Golf Resolutions for 2016

Another year has flown by and it's time to reflect on my golfy pursuits of the past year and craft some attainable goals for the new one.

First, let's review and see how I did last year.

#1: Lower my handicap. I ended the season with a 17.5, which is lower than the previous year's 19. I think I could have done even better if my season had not been stymied by elbow tendonitis.
#2: Learn to enjoy playing competitively. I didn't play any tournaments this year, so I didn't get the chance to work at this resolution. I think it means I probably shouldn't have made it a resolution in the first place. Golf is a game to me, not a competition.
#3: Become a more consistent putter. Well this past year, hubby once made a point to compliment me on my putting, which is saying something. I think I have become a better greens reader, though, and I am more consistent about setting up with the ball slightly left of center to compensate for my right-eye dominance. It's a technique that really works. 
#4: Break 80 (or maybe just 85). Ummm, not yet. Shot some 89s though.
#5: Play another bucket list course. Still haven't made it out to Bandon Dunes. Does Port Royal in Bermuda count?

Twilight scene from my last December round of 2015, at Coronado Golf Course in San Diego, CA.

Okay, now for the new year's resolutions. I really just have one:

Resolution #1: Get fit for golf. After I injured my forearm a few months ago, I should have quit for the season, but I felt compelled to play 9 holes here and there because the weather was so awesome. I rested for a month, then played 3 rounds over the last two weeks in December. Hubby and I spent the Christmas holiday in Carlsbad, CA, and I knew it would be the last rounds before the cold East Coast winter. Though I wasn't doing my forearm any favors, it helped to wear a compression band while playing. I even made a birdie and several memorable pars.

During this winter downtime, I need to do more than rest my forearm. I believe that developing strength is key to preventing injury in golf, so I'm planning to enlist a personal trainer to help me increase my muscle strength, especially in my upper body and core, and correct muscle imbalances caused by golf, as well as work-related repetitive stress (e.g. sitting and typing on a computer). While I do plenty of cardio for endurance, plus pilates, yoga and stretching for flexibility, I have no strength training regimen to speak of, other than the muscle toning that comes with doing pilates.

I have an assessement appointment with a personal trainer at my gym on Thursday. He works with a lot of golfers. I'll keep you posted...