2026 Targets

[Klimski]

My 2026 targets:

Life: get my divorce wrapped up and move to a new home and enjoy life with my daughters there.

Golf: play with my mates, get to a sub 17 handicap. Same set of clubs all year. Play at least 1 comp. Go on a short tour, even if it's just over the border in Germany or Belgium!

 

[LincolnShep]

I'm at my lowest index ever, I don't practise so my handicap expectations have to be realistic, I don't think my index will get much lower unless I suddenly find a love for practice. Consequently, my ambitions are more to do with single rounds than consistent improvement.

• I've had three rounds with 17 holes of bogey or better, but never done all 18. It would be nice to do a whole round without a double.
• Similarly, I've had two birdies in the same round on 29 occasions, but never more than two, so I'd like to break that duck.

 

[evemccc]

I would love to finish 2026 having played Hunstanton, Brancaster, St George’s Hill and Worplesdon…..that to me would be top golfing success beyond my wildest dreams. A few years ago I reckon it would be achievable..

These days I would be lucky to play just one of those by years end…and I’d still call it a big success

But…the amount I have been playing lately, perhaps even a solitary round on my home course would be a success by years end

 

[chellie]

For both of us it's to get used to playing our new home course. Ditches and water plus smaller greens. Won't be able to use bump and runs.

 

[The Squirrel]

Score 80 or lower at least once. Might even get myself a handicap even though I still think the entire concept is stupid .

 

[Billysboots]

To stop walking off the course after a decent round thinking I’ve cracked it. Because I know I never will.

Seriously, though, to trim a couple of my H.I, play some new courses, and just try and enjoy whatever comes my way.

 

[Billysboots]

Feel for you moogie. I am waiting for another consultant referral. Went to nhs physio 3 years ago and they trying to send me there again but we have 50 week wait in my part of the world.

I am so, so lucky to have a daughter studying physiotherapy at uni. I genuinely feel for those at the mercy of some of these waiting lists for something which has the potential to resolve matters relatively swiftly.

 

[Depreston]

What are your 2026 golfing targets? These can be as specific or as broad as you like. And I'm sure we'll have the usual 'have fun and keep breathing just like last year' so feel free.


For me - I have never previously believed single figures was a real possibility for me, but now - I'm not sure I want to make it an actual target but I do believe it's probably possible, for the first time. One thing holding me back is my home club's low course ratings, so if I'm ever going to do it, I'll need to be putting a lot of scores in at away courses. (This is something I've already been doing.)

The most important thing I need to do is improve my chipping. It has been poor for quite some time. In my last two rounds I changed a little bit in my set-up and it worked a treat, although it remains to be seen whether the firm (frozen) ground at the moment is simply masking the chunks. I need to find a way to fit chipping practice into my schedule. The chipping area at my club is poor, which doesn't really inspire me to go down to the club and use it, but I may have to just force myself to do it.

Secondly - I've considered myself to be a decent putter over the last two years, but I think if I'm being critical there is room for improvement there. Again, my practice has fallen down somewhat - I think my stroke is technically sound, but I let myself down in green reading and judgement. Some days I just don't get the speed right at all - some days I'm playing far too much break that isn't there - other days I think they're not going to break much and they do. I do find it hard to improve my judgement simply by practicing on the putting green. But I have to try. I'm currently a bit of a streaky putter where I'll have the odd day I'm holing everything, but I rarely have a round without a three-putt somewhere.

I managed to average 55.4% fairways hit last year, which I think is a pretty good average - I'm keen to push my distance up a little bit, but this is a gradual process of trying to add more speed. I also hit 31.8% greens in reg - not bad but I was aiming for a third, so this can be pushed up a little bit more. Up and downs was 26.2%, so as mentioned, the chipping wasn't there as I'd like this to be a third as well.

For those who are single figures, is it realistic to achieve this with 33.3% greens in reg and 33.3% up and downs? My shaky maths suggests it's viable as long as I have no more than 1 three-putt on a GIR, and no more than one double bogey (or two doubles and one birdie), leaving me around 8 over par... although at my home course 8 over is like 11 differential so will need to be slightly better there. Anyway, those are the starting blocks.



The short version:

• fit chipping & putting practice into my schedule
• aim for 35% greens in reg average
• aim for 35% up and down average
• limit doubles to one or two maximum!

Fellow cemented single digits hopeful

I’m a 9.1 index (get 10 shots off the whites at my place)

Turning a few doubles or worse into bogeys this year would have easily had me in the 7 index range this year

Out of 32 competitive rounds I had 19 Birdies (pretty low really) but I had 54 doubles and 12 scores worse than that

If you track stats and review rounds look at the big numbers and see what can be shaved off there

 

[Golfnut1957]

I started last year at 8.2 and finished it at 8.1.

I was 68 last month, so if I can finish 2026 with the same index I would consider that a win. In truth, I would like to finish this year with 7.something, even 9 would do.

 

[anotherdouble]

I am so, so lucky to have a daughter studying physiotherapy at uni. I genuinely feel for those at the mercy of some of these waiting lists for something which has the potential to resolve matters relatively swiftly.

I see a PT for shoulder work but even though am waiting to see another consultant the computer seems to say you must also see physio department.

 

[Skytot]

What are your 2026 golfing targets? These can be as specific or as broad as you like. And I'm sure we'll have the usual 'have fun and keep breathing just like last year' so feel free.


For me - I have never previously believed single figures was a real possibility for me, but now - I'm not sure I want to make it an actual target but I do believe it's probably possible, for the first time. One thing holding me back is my home club's low course ratings, so if I'm ever going to do it, I'll need to be putting a lot of scores in at away courses. (This is something I've already been doing.)

The most important thing I need to do is improve my chipping. It has been poor for quite some time. In my last two rounds I changed a little bit in my set-up and it worked a treat, although it remains to be seen whether the firm (frozen) ground at the moment is simply masking the chunks. I need to find a way to fit chipping practice into my schedule. The chipping area at my club is poor, which doesn't really inspire me to go down to the club and use it, but I may have to just force myself to do it.

Secondly - I've considered myself to be a decent putter over the last two years, but I think if I'm being critical there is room for improvement there. Again, my practice has fallen down somewhat - I think my stroke is technically sound, but I let myself down in green reading and judgement. Some days I just don't get the speed right at all - some days I'm playing far too much break that isn't there - other days I think they're not going to break much and they do. I do find it hard to improve my judgement simply by practicing on the putting green. But I have to try. I'm currently a bit of a streaky putter where I'll have the odd day I'm holing everything, but I rarely have a round without a three-putt somewhere.

I managed to average 55.4% fairways hit last year, which I think is a pretty good average - I'm keen to push my distance up a little bit, but this is a gradual process of trying to add more speed. I also hit 31.8% greens in reg - not bad but I was aiming for a third, so this can be pushed up a little bit more. Up and downs was 26.2%, so as mentioned, the chipping wasn't there as I'd like this to be a third as well.

For those who are single figures, is it realistic to achieve this with 33.3% greens in reg and 33.3% up and downs? My shaky maths suggests it's viable as long as I have no more than 1 three-putt on a GIR, and no more than one double bogey (or two doubles and one birdie), leaving me around 8 over par... although at my home course 8 over is like 11 differential so will need to be slightly better there. Anyway, those are the starting blocks.



The short version:

• fit chipping & putting practice into my schedule
• aim for 35% greens in reg average
• aim for 35% up and down average
• limit doubles to one or two maximum!

I got down from teens to 8.9 but I’ve no idea about my stats . What are you using to keep track of yours ?

 

[Orikoru]

Fellow cemented single digits hopeful

I’m a 9.1 index (get 10 shots off the whites at my place)

Turning a few doubles or worse into bogeys this year would have easily had me in the 7 index range this year

Out of 32 competitive rounds I had 19 Birdies (pretty low really) but I had 54 doubles and 12 scores worse than that

If you track stats and review rounds look at the big numbers and see what can be shaved off there

Hard to say really because I've not even been at 11 handicap very long - at the moment it still feels like if I play my absolute very best, a near flawless round, it's still around 10 over par. I managed one round with a single figure differential on my record, and funnily enough it had a triple bogey in it. But only four bogeys and two birdies. (This was at an away course.)

As I touched upon, even shooting 77 at my home course off whites is a differential of 11.2, which makes single figures feel like a really difficult target at the moment. I would need to start shooting 75 or better, effectively, and my current best there is 76.

 

[Orikoru]

I got down from teens to 8.9 but I’ve no idea about my stats . What are you using to keep track of yours ?

I just use Hole19. I have the Premium version. You enter the stats as you go along - the score, number of putts (from which it calculates if you hit the green or not), and whether you hit fairway or missed left or right. Penalty shots and bunker shots too.

 

[Wilson]

Hopefully in the next month or so I'll have figured out my bag....the back end of 2025 has seen a real struggle in the area of transition from irons through hybrids to fairways...this is close to being sorted, have a 7 wood on the way and I may even end up replacing my 6iron with an appropriate hybrid or maybe even a 9 wood. New wedges will also be purchased in the spring.

Going to almost certainly become a "range member" at Felixstowe Ferry....will cost me £200 for the year for unlimited balls...looking back at my credit card statements, I paid out £200 in credits my my current practice venue of choice Ufford Park, but Ufford has become increasingly busy and noisy over the last couple of years since they've introduced ball tracking/launch monitor systems and the ability to play range based games on the system....its especially chaotic during any school holiday period, or Saturday afternoon...and even weekdays it is often a struggle to get a bay.

Felixstowe also has proper practice chipping greens, another grass range area where you can use your own balls as well as me getting a percentage off beers and food in the clubhouse as part of the range membership. Also if I become a familiar face at the club, it may be beneficial in the future should i decide to consider my current membership options.

Hopefully this might lead to better more concerted practice....hell i might even take a few lessons...with the view of reducing my handicap...would like to get back well into single figures and if I can drop my index from 9.1 down to 6.5 (as a stretch objective) by the end of August then I'll be a very happy golfer.

One of the things that I think helped me this year was joining a club as a practice member, a couple of hours a week on the chipping green has made massive strides in my game.

 

[Firestormgjc]

Practice, practice and practice until spring and the get out and see how close to 100 I can get .
Then get regular rounds in as well as practice to , hopefully, chip away at my score.
I may even find someone local to play the odd round with ……

 

[kp17]

To introduce it to my wee girl in the hope she enjoys it and has fun.
Just now it’s just the boring thing on the tele.

 

[Slab]

I’ll spend a glorious half day messing with my new bag when I eventually get it, configuring club slots etc and what goes in what pocket, can’t wait!

My (relative) minor successes in 2025 will hopefully allow me to just chill a bit more on the course with a more relaxed frame of mind. I don’t think I have single figure index in me (got to 11.1 at one point and I think that’s my peak at home club, and I sure as hell can’t beat my PB of 78 )
Play at least one new course
Become short game wizard instead of bumbling wreck standing over 10m chips
Play the old UK muni I used to play each week many years ago just to see how I’ve changed

 

[moogie]

I see a PT for shoulder work but even though am waiting to see another consultant the computer seems to say you must also see physio department.

Yes, I had to go through a pointless 7 months of physio before getting hospital referral. I say pointless because a simple x-ray would have shown my particular issue wouldn't change with physio, only op.

Sorry to take off track

 

[Golfnut1957]

Hard to say really because I've not even been at 11 handicap very long - at the moment it still feels like if I play my absolute very best, a near flawless round, it's still around 10 over par. I managed one round with a single figure differential on my record, and funnily enough it had a triple bogey in it. But only four bogeys and two birdies. (This was at an away course.)

As I touched upon, even shooting 77 at my home course off whites is a differential of 11.2, which makes single figures feel like a really difficult target at the moment. I would need to start shooting 75 or better, effectively, and my current best there is 76.

A 77 at our current (winter) course will give you a differential of 12. Off the whites on our main course, that same 77 would give you a 5.7.

The only people putting cards in at the moment are bandits looking for an increase for the summer.

For perspective, they are the same course with two par 3's substituting two par 4's and mostly (not all) forward tees.

 

[Orikoru]

A 77 at our current (winter) course will give you a differential of 12. Off the whites on our main course, that same 77 would give you a 5.7.

The only people putting cards in at the moment are bandits looking for an increase for the summer.

For perspective, they are the same course with two par 3's substituting two par 4's and mostly (not all) forward tees.

Our course is no different in the winter really. Teeing mats but they're not much shorter than the normal course so the ratings don't change. I'm certainly not putting any cards in until at least end of March I would think. Having said that, I've had two rounds in the last four weeks that would have been counting scores for me if I had have put them in, haha. Assuming I holed the gimmes I was given.