As we approach the end of 2023, it's time to review the golfing year that's ending and look forward to the one ahead. Overall, it has been an excellent year and one that I look back on fondly. I've had several personal revelations this year and writing this blog has made me fully appreciate that golf is not just about the score!
Reframing my expectations and attitude:
My initial "Quest for Scratch" was starting to have a negative influence on my enjoyment of golf. The result was becoming more important than the process and I was getting increasingly frustrated when playing. The lessons I took last winter seemed to set my game back rather than set it free. My mind was swimming with technical instruction and I was expecting far too much of myself. If I had a couple of bad holes, my shoulders would slump and I could lose interest. I wasn't displaying much grit and was at risk of becoming "that guy" who no one wants to be paired with. While I was talking a good game about "one shot at a time" etc, I was struggling to put it into practice. Losing my friend early in the year was a real wake-up call and reinforced that I needed to start walking the talk.
"Golfing with Gratitude" become my new mantra. In fact, gratitude has now become part of my daily life. It has improved my enjoyment of the game and helped to free up my mind on the course. I take time to admire the view, appreciate the company of my fellow golfers and just appreciate how lucky I am to be out there golfing. Even when the weather is terrible or I'm not playing well.
I've finally realised that I've got nothing to prove with golf! I don't play it for a living, I play it for the personal challenge, enjoyment and all the other ways it enriches my life. I got there ages ago in my personal life, but I think I was using golf as a bit of an identity proxy after I retired, defining myself by my handicap. The reality is that nobody cares about my golf other than me, and I was making too big a deal of it.
Pursuing my interests in philosophy and psychology has been just as important (if not more important) than working on my physical game. It has improved my attitude towards all aspects of life. As a "Stoic Golfer" I am learning to embrace Amor Fati, living life with Arete and always remembering Momento Mori. https://whatisstoicism.com/stoicism-definition/what-is-amor-fati/
While I have set the ambitious goal of qualifying for the senior open by the time I'm 60 (54 now), its real purpose is to bring structure to my practice and help motivate me to get out and do it, even when the body doesn't want to. It's about more than golf and includes a fitness and exercise regime that should benefit all areas of my life. I'm getting older and need to look after my body! It's about the process more than the result.
I made some progress with my game:
I started the year with a WHS index of 4.6 and finished at 4.2. There was a real Heinz 57 Varieties played along the way, but I'm happy with that. I've learned to stick with my process and take the results as they fall.
With Mike Lander at the St Andrews Golf Academy, I've found an instructor I click with. I like his teaching style and have already seen improvements from the initial sessions on short-iron accuracy and putting. The speed/distance training is slower as it's also a daily exercise and stretching regime. I'll be happy if it just lets me maintain speed and good health. It can be tough to find the motivation to practice outside over the winter, but I'm taking the chances when the weather allows. I look forward to working with Mike more next season.
Joining the Dukes has given me extra practice facilities. I also love the course and have posted lots of photos to the blog and social media. Being only 5 minutes from home is a massive bonus.
I joined the Senior Summer League team at the Duke's and enjoyed taking part in the matches and playing different courses. It's also helped me settle into the club.
The bag has been reviewed and is set for the year ahead. My previous post details the adjustments and hopefully, I'll have less inclination to tinker next year once this is complete.
There were some firsts:
The big one was a boy's golf trip to Turkey. I had never been on a foreign holiday with a group of guys before, golfing or otherwise. Five rounds in seven days with great company, good weather and excellent golf courses was fantastic. I blogged about it after the trip and I'm looking forward to going again in 2024.
I shot under par for the first time and surprisingly, it was at the Duke's. Unfortunately, it was in a team matchplay competition so wasn't a counting round as there were a couple of given putts. But I'll tuck it away in my memory.
The round above included 3 birdies in a row on the back 9, one of which was a chip-in over a bunker on 14 too. That's my best run of birdies.
I've met new people through golf and my blog:
I met Jon Sherman of Practical Golf and played the Old Course with him. His book, The Four Foundations of Golf, is an excellent read and he can walk what he talks!
I also met Jon's friend, Eben Harrell. We hit it off immediately, have kept in regular contact and played several rounds of golf together since. I'm truly grateful that our paths have crossed.
I had a video call with Kent Osbourne. It was very generous of him to give me his time, and I'm extremely grateful for his help and advice. Please check him out if you are not familiar with his work https://scratchattitude.com/ or follow him on X.
I also had a video call with Jared Kenworthy after responding to a coaching offer he was running. I also read his book. You can check Jared out on X and at https://kenworthygolf.com/instructor/. It was an interesting chat, but we didn't go any further than that.
The two conversations above have made me wonder where the UK versions of Kent and Jared are!
After joining the Duke's they established a new member WhatsApp group. It has been great for arranging games and meeting other members. It's died back with winter weather restrictions, but I hope it flourishes again next season. I was starting to establish a group of regular playing partners there.
The Duke's is owned by The Old Course Hotel and I've had several great rounds with random guests from there. People like Alexander Schack, among others. All have been delighted to be in St Andrews and have been excellent company. It's been my pleasure to spend time golfing with them and help them navigate the Duke's. This game is wonderful for experiences like that.
At the end of the year, I was honoured to join the committee of the New Golf Club. I very much look forward to getting stuck into the role and contributing to the future of the club.
What about the outlook for 2024?
My direction is established, but the route is flexible. I will continue living and golfing with gratitude, exercising, blogging and taking each day as it comes.
I look forward to golfing with friends, both old and new and wonder who I will meet through golf next year.
We're off to Turkey again - can't wait.
I hope to play a full season with the Duke's senior team.
I aim to play in some Senior Open competitions (and need to get on with organising them). Some will need to wait until the second half of the year once I've turned 55 though.
As golf improvement, analysis of my Golf Data Lab statistics suggests I need to focus on the following areas:
Medium-range putting.
Par 3 strategy.
Long and Medium approach shots - similar to par 3 strategy.
GIR percentage.
Other areas I think I need to work on:
Improve my bunker play/confidence (or stop going in them).
Keep working on course management and playing my own game.
Retaining perspective - start walking the talk.
GDL stats show that my driving accuracy is good. While working on speed and distance I need to also keep an eye on accuracy. GDL is with Bob Rotella on this and would prioritise accuracy over distance.
I have a session booked with Mike in early Jan to discuss what we will work on through 2024. Having the Dukes and the golf academy on my doorstep is a great bonus and I intend to be more structured/disciplined with my practice next season.
I think the biggest change in 2023 has been getting back to the basics of enjoying golf and all that it brings. When I look at the highlights of the year and review my other blog posts, it's the places I've been and the people I've met that have made the biggest difference. I've learnt to love playing golf again and don't want to lose that feeling. I'm more relaxed and less worried about the score than I've ever been. I'm trying to be a "Stoic Golfer". Stick to the process, aspire to be the best that I can, accept results as they fall and take responsibility for how I react.
There's so much to look forward to next season that I can't wait to get it underway. I will keep blogging about my experiences and my progress. Until then, I wish everyone who has got this far a very happy festive period and all good fortune for the year ahead.
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