New Year’s resolutions are like a New Year’s hangover. They feel deeply in the moment. But they fade quickly. Most are forgotten within a week. And golfing intentions? They are doomed from the start.
Jared Tendler, mental games coach and author of the upcoming book Everyday Golf Psychology: Practical Advice for Golfers at Every Leveloffers this advice on resolutions. Throw them away. They are stupid. It’s better to focus on ‘goals’ instead.
“There’s a difference between a decision and a goal,” says Tendler. “Resolutions are topline and focused only on results. It’s a blindly optimistic way of trying to achieve something. If the momentum is disrupted, everything goes wrong.”
Goals, on the other hand, are rooted in reality. They take into account the process and the hiccups you may encounter along the way. Reasonable. With that advice in mind, here are twelve achievable, determined goals for 2026.
Play as a single
The best parts of golf are the places you go and the people you meet. Not all of these people will become your buddies, but you will meet a lot of good people if you show up alone.
Keep it moving
Lost balls happen. Bad shots happen. But playing slowly is to be avoided. Be ready to hit, keep your searches short and save the joke telling for the walk to the next tee.
Try a new course
There are more than 58,000 courses in the world. You can’t see them all. You’d be lucky if you entered 1% of them. But you can always broaden your horizons by exploring a course you’ve never played before.
Get fit for clubs
It’s not the archer, it’s the arrow, people like to say. But that’s not entirely true. The arrows are also important. A lot of. Especially if they are custom made.
Introduce a child to golf
A son. A daughter. A cousin. A niece. Don’t know any children? Donate to a junior golf program. Golf is the game of a lifetime, which is best learned young.
Make a thoughtful swing change
No arbitrary adjustment. Work with a trusted instructor (not a YouTube rando), commit fully, execute and see where it takes you.
Play without fear
Yes, we get it. That pond is scary. So are those OB bets. Golf can be nerve-wracking. But you know what’s really scary? How quickly time flies. The shot you are about to make will be over in the blink of an eye and the outcome will not define you. This is not life or death. Save your worries for things that are.
Turn everything out, play everything
It teaches discipline and reveals truths about your playing. And yes, you can do it while maintaining a reasonable pace of play.
Participate in a tournament
Try competitive golf at least once. From local events to state amateur tournaments, the experience is breathtaking and fun.
Get a caddy
Walking 18 holes with a caddy offers camaraderie, insights and stories you will remember for a long time. It also gives you someone to unfairly blame for your missed putts.
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