New Year’s resolutions are like New Year’s hangovers. They feel profound in the moment. But they fade quickly. Most are forgotten within a week. And golf resolutions? They’re doomed from the start.
Jared Tendler, mental game coach and author of the forthcoming book Everyday Golf Psychology: Practical Advice for Golfers at Every Level, offers this advice on resolutions. Ditch them. They’re dumb. Better to focus on “goals” instead.
“There’s a difference between a resolution and a goal,” Tendler says. “Resolutions are top-line and focused only on results. It’s a blindly optimistic way of trying to achieve something. Then when momentum is disrupted, everything goes awry.”
Goals, on the other hand, are rooted in reality. They account for process and the hiccups you might hit along the way. Fair enough. With that counsel in mind, here are 12 attainable resolu—er, goals for 2026.
Play as a Single
The best parts of golf are the places that it takes you and the people that you meet. Not all of those people will become your buddies, but you’ll meet a lot of good ones if you show up on your own.
Keep it moving
Lost balls happen. Bad shots happen. But slow play is avoidable. Be ready to hit, keep your searches brief, 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 to set foot on 1% of them. But you can always expand your horizons by exploring one course you’ve never played.
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 also matter. A lot. Especially when they’re customized.
Introduce a Kid to Golf
A son. A daughter. A nephew. A niece. Don’t know any kids? Donate to a junior golf program. Golf is a game of a lifetime, best learned young.
Make a Thoughtful Swing Change
Not an arbitrary tweak. Work with a trusted instructor, (not a YouTube rando), commit fully, carry it through and see where it takes you.
Play without fear
Yeah, we get it. That pond is scary. Those O.B. stakes are, too. Golf can be unnerving. But you know what’s really frightening? How fast time flies. The shot you’re about to hit will be over in an eye-blink and the result won’t define you. This isn’t life or death. Save your worry for stuff that is.
Putt Everything Out, Play Everything Down
It teaches discipline and reveals truths about your game. And yes, you can do it while maintaining a reasonable pace of play.
Enter a Tournament
Try competitive golf at least once. From local events to state amateur tournaments, the experience is eye-opening and fun.
Take a Caddie
Walking 18 holes with a caddie offers camaraderie, insights and stories you’ll remember. It also gives you someone to blame unfairly for your missed putts.
Walk the Course
If you usually ride, give walking a try. It’s better exercise and it puts you in closer contact with your surroundings. You might even find what many have discovered: that its rhythms are more conducive to playing well.
Try One Shot You’ve Been Avoiding
Pick a shot you’ve been scared of and give it a go. Even if you fail miserably, you’ll learn something, which might be: don’t try that again.
