What’s your story going to be in 2027?

Learn from the past. Keep what gives you energy. Put your passion into motion.

As another golf season comes to a close, it’s a good time to look back, learn from the past, and think about what we want from 2027. Let’s set good expectations and look forward with anticipation. Our best days are still in front of us.

We had a cool, wet spring, a hot summer, and a near-perfect fall. Looking back can help us learn but we don’t have to carry every disappointment into the next season. Let go of the not so good shots, bad rounds, and moments that didn’t go our way. Remember the ones that did. Take a moment to enjoy the feeling of a well-struck shot, a good decision, or a round spent with friends. Those good memories can give us something positive to carry forward.

A good friend and a successful businessman/CFO with great people skills, used to say, “There’s a reason our eyes are in the front of our head.” It’s a good reminder for us to look ahead. Be careful what you remember or keep replaying in your mind—and how you let it affect you.

You are your own caddie

You should have a target on the course, but not everyone likes to set goals! To each their own but there are compelling reasons for people who do have goals and write them down! It helps to have a direction—a reason to practice, play, or take better care of yourself.

Think of it as the story you’d like to tell about your golf in 2027. Maybe you want to play more, make better contact, improve your short game, or lower your scores. Choose something that matters to you. Choose a simple sign of progress that you can recognize when it happens.

There’s a difference between playing recreational golf for enjoyment, competing as an amateur, and playing professionally. Each takes a different level of time, practice, and commitment. Your plan should fit the golfer you are—and the golfer you want to become.

Off the course is another story

There are many ways to improve, but you don’t have to work on everything at once. Choose one or two areas that could make a difference to your game.

For your full swing, return to the fundamentals: posture, grip, and alignment. Then work on a backswing and through-swing that connect to your target, with good tempo and a balanced finish.

If you’re practicing indoors this winter, use the simulator as a source of feedback. You can work on your swing path, ball flight, and clubface angle at impact or get pertinent numbers if you enjoy the technical details. But keep a target in mind. A target gives your practice a purpose and helps you see what the ball is telling you.

You might also work on the shots that help you score. With wedges, practice quarter, half, and three-quarter swings to control different yardages inside 100 yards. Around the green, keep your tempo steady and allow the club to move through the ball. (constant acceleration) Thanks to Dennis Kelly for that short-game reminder.

On the putting green, centred contact and a dependable path help you control both distance and direction. Keep the tempo smooth and let the putter move through the ball. Thanks to Marius Filmalter for influencing my thinking about putting. Founder of SAM Putt lab and coach to many of the world’s top playing and coaching professionals!

Move Your Passion into Action

A better golf story can include more than technique. Your body and mind are part of the game, too. A TPI-certified instructor can screen your mobility, stability, and flexibility and help you understand how your body moves. Joey D’s Hit It Great resources offer some of the best practical ideas for building a better swing from the ground up. Golf is a two-sided activity – bi-lateral – so as you work on one side of your body, remember to give the other side attention as well. And give yourself time to rest and recover. I find slowly is the fastest way to improve your game! Think about that!

Wellness matters off the course, too. Sleep, stress, recovery, good nutrition, and regular movement all affect how we feel and perform. Keep the approach practical and seek qualified guidance when you need help with nutrition or supplements.

My Mental Recipe Has Changed

For a long time, I believed the best mental sequence on the golf course was “See, Feel, and Trust.” I’ve had a change of heart. I now believe the sequence can begin with feeling: FEEL, SEE & Trust the new you!

First, create a feeling of calm, confidence, or commitment. (breathe slowly) Then visualize the shot you want to play. (connects to the feelings of a good shot) Finally, trust yourself and make the swing.

As Wayne Dyer said, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” And that can include feelings! A change in perspective can help us let go of the poor shots, appreciate the good ones, and move forward with renewed energy. Eyes forward. Thinking too!

Your Story Is Yours to Write

You don’t need a complicated plan. Choose a direction that excites you, decide what progress would look like, and take a few practical steps. Practice when you can. Rest when you need to. Enjoy the game you’re playing today while looking forward to what you might accomplish next and have fun!

Here’s to a better version of you in 2027. Until then, be well, my friend!

PS my story for 2027 is to shoot my age. Assuming par is 72, I’ll be a healthy five-under-par 67 in 2027.