/chipping (not even with practicing them) and I feel that part of my game has fallen off. So while some aspects have gotten better, other's have suffered. So next year, I'm going to make sure that I find time practice putting and chipping more than I did this year.

What about others? How did you do towards your 2007 goals?

hey come on we still have 1 month left!!!!
I might still hit my goals of playing more golf this year than last... (apart from the fact its actually snowing!!!)
well done though scott - HC just above 6 - ok its more than what you want but only by 0.2 so not bad -
8 rounds sub 70 - (I can only dream
so I think overall A.
I think that you have put in what you should be doing during the close season especially as its something you could be doing at home in the garden(chipping) if you can get it a ball to stop within a holahoop might get down to 2/3

Here's what I said back in the Spring...
#1 Goal same as last year, to get my avg score down to 90. I originally wanted to do that so I could enter some local competitions, but I'm not sure I want the pressure from outside (I have enough internal). I worked on some things that held me back last year, I'm feeling that it's an attainable goal this year.
#2 Decrease # of putts per round (less than my usual 33)...need more 1-putts to score better.
#3 Sand shots...get more confidence

Goal #1, got half of it. I did play in a tournement, but my average score is still in the 90's (ended up with 22 hcp). Although I don't think I shot one round in the 80's this year, I did shoot more in the low 90's. It's close.
Goal #2, nope, still not good
Goal #3, somewhat

This was a great idea, Scott. Someone start a thread for 2008, or I will when I get around to it. I like it that I set some goals that only required dedication, like practice, and some goals that were performance oriented. I think it was a good job of goal setting, because I met most of them, and the few I didn't make show that I was reaching high enough. (I remember Bill has another term for these performance oriented ones.) Here's my old list:

Practice, 5-6 days per week, putt, pitch, bunker, full swing.
YES
Play once a week.
YES
Continue lessons.
YES
Practice energy psychology to become more receptive to success.
SOME
Groove my full swing so that it's consistent.
SOME. THIS WILL REMAIN AT THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR NEXT YEAR.
Develop confidence while playing, so that I can bring my best technique to the course.
A LITTLE PROGRESS. THIS SHARES THE TOP OF NEXT YEAR'S LIST.
Shoot in the 100's to 110's.
YES. CONSISTENTLY 110-114 FOR LAST 6 ROUNDS.
Get my average drive to 180-200.
YES.
Hit greens consistently from 120 yd in.
A LITTLE PROGRESS. TIES BACK IN TO CONSISTENCY.
Consistent one or two-putts.
SOME PROGRESS. STILL A HANDFUL OF 3'S AND MAYBE 4'S PER ROUND.
Establish a handicap.
NO. DECIDED IT WASN'T NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH A 30+ HANDICAP!
Continue to enjoy the heck out of this game.
YES, ABSOLUTELY.

That should be everyone's #1 goal each year!
If it's not for fun (it sure ain't for money) why continue.

Laney, that's a great accounting of your progress this year. It's nice to see that we made some progress on our goals for 2007. I agree with Aimee, we should all try to enjoy the game more. And don't worry about establishing a handicap at this point. You'll know about where you tend to score so just base it off that.

Here's my goals that I posted in the other thread at the beginning of the year:

1) improve my driving distance to 200+ yrds
Yep, can't do it consistently, but managed to get 250yds as my best drive so far.
2) Get my handicap to under 30 (currently at 40+)
Well, depends on the course, otherwise I'm just shy of +40.
3) Break 100 (from white tees)
ALMOST got this done. Shot a 101 as my best round ever.
4) Get at least 1 birdie and 9 Pars in 1 round
Maybe in 2008.
5) Improve my driving/iron accuracy
Still need to work on this, but there has been some marginal improvement.
6) Add 10 yards to my iron (currently about 2 clubs short from the average golfer)
Need to work on goal #5 first, and then I think this will come naturally.
7) Lose no more than 2 balls in a round
Accomplished!
8) Improve with consistency
Working on goals #5 and 6 should make this possible.
9) Figure out how to chip (Wade got me started)
Still working on this.
10) Keeping a 500yd Par-5 no more than a 550yd walking distance.
Managed to do this once on a nice long drive into the fairway.
11) anything else I can't think of right now without my coffee.

But most of all, I want to have more fun. Last year I was too serious about the "game" and not realizing how wonderful golf really is on the outside.
DEFINITELY accomplished this one!

Doc, nice work. I don't understand what you mean by 10).

Doc, if you accomplish this one, you'll easily be scoring under 100

Laney,
I usually walk on the course. The way I tee off or lay up doesn't usually end up on the fairway. I'd tee off to the right rough. Second shot to the left rough, and so on until I reach the green. So, a 500yd Par 5 with all the walking back and forth from both sides of the fairways would be in excess of the par yards + fairway width.

Just ask Wade. He's seen me do this many times. And no, I wasn't doing it for the exercise either.

Have Fun.
Check.

Get more consistent with the driver.
Check. (Finally swinging within myself better.)

Improve in some way.
Check. Handicap to end the season is 5.8. Personal best for me. This is despite less playing time and MUCH less practice time this year.

Disappointments:

Low round of year: 76. Wanted to shoot par this year. Had a few front nines under par. Pressure got to me.

Putting: no better, no worse. Need to save some stokes here somehow.

Wedge Game: Lack of practice had my wedge game woefully out of tune. Used to be a strength of mine.

Strength: Not sure what my "strength" is anymore (not physical, but golf-wise.) I suppose it's now my course mangagement, which isn't a bad thing. Everything about my game feels pretty good, but there's no "bright spot" right now. Oh well.

I'd like to ask him but he doesn't come around any more...I keep meaning to call him but it's always a bad time when I remember. I'll try to call him after the holidays...

Hi Scott: I tried to call you Sunday, but didn't get an answer. You screening your calls again? I wanted to talk to you about driver and stuff. I'll try again this weekend if I remember.

I did not play a much as I would have liked this season but the progress was there. Club-wise, new driver, 4 & 7 woods and putter. Driver has been a real blessing, long enough, always straight and I have yet to mishit it. Either it or me is doing something right. Short game 9 thru 60deg has gotten more consistent but needs more practice and distance control although contact has been fairly good. 4 iron, barely used with mixed results, shots tend to go left, 5 thru 8 generally good if I don't try to kill the ball. Woods were better from the grass than from the tee, 3w (which I no longer carry because of 13 deg driver) was a dissappointment earning its place in the "out" bag.
Putting was fair to good when I really paid attention to what needed to be done, especially in the 10 to 15 foot range. rock solid from 4 feet in.

Don, sorry about that..yes in fact I was screening calls but I was out with my son running errands and if it wasn't an emergency I wasn't picking up since things were crazy, and I didn't recognize the number. But I am sorry about that. I'll do better next time!

Fred, sounds like ytou made some definate improvements this year which is great. I think Laney was going to start a 2008 Goals thread so we'll all have to start planning how to build on where we were...