First off, we want to wish you and your clubs a Happy New Year.
I’m writing this post on January 2nd as the sun is setting on the east coast (US). Which means for most around the world, we all have 363 days left in the year to play and celebrate the sport we all love — the beautiful, gentlemen’s game of golf. The pursuit of hitting a little white ball into a little white-rimmed hole in the ground in the fewest strokes possible.
On paper, golf is a simple game. (See above.) Yet, if you’re reading this post, you know as much as anyone the game is far from simple. Actually, it’s closer to maddeningly—even sadistically—complicated, but in a good way.
For example…
The rules are complex and even though they have been simplified this decade, they are so nuanced and comprehensive that competitive golfers must, or at the very least should, carry a booklet of them in their bag for quick reference. (Reminder to self: buy a new book of rules, review in depth, and put into bag.)
On to equipment: Your options are infinite. Seriously. We aren’t mathematicians by any stretch, but if you just multiplied the number of head options x shaft options x grip options x length, lie, and loft options, keeping in mind you can carry up to 14 clubs in your bag, the number of potential WITB set-ups has to be in the trillions. Right?
Your swing. My swing. His swing. Her swing. Their swings. We all sip, grip, chip, and rip it differently, based on size, strength, health, wealth, etc.
Golf isn’t soccer. And that’s what makes it amazing. The pursuit of 54. Or hitting it over the pond on #12 at Monarch Beach. Or breaking 80. Or finally, after 20 tries, winning the C Flight Club Championship. Lifting the proverbial trophy.
Would you like to get the most out of your pursuit of golf trophies and personal triumphs in 2025?
Here are our 10 recommendations in no particular order:
- Exercise smarter. Start by eating better, improving your cardio, increasing your core strength, and addressing your physical ailments. If you do, you’ll play better and recover faster.
- Use your GHIN handicap. If you don’t have one, join a state golf association for $50’ish and establish one. Pay attention to what it is. Work toward improving it. Set goals. With a handicap you can track progress and regression. To play in any competitive event, you’ll need one. And to properly compete with F&F on the course in a fun game, you can use your respective handicaps to level the field. Fair is fun.
- Read up. Golf.com. Balls & Bogeys. Harvey’s Little Red Book. The Match. Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons. A printed subscription to Golf Digest. Absorb. Enjoy. Distill.
- Practice, the right way. Start with committing to a semi-consistent, semi-structured practice regimen/schedule. (Note: Work with a PGA Coach to set this up and for check-ins.) The more time you invest, the more confident you will become on the course. Confidence breeds lower scores. Lower scores lead to glory!
- Become part of a tribe. Simply, establish a core group of friends or peers to play and practice with. We aren’t saying you need to join a club. That’s an expense most can’t, nor should take on. Golf is an individual sport (mostly) that is immeasurably more fun to play with others. Having a tribe will motivate you on days which you need it. And you’ll always have something in common with your fellow tribesmen — the love of the game.
- Watch the game. The Majors. Augusta National Women’s Am. Golf documentaries. Check out a pro tourney in person. Soak it in. Watching great players play magnificent courses is inspiring and aspirational.
- Invest in new gear. Get fit by a professional. You don’t need to spend a crazy amount of money. However, you should make an investment, and what you do purchase should fit your swing and needs.
- Work with a PGA Coach. A coach will help you establish your baseline and tune in the fundamentals. And then based on your goals and the time which you have allotted to work on your game, he or she will create and manage your personalized plan. Like being properly fit with new equipment, working with a coach is paramount for success.
- Push yourself. This recommendation is purposely broad. Set and reset your goals and go to work. Your personal golf improvement challenge must be narrow and particular to you. Have fun with this. Lower your handicap two strokes. Win a big ass trophy. Beat your husband. Finish 18 holes in four hours. Always be pushing.
- Vanity doesn’t drive performance. The old axiom of ‘Look good. Feel good. Play good.’ is out of order. It should be ‘Feel good. Play good. Look good.’ Buy a couple of pairs of properly fit shoes. Wear clothes that breathe and stretch. Layer. Leave anything heavy in the closest or donate. Focus on function over fashion all day long. Wear what the pros wear. Not so much the brands but the fit, fabric, etc. Pretty straight forward advice.
There you have it. Now go play some golf!