Starting A New Season

For most of North America, the months of March and April represent the start of the golf season. Especially for those who were unable to vacation or compete in the southern states over the winter, the next few weeks are a time to knock the rust off of your game and get back into the routine of training and practicing for high level golf. Here are a few tips:

1. Get your touch and feel back first. You probably won't hit your best shots immediately at the beginning of the year. Most of your poor shots will be the result of bad timing and tempo, which come back by focusing on feel. Aside from checking your setup, you should resist the temptation to work on your mechanics for a couple of weeks.

2. Keep your expectations realistic. Most of your important competitive events will be in June, July, and August. Use the spring to prepare for those events.

3. Check your distances - they may be different from last year, especially if you have been working out over the winter (or if you have grown).

4. Establish proper work habits early in the year. Develop good routines for practicing your short game, putting, and long game that you can rely on for the entire season.

6. Plan your schedule well in advance. Especially if you are a junior player, make sure that you have your schedule and travel plans established. Plan your training so that you can 'peak' for the right weeks.

5. Set goals. A fresh start to the season is a great opportunity to evaluate your motivation and goals. What do you want to accomplish this year? How much work will that take?