To-Do List

These are the things that I need to accomplish to reach my ultimate goal. Some things are more important than others. Some are not really critical to my goal, but are things that I want to do for the sake of doing. They are in no particular order.

I decided in June 2007 that my goals really need to have due dates, wherever possible. The date in parentheses is the date at which I intend to have completed the goal. Some are specific dates, some are simply years.

Break 90
- I’ve done this many times, but not recently. I’ve been recovering from a serious back problem and have basically been rebuilding my game from the ground up. While I haven’t done this lately, I’m still calling it done.
Break 80
Break 70
Join a club
- I’m now a proud member of Town & Country Golf Links.
Get a USGA handicap index
Play in a competitive amateur tournament
- When I get my game in order, I’d like to try and qualify for the US Amateur or the US Amateur Public Links tournament. Yes, it’s a tall order, but I want a taste of real competition, not a beer-swilling weekend club outing where the “shoe wedge” is the most commonly used club.
Get a job in golf
Give a golf lesson for mone
Play in a competitive professional golf tournament
- This doesn’t need to be on the PGA Tour. It can be any serious competition where there is a prize purse that includes cash.
Lose a significant amount of weight
- How much? I ain’t tellin’. I’m in decent shape for my size (you’d probably never guess how much I really weigh because I’m 6’3″ and really am “big boned”). But I think the extra weight holds me back and is the source for many of my physical ailments.
Maintain a serious workout regimen (Immediate)
- For now, my workouts are geared toward losing weight, but in the future they’ll be targeted specifically at golf fitness. I’m shooting for three good workouts per week, at a minimum.
Attend a Pelz Golf 3-day scoring game school.
- Dave Pelz is an icon to me. His short game philosophies are integral to my game, and I intend to attend one of his schools to refine those skills. This one will probably come down the road as I get closer to my goal.
Get a hole in one.
- Not critical. Ben Hogan never had one. But I’m no Ben Hogan. It’s one of those niceties in life that I’d like to get out of the way sooner rather than later.
Consult with a physical trainer that specializes in golf strength/flexibility/fitness.
Get a professional club fitting
Develop a detailed fitness plan. (July 1, 2007)
Develop a detailed diet plan. (July 1, 2007)
Develop a detailed practice plan. (July 1, 2007)
Prior to every round, declare whether the round is going to be practice or for a score, then stick to it. (Immediate)
Be diligent about stat keeping again. (Immediate)
Calibrate finesse wedge distances (Pelz 4×3 system).

This list is going to be fluid over time as I think of more things. But it’s a good start.

There are currently 9 responses to “To-Do List”

1
Scott said:

Dude, this goal list is great
I have a few pieces of advice though.

before you enter the US am and stuff try for the state am first. There are a lot of good am events that arent as difficult to qualify for as the US am. And believe me, the state am (i have tried to qualify for the PA am 5 times when i lived in PA, missing by a few each time)
is not a beer chugging or anything liek that. Its very serious golfers but your handicap doesnt have to be 2.1 to enter like the US am. The state am in pa was like 6 to enter. And there are alway local am events. Basically, you want to enter individual stroke play events to get good serious competition. Any of these would be a good place to start:
http://www.njsga.org/index.php?pageid=170
i use the vsga site (the same thing for va) to find all kinds of events to play in.

Posted on January 27th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
2
Double Eagle said:

Good advice, Scott, thanks! The NJ State Amateur tournament is one that I’ve been considering playing in this year. That, along with my county amateur and club championship. Those are the ones I’d like to definitely play in. I’d like to find a couple of other events to round out the summer. I’m a little ways away from attempting any of the national events yet.

Posted on January 27th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
3
Jonathan said:

First, I’m stealing your list. I have a couple of things I might add to it, like “Break 100″. And I have no desire to go pro. But I am really impressed at your dilligence. I would like to know how you’re doing with this list since it doesn’t appear to have been updated since January.

Posted on August 30th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
4
Double Eagle said:

Jonathan, I’ve fallen behind on my to-do list upkeep, as well as on keeping my fitness plan and stats up to date. I’m still working hard on those things, but I’ve just gotten lax in the record keeping.

While I’m currently sidelined with a knee injury, this is a good time to revisit those things and to try and get stuff up to date and refined some.

Posted on August 31st, 2008 at 2:03 am
5
wcg said:

Those are excellent goals with set target dates. By the way, good luck with that hole in one. I’ve been trying for years and still have not achieved that!

Posted on August 31st, 2008 at 1:44 pm
6
Sniper said:

When you are setting up your diet plan – from one golfer/programmer to another – consider the paleo diet. I’ve lost 20 pounds on it in the last year, with no regular cardio and the large portion of my exercise being walking and carrying my clubs.

Here’s the skinny on it – 98% of processed food is crap, and wheat is bad for you, but the real killer is all of the sugar in your diet. Put another way: “Eat real food”. Real food is anything you can kill, pull out of the ground, or pluck off of a tree or bush. Non-real food is anything that comes in a pretty box, with nutritional information on the outside.

I know, it sounds like it sucks right? Well, all change sucks at first. The good news is that you don’t have to be afraid of fat. Olive oil, lard, coconut oil, a nice ribeye, nuts, butter, cream – it’s all good. And since fat and protein make you full, you don’t feel like you are starving yourself. I know you’re an analytical guy like myself, so check out this guy’s site – he talks about a lot of the science of it and the bad science we’ve been fed by low-fat people and grain growers. http://www.modernforager.com/blog/

Good luck in your quest – life’s about doing what you love.

Posted on December 1st, 2008 at 11:48 pm
7
Joe said:

I like your ambition. Everyone, regrdless of their chosen field of endeavor or hobbies, should set goals and revisit it from time to time to make revisions, changes and updates. I think this is a great idea. I have used it in my work for years and continue to do so in my retirement years.

Posted on September 19th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
8
Kevin said:

The golf BUSINESS is not for the faint of heart. I wish you well in your many endeavors and will follow your progress with interest. The golf “business” is little more than a shell game as it relates to the actual golf professionals themselves. There are a few guys that make good money…but the majority of PGA Professionals and Apprentices with college degrees make far less than comparably educated people in other career fields. The few positions that offer a competent professional a decent living are so few that the odds of a qualified candidate getting so much as an interview are laughable.
I started off in the business with all of the prerequisite attributes that the PGA of America will tell you that you need in order to become a Golf Professional – enthusiasm, a passion for the game, and a service ethos. As an assistant golf professional, you will be paid a meager salary usually around 16-20k for an apprentice and 24-30k as a PGA member – then expected to make up the difference by giving golf lessons…which at many facilities you must do on your own time.
I am a PGA member and have been in the golf business for 14 years. I have a bachelor’s degree. My current club pays me $10 per hour…which means that I have to work 60 hours per week-year round, to earn 36k per year….that’s 6 ten-hour days per week without a vacation or even a 5-day week to break things up.
Oh yeah….the lessons. Well, my facility employes two full-time teaching professionals…so there is not much left for the other professionals…and the club takes 25% of what little supplemental income I make teaching.
Playing in local or regional events as a professional? Forget that. I cannot afford the entry fees or the travel expenses. I can’t even afford to contribute to the meager 401k offered at my facility…with a 4 year wait to be vested, of course.
I suggest you keep your career and enjoy golf on your own terms…
Best of luck…

Posted on May 2nd, 2010 at 10:27 am
9
Double Eagle said:

Thanks for the information, Kevin. Experiences similar to yours seem to be the norm as I’ve heard from numerous people on the subject over the years.

Enjoying golf on my own terms is definitely something that I’m going to keep in the front of my mind no matter what I path I ultimately choose. I have the luxury of literally waiting my whole life for the right opportunity. I will continue to work toward the goal of improving my game and learning everything I can. In the end, I can’t say for sure what direction I will choose or when I will make that choice, but rest assured that all the feedback I’ve been getting will carry a lot of weight as I seek a path for myself.

Posted on May 2nd, 2010 at 11:29 am