Journey to a Better Golf Game: A Year-Long Commitment to Improvement
Three years ago, I undertook a transformative three-month golf improvement program that remarkably halved my handicap from an 8 to a 4. As a mid-life measure for a father struggling with the game, it led me to play some of the best golf of my life at 40. This commitment has enhanced my game significantly, allowing me to win several buddies trip titles. Yet, the desire to improve has resurfaced. This time, I’ve secured the support of my employers to reinvest in my game, under the premise of work.
What sets this year’s journey apart is the commitment to a full year of focused improvement. With November 14 being the last permissible day to post a score in New York, I’ll treat this as a cut-off date for 2026. I’ve assembled a dedicated team to tackle the age-old question: “How good could you truly get at golf if you really practiced?”
The Goal: Collective Improvement
This journey isn’t just personal; I hope to share insights that can help others lower their handicaps as well. Over the next year, I’ll be addressing various topics aimed at enhancing our games together.
Focus Areas for Improvement
To enhance my performance, I plan to concentrate on four core areas:
- Golf Swing
- Putting
- Fitness
- Mental Game/Strategy
The goal is to shave a stroke from each area, edging closer to scratch player status. Although ambitious, breaking it down makes it seem more attainable. As demonstrated in my previous experience, a holistic approach often yields the best results.
Who’s in My Corner?
This year’s team comprises some of the best in their fields:
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Mario Guerra: Head Golf Professional at Quaker Ridge Golf Club and one of Golf Digest’s Best in State Instructors for New York. Mario will focus on my swing, introducing innovative methods to lower my scores.
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Bill Smittle: A seasoned former head pro at Scarsdale Golf Club. I’ll continue to collaborate with Bill for putting strategies.
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Mike Carroll: A trainer with experience working alongside numerous PGA and DP World Tour pros. He’ll be enhancing my fitness routines through the Fit For Golf app.
- Josh Nichols: A golf psychology coach who will help fine-tune my mental game.
Balancing Work and Improvement
While I wish I could spend all day on the greens, my role as a father of two young kids dictates that golf remains a passion rather than a profession. However, I aim to devote at least an hour a day to improvement over the next 12 months. Following a model similar to Golf Digest’s One Percent Challenge, the plan is to accumulate small wins consistently over time.
This year, rather than storing my clubs away for months, I’ll maintain momentum through trips to heated ranges, simulator sessions, lessons, workouts, speed training, and practice on a quality putting mat. As emphasized by my colleague Sam, consistency and grit are essential for success. I also plan to play at least twice a week to maximize my practice time.
Image: Practicing at the Range
Discovering Improvement Techniques
Throughout this journey, I aim to uncover innovative methods that could enhance your performance—from specific practice techniques to equipment optimizations. The hope is that these small changes, when combined, can lead to significant scoring improvements for golfers of all skill levels.
While I recognize that my position provides me certain advantages, the insights I gather can be accessible to any golfer willing to put in the work. Quality training is paramount; as Nichols notes, "The emphasis is on quality, not quantity." I will dive deeper into specific improvement plans within each focus area in future updates, while consistently putting in the necessary work during the chilly winter months.
The Road Ahead
Interestingly, both Mike and Josh have undertaken similar improvement journeys themselves, achieving remarkable transformations. Mike went from a 5 handicap to a plus-one in a year, while Josh improved to a plus-five after college, even reaching the finals of the 2017 U.S. Mid-Am Championship.
However, these success stories come from different circumstances, including more time, talent, and less physical wear and tear. Coming off recent knee and shoulder surgeries, I am uncertain how much I can realistically achieve. Nonetheless, this adventure promises to be enjoyable, and I’m optimistic you’ll find encouragement and insights along the way.
Join me as I embark on this commitment to self-improvement in golf. Together, we can strive toward lower handicaps and better enjoyment of this wonderful game.
