1.Play more golf.

If you played 2 rounds last year, make it four this year. If you played 20, make it 30. I played my all-time record of 198 rounds of golf in 2005, and it was awesome. Of course, it helped to have a job which includes playing a course virtually every day!

2.Play more courses.

It’s easy to fall into the habit of playing the same course over and over, but I suggest everyone play as many different courses as possible. It keeps the game fresh, exciting, interesting and fun. There are many fantastic courses that open every year in virtually every corner of the globe, and there is no better vacation than a trip which includes playing some of them.

3.Get properly fitted

If you bought your clubs “off the rack” they’re probably not playing the best they can. Take them to your local professional golf fitter and make sure the length, loft and lie are all correct for your swing. You’ll be amazed how much straighter you hit the ball.

4.Take a lesson.

The top athletes in the world have coaches and teachers. The top golfers in the world do, too. They are better than you, so why would you think you can’t benefit from some professional golf instruction? If private instruction is too costly get some friends together and take some group lessons

5.Introduce someone to the game.

Golf is a game for the ages. It’s the only sport of which I know that three or four generations can actually have fun playing together. It is also a great game for business. If you know someone who could benefit from the game of golf, take them to your local range and introduce them to the game!

6.Support a local charity golf tournament.

There will be more than 50,000 charity golf tournaments in the U.S. this year, and at least one of them will strike a chord on your heartstrings. Many tournaments are very reasonably priced – some as low as regular green fees. Others range into the thousands of dollars per player. Pick the one(s) that mean the most to you and sign up to play!

7.Take a Golf Vacation.

Need to get away? Golf courses offer some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, and playing golf is always a great excuse for a needed break. Whether it’s a weekend in Pebble Beach, a week in Scottsdale, Arizona, or a month exploring the origins of the game in Great Britain, there is definitely a golf trip to fit your budget and your time.

8.Join (or start) a Golf League.

This is a great way to enjoy the game of golf – and make new friends. Many courses are now offering league play on various days at various times, so check with your local favorite course. If they don’t have a league, help them start one!

9.Take time for nine.

Many golfers believe they need to play 18 holes of golf in order to enjoy the game. You don’t have to play 18! Nine holes of golf fits into the traditional time frame of sports games (2 to 2-1/2 hours) much better than 18 holes. If you want to play golf but don’t have time for 18 holes, go ahead and play 9! This is especially true when you can only get 9 holes in after work. Do it!

10.Buy better balls.

Are you stuck in the rut of playing balls you found in the woods or weeds last time you played? Don’t do it! New balls play much better than old balls, and golf balls can actually lose some playability after just a few holes. Many professional golfers switch balls several times throughout their round, and so should you. Different brands and models of balls really do play differently, so buy some top-of-the-line balls before your next round and see if it makes a difference to your score.

11.Spend some time on the practice green

Do you want to lower your golf score? I mean really lower it? Then practice your putting. Putting is half of the game of golf, and yet it gets about 1% of the practice time. Watch any golfer when they get to the course. They check in, grab a bag of balls and head to the range, whack their driver to see how far they can hit it, then head to the first tee. Start counting your putts and try to get down to 28 to 32 putts per round. You’ll be amazed how quickly your average golf score drops if you do. A great way to do this is to play “The Putting Game.” Every putt’s worth $1, and you pay everyone who beats your putt total $1 per putt. For instance, if you have 32 putts and Bob has 27, you owe him $5. If John has 38, he owes you $6 and he owes Bob $11.

12.Don’t swear or throw your clubs.

You can learn a lot about a person from a round of golf. In fact many highly successful business people won’t fill an important position until they play a round of golf with a prospect for the job. Bad shots are a part of golf, and they happen in virtually every round. So what? Take them in stride, offering a sheepish “oops” rather than a “#$@!&*%$” when you hit the roof of the house three doors down the fairway…or three streets away! Learn to laugh at a bad golf shot and you’re well on your way to learning to deal with adversity in a positive, healthy way.

13.Read a golf book.

There are a lot of different books about golf, in virtually every genre you can imagine. Visit your local bookstore and browse through their book section. You’ll definitely find a book you’ll enjoy. And it’s about time you read a book instead of watching the TV. A recent favorite is “Munie” by Bobby Steiner. It will bring the game of golf to life in a way you’ve never seen before.

14.Buy a fun head cover.

Are you into animals? Have a favorite college team? Know a real butthead? Whatever you’re into, you’ll probably find a head cover to match. Frank the Tiger is one of the most popular (and the only TV star in the bunch), but there’s a new company making head covers from the opposite end of the animals. They’re called Butthead Covers, and they’re some of the cutest things you’ll ever see. Check them out at www.buttheadcovers.com. You’ll love the cow. It’s udderly ridiculous!

15.Take a kid to a professional golf event

Whether it’s the PGA Tour, LPGA, Champion’s or Nationwide, take a kid to see the professionals play the game of golf. It’s an eye-opening experience that could literally change a young person’s life forever. Maybe yours as well.

16.Play faster.

The President of the United States loves to play golf. He often plays with his 80-year old father. They play in an average of two and a half hours. 18 holes! There is no reason for golf to take 4-1/2 to 5 hours to play. I’ve played in tournaments that took 6 hours to play. That’s NO FUN! There are many, many ways to play faster, so let’s all make a concerted effort to get the average round of golf to be played in under four hours – especially if you’re the first group off the tee in the morning!

17.Walk rather than ride.

Unless it is mandated by the course or impractical due to a physical impairment, you should walk next time you play golf rather than rent a cart. Did you know that the typical championship golf course can stretch to about a six to seven mile walk? Did you know that the typical walking golfer plays faster than the typical cart golfer? Did you know that the walking golfer also usually scores better? There are a lot of reasons to walk rather than ride, so unless you have a lot of beers to haul around, I suggest you walk!

18.Have more fun!

Golf is a game, and should be treated as one unless you’re playing for a lot of money. There are also a lot of games you can play within the game of golf that make it more fun and interesting. Captains, Wolf, The Putting Game, Bingo-Bango-Bongo, the Animal Game (Camel, Snake, Frog & Beaver), these are just a few of the examples of various games that make golf even more exciting. If you aren’t familiar with these, get a book about them (or just read Golf America every week) and find out about these games and a whole lot more ways to make golf the most fun it can be!

Have a terrific 2007 everyone!!

by Keith James of Golf America

Tags: 2007, golf, resolutions