Achieve your golf goals in 2026

Every year at this time, I think about my golf goals for the upcoming year. I have been writing golf articles for the Bluffton Sun for 17 years, averaging more than 20 articles a year. That adds up to more than 340 articles about golf.

One of my goals is to continue writing interesting and informative pieces about the game. I have written about nearly every conceivable aspect of golf, and I would welcome reader input on future article ideas.

I have always been a goal setter and believe goals should be achievable, believable and measurable. This article focuses on my own golf and fitness goals and how I plan to reach them.

Achievable: Making goals achievable means they can be reached within a reasonable amount of time. First, a goal must be realistic based on your ability and physical conditioning. Golf is not a game of perfection, so expectations must be reasonable. If a goal cannot be reached within a set time frame, frustration can set in and motivation can fade.

One of my goals this year is to hit my driver 20 to 30 yards farther. I believe this is achievable. To do that, I need to improve my physical conditioning and increase my swing speed. That means setting golf fitness goals with my trainer and working out four times a week. I will also continue playing pickleball, which helps with overall conditioning. Finally, I plan to get fitted for a new driver to help maximize swing speed.

Believable: A believable goal is one you truly feel you can reach. For example, if you are consistently shooting scores of 110 or higher, breaking 90 in a single year may not be realistic. Another goal of mine is to reduce my handicap by six strokes by the end of the year. I believe this is attainable if I play three times a week and practice my skills at the range at least twice a week. I also hope to score my second hole-in-one, my first having come 25 years ago.

Measurable: Goals should be tracked and measured. Keeping statistics on your scorecard or maintaining a golf journal can be very helpful. I recommend tracking the following:
Set a scoring goal for the round. Write down the final score you want to achieve, along with target scores for each hole.

Fairways hit: Track this on par 4 and par 5 holes.

Greens in regulation: This is two strokes fewer than your scoring goal on a hole. For example, if your goal is a 5, a green in regulation would be reached in 3.

Putts: This is critical. Ideally, you want two putts or fewer per hole if you hope to lower your scores.
Keeping detailed statistics can help identify areas for improvement. Be specific about how you plan to work on those areas, and set dates to review your progress.

I hope you will incorporate some of these ideas to help improve your golf game in 2026.

Dr. Jean Harris is an LPGA Master Professional and teaches at local golf courses. jean.golfdoctor.harris@gmail.com; golfdoctorjean.com