I have always wanted to improve my game for one reason – it’s more fun when you play well. I’ve also always loved to practice but as they say you need to “practice with purpose.” So I decided maybe data would help me focus on what I need to work on.

In 2021 I started using the hole-by-hole scoring feature in the GHIN App. At the end of 2021, I had all this data and really didn’t know how to evaluate it to set goals but I was glad to have a “baseline;” and it was interesting to see so many stats! So I just decided to work on my full swing since I was frustrated with lack of distance. This was my “big picture” plan.

In the Spring of 2022 I found a new Pro to help me with my full swing and I was diligent in practicing between my lessons. We all know how working on a new swing can be frustrating. I would hit it great in lessons and felt my swing was sporadic while playing a round of golf.

Evaluating my year-end stats for 2022 what stood out for me was the greens In regulation (GIR) number, which indicated I was only hitting 17% of greens on average. I didn’t have a breakdown that showed GIR for par 3s, par 4s, or par 5s. However, I didn’t need stats to know I was still struggling to get on long holes in regulation; which was frustrating since I was working on distance. I mentally just told myself to be patient because I am making a swing change. So in 2023 I continued to work with my Pro and had the extra motivation that in October I would be going on a bucket list golf trip to Pinehurst.

My 2023 goal setting process was basically to pick a statistic related to distance (GIR) and randomly decide on how much I think I can improve.

1. Fairways – Hit 79%. This was my 2022 stat and I felt it was a good “maintain” goal. Results: I improved to 81% for fairways hit.
2. Bunkers – get out in one stroke. I was always good out of bunkers so this was a “maintain” goal (and I was going to be playing Pinehurst and knew I needed good bunker play). This is not a GHIN stat but I tracked it on my own and was really happy with my bunker numbers. Results: I played 50 rounds (900 holes) and was only in bunkers 40 times and got out in one stroke 35 times.
3. Putting – my goal was 33 total per round and 2 or fewer 3-putts per round. Results: My putting was not good this year. My average was 35.2 and I had 136 3-putts which equals 408 putts or 25% of my total putts in 2023.
4. Up and Down – 2 per round. Again a low goal but it was a new goal and I really didn’t have a plan (never a good thing when you set a goal). Results: 1.9 so close to 2. And this was not a surprise since I really didn’t work on short game in 2023. I did focus on chipping and putting in September getting ready for Pinehurst. It was interesting that my up and down at Tobacco Road was decent; I had eight pars and four of those were Up & Downs! And at our year-end women’s golf assoc. championship, three of my four pars were achieved with Up & Downs; which was confirmation that I needed to get back to my short game of past years.

Final Thoughts

So I definitely believe I sacrificed my short game with my intense focus on my distance issue but I am at peace with that decision because I was very happy with my GIR number, reduction in my average over par on Par 5 holes, and also saw fewer double and triple bogies.

Although I will say I did notice my short game became a real mental challenge for me because I would be over a chip or putt and have so many thoughts from technique to memories of missing short birdie putts or thinning a chip across a green. Although I do try to remind myself that when I am putting well it can go very well. I had a league round in July with only 28 putts which produced a score of 84.

I was a bit perplexed by my average score stat being flat (91-92). Logically I knew my long game improved and shot game suffered. It was such an “aha moment” on how hard it is to work on all parts of your game.

My next blog post will be on setting goals for 2024. I already know that my “big picture goal” is to play more consistently in the 80s; but this year I want to do more research so that I see what are realistic golf statistic expectations. For example, if I want to consistently shoot in the 80s (which I believe would be around a 10 handicap) what are the stats for GIR and putting to achieve that goal?