We’ve all been there. You hole out on the 18th of your last proper round of the year, the light is fading, and you’re already thinking about next season. “2026 is the year,” you tell yourself. “This is the year I finally sort out that slice / break 90 / get on the club team.”
Fast forward to April, and those grand resolutions have gone the way of a Titleist into the gorse. The same frustrations are creeping in, the handicap is stubbornly stuck, and the game feels more like hard work than fun.
Golf can be the most rewarding game in the world, but let’s be honest, it can be frustrating. One day you’re flushing your irons, the next you’re wondering if you’ve ever held a club before. The problem usually isn’t a lack of desire; it’s a lack of a plan.
A goal without a plan is just a wish. So, as we look ahead to 2026, let’s ditch the vague wishes and build a proper plan that bridges the gap between aspiration and achievement.
Why Most Golf Goals Fail
The number one reason golfers give up on their goals is that they are too vague and based only on the outcome.
“I want to get better at golf.” (What does “better” even mean?)
“I want to lower my handicap.” (How? By how much? By when?)
“I want to win the Captain’s Prize.” (This is a great ambition, but it’s largely out of your control. What if someone else just plays the round of their life?)
You can play great and not win, and you can play poorly and still see your handicap cut. We need to focus on what we can actually control.
Step 1: Set Your “What”. The SMART Goal
You’ve probably heard of SMART goals in a work meeting, but they are perfect for golf. Let’s set our big 2026 Outcome Goal.
Specific: Be crystal clear.
- Bad: “Get better at putting.”
- Good: “Average 30 putts per round, down from 36.”
Measurable: You have to be able to track it.
- Bad: “Hit more fairways.”
- Good: “Increase my Fairways in Regulation from 40% to 55%.”
Achievable: Be realistic. If you play off 20, aiming for a scratch handicap in one season is a recipe for disappointment.
- Bad: “Play on the European Tour.”
- Good: “Lower my handicap from 18 to 15.”
Relevant: Why does this goal matter to you?
- Good: “I want to lower my handicap to 15 so I can compete in the club singles and enjoy my Saturday fourball more.”
Time-bound: Give yourself a deadline.
- Good: “I will achieve my goal of an average of 30 putts by the 1st of September 2026.”
Write this Outcome Goal down. Stick it on the fridge. Put it in your golf bag. This is your “what.”
Step 2: Set Your “How”. The Process Goals
This is the most important step, and it’s the one everyone skips.
You don’t achieve your goal just by staring at it. You achieve it by executing a weekly plan. These are your Process Goals, the small, controllable actions that will make the big goal inevitable.
Let’s say your Outcome Goal is: “Lower my handicap from 18 to 15 by September 2026.”
Your Process Goals could be:
- Book a “season review” lesson with a trusted PGA Professional before March. You need a baseline. Find out why you’re an 18-handicapper. Is it driving? Chipping? Course management? (Hint: we know a few good golf pros who can help with this.)
- Practice with purpose for 1 hour, twice a week. Stop mindlessly banging 50 balls with your driver. Your pro can give you specific drills. For example:
Session 1: 30 minutes on the gate drill for putting, 30 minutes on 40–60 yard wedge shots.
Session 2: 30 minutes on driver (using alignment sticks), 30 minutes on bunker play. - Play 9 holes once a week with a focus. Don’t just keep score. Play one ball, and if you hit a bad drive, drop a second ball and practise that shot again. This is practice, not competition.
- Commit to a pre-round warm-up. Don’t rush from the car to the first tee. A simple 5-minute dynamic warm-up will get your body ready and prevent those sloppy bogeys on the first two holes.
- Track your stats. You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Use a simple app or a notebook. Track: Fairways Hit, Greens in Regulation, and Putts. That’s it. This data will tell you (and your coach) exactly where you’re losing shots.
Step 3: Review, Adjust, and Be Kind to Yourself
You’re going to have bad days. You’ll have a week where you can’t get to the range. You’ll shoot 100 two weeks after you broke 90.
That’s golf.
Don’t abandon the plan. Look at your goals every month. Are you sticking to the process? If you are, the outcome will take care of itself. If you’re struggling, maybe the goal was too ambitious. It’s okay to adjust it!
This isn’t about finding a “secret” or becoming a perfect golfer overnight. It’s about putting a simple, consistent structure in place. It’s about turning frustration into progress.
So, what’s your 2026 goal?
Let’s get to work on that swing.
