Goal Setting

Goal setting is a powerful method to achieve direction and success. Goal setting gives you long-term vision and short-term motivation. The technique can be applied to more or less any aspect of your life.

By setting sharp, clearly defined goals, you can measure and take pride in the achievement of those goals. You will see forward progress in what might previously have seemed a long pointless grind. By setting goals you will also raise your self-confidence as you recognize your ability and competence as you achieve each target.

Goals should be set on a number of different levels:

Top level, decide what large-scale goals you want to achieve.

Second level, break large-scale goals down into the smaller and smaller targets that you must hit in order to reach your lifetime goals.

Third level, break each target down into component and/or sub-component goals.

Finally, once you have your plan, you start working towards achieving it. (Writing your goals down will help you)

Goal setting is probably the most effective way of building self-confidence. By constantly setting and resetting measurable goals and achieving them, a great deal of satisfaction is derived as you prove your ability to yourself.

Guide to setting goals

Set performance goals not outcome goals. You should take care to set goals over which you have as much control as possible. There is nothing wrong with wanting to win a tournament. But a more realistic goal would be playing to or under your handicap. If you achieve this you have cause to celebrate and you won't have set yourself up for disappointment if you don’t come first. Chances are you’ll win a prize anyway!!

Set realistic Goals. Setting goals at the right level is important. To develop your skills it is necessary to set goals that are outside your immediate capability, but not so far that there is no hope of achieving them. No one will put serious effort into achieving a goal they believe to be unrealistic. Do not set goals based on ego or vanity, or make them too ambitious. Failure to accomplish a goal may result in negativity through disappointment.

Personal factors such as tiredness, injury, stage in the season, etc. should be taken into account when goals are set.

Set specific Goals. A specific goal will motivate you more than a general goal. “I want to get my handicap down” is too general. If you play off 5, make your target 4. This is specific. When you accomplish it there will be a genuine sense of achievement and reason for celebration. Once there, make your new goal 3. Unless you are specific, how do you ever know when you have reached your target?

Set measurable goals. Being able to measure your progress towards achieving your goal will keep you motivated. Being able to see yourself moving in the right direction will drive you harder to work towards your target.

Set time based goals. You should try where possible to attach a time frame to your target. It is surprising how a deadline sharpens the senses and increases motivation. Goals without deadlines are often hollow attempts to ‘do the right thing’ but are too easy to quit on.

Set adjustable goals. You must be prepared to adjust your goal if circumstances dictate. If work, study or bad weather prevents you from playing you should take this into account. This does not mean you should abandon your goal, simply modify it to a more realistic time frame.

Goal setting can be applied to most of your golfing activities. It can be your goal to:

·         Arrive in good time

·         Spend 20 minutes practicing

·         Arrive on the tee in good time

·         Hit the ball straight

·         Remain calm throughout the day

·         Relax at lunch time

·         Etc, etc, etc.

By applying a goal setting philosophy to your activities throughout the day you can chalk up a huge number of successes, helping you maintain a very positive attitude as you see each goal achieved.

It cannot be emphasized enough – goal setting must remain realistic. When you face a 20 foot putt, it is obviously your goal to sink the ball. However, the degree of difficulty should be factored into the attempt. Because a low percentage of twenty footers actually go in, it’s no good getting cross if you miss.

Your goal in this instance should be to have a good attempt at the putt, but in the event you miss, your secondary goal is to leave an achievable putt on the way back. Because you may achieve either goal you may draw a positive from either result.

By knowing what you are reasonably able to achieve you will not set yourself up for failure.

Don't feel challenged?

Goal setting is a great way to motivate yourself when you don't feel challenged. If you find you are getting bored, maybe your opponent isn't giving you much of a game, use goal setting to reintroduce excitement to the game.

You may be finding it too easy to beat your opponent, so realign your thinking. Do not give yourself silly challenges that could let your opponent back into the game if you fail, but you might look for tighter shot control and measure your achievement on a different scale - How many greens you hit in regulation for example.