New Year - New Golf Game?

I don’t, well, I know I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions. For me, I think a more realistic approach to our pledges to continue good practices and change behaviors, etc., is to just set… Goals. Does anyone else feel that way about New Year’s resolutions? I mean, who really thinks about your New Year’s resolutions past saaaay May? But Goals – I think we tend to remember those far beyond New Year’s resolutions. With wrapping up 2024 and now firmly planted in January of 2025, of course, I’m already thinking ahead to this year’s golf season. In thinking about my golf game, I just have a few things I want to tweak and improve on. The 4 things I want to work on in 2025 are:

1.     Reflecting on 2024

In any way, not just in golf, but in life, to improve on something is to look back at the past and learn from it. As a matter of fact, my IG name has always been Sankofaxxx, and I have the Sankofa Bird tattooed on my right forearm. In short, it means – learn from the past. Learning from the past definitely applies in golf. Take, for example, I learned last year it’s probably a good idea to show up early enough to putt around on the practice greens so you can get a feel for whether they’re fast or slow. Don’t be like me and waste the first few putts in the game getting used to the greens that day.

2024 was a good year for me golf-wise, but my handicap didn’t improve. As a matter of fact, it sadly got a little worse. I think I was unfocused, multitasking too much, and I didn’t play long enough. On the days that I shot content, I had a great time, but a lot goes into it. Setting up the camera, taking the shot, reviewing the footage, keeping pace. I’m not complaining, I’m just stating that a little too much multitasking meant I definitely wasn’t focused on just the game. The moments that made me fall in love with the game – I was just playing the game and nothing else. If you’ve ever stepped up to the tee box and hit a fire shot, you know what I mean. In 2025, I’ll play more 18-hole rounds instead of just the 9. This way, I can actually review my year on the USGA GHIN Rewind (If you don’t have enough 18-Hole games, you can’t review your rewind). I think the biggest reflection I have from 2024 is that, even though I didn’t advance as much as I thought I would, I still LOVE GOLF – and I’m completely committed to all things golf. What did you guys learn in 2024?

2. Setting Realistic Goals

My main goals for 2025 are simple: play more frequently, play full rounds of 18 holes instead of just 9, lower my handicap by at least 2, and practice more. These goals seem relatively simple right, but life gets in the way from time to time. I have a family that O and I are actively trying to grow by +1, work, an ever-blooming social life, and various other responsibilities I won’t bother listing. All that means is getting to these goals can be a challenge. I’ll lean on my tried-and-true time management skills and just hash out a plan to execute on the goals. Practicing more with my coach, RJ, is always a help, and I really recommend getting a coach if you have the budget for it. I plan to really work on my short game this year and try to work on that drive.

3.     Getting My Gear in Order

Now, of course, I would classify FöR Golf Apparel as one of the best Black-Owned Golf Apparel brands out there, and I definitely wear it on the course and in the street. The ParTeeTime sweatshirt is not just a favorite of mine – I’m happy to say several sizes are sold out, and it really is a dope streetwear sweatshirt. Another of my favorite brands to wear out on the course is Adidas and New Balance. Of course, I also wear the popular stuff – Nike, Titleist – but I want to continue to diversify my golf gear. I encourage you guys to get out there, Google things like “best Black-owned golf brands” or “women-owned golf apparel,” poke around, see what you find. See if you like the creativity of the little guys. If I’m being honest, it’s also time for new clubs. The irons I have now are a few years older, and even if my scores don’t always reflect it, I know I’ve gotten better. I’m stronger, faster, my swing is more consistent, but I’m playing with the wrong clubs. I’m almost sure of it, and this is the year I’ll fix that.

4. Tracking My Progress

We’ve all played games where we just don’t keep score. Not because we don’t want to, but maybe you play with people who cheat (you know, the person who doesn’t count every stroke *side-eye*). Or we’ve had those games where we’ve had too many passes with the drink cart, lol, and you just want to chill and not worry about the score. I’ll have to say, though, some of the best advice I’ve been given is to try and keep score. I also plan to check in with those goals in general, play more, play more present, and switch up the gear – see what works and what doesn’t all in the effort of judging my progress. I encourage you to track YOUR progress also and definitely come back here and let me know how it goes. What tools do you use to track your progress?

2025 is going to be a good year for golf; I can feel it. Hell – the 2025 BMW Championship is being held right around the corner from my house in Owings Mills, MD! I missed it the first time it came to MD, but I will NOT miss it this time. Pro Tip – golf tournaments are another way to pick up golf gear that you can really only get from that event. Plus, going to a PGA or LPGA game is one of the coolest things you can do if you’re into golf. HIGHLY RECOMMEND it, 10 out of 10 stars. Let’s all make 2025 our “level-up-our-golf-game” year – drop your comments below.

Let Go Get It,

Golf Lush