2024 Year In Recap; Forging Into 2025

2024 overall for me was a great year for golf. It was not necessarily my best year in terms of scoring as I felt like my handicap rose higher than inflation. With that being said I felt like I took some positive momentum into 2025 with various areas of my game I have been working on and had more than my fair share of great memories on the course and attending tournaments including The Masters and PGA Championship. Within a very memorable year of golf, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to play several golf courses I will not soon forget.

Favorite Course Played

Pebble Beach has been for as long as I can remember at the top of my golf course bucket list. Dreams became a reality in June 2024. It was everything I imagined and more; the quiet and peaceful golf glory that is Pebble Beach.

Favorite Playing Moment

Standing on tee box of number 7 at Pebble Beach was such a surreal moment. Not sure if there is even a close second.

Biggest Improvement

It was much easier to find areas where I need to work on than where I thought I improved. But that’s a mindset change opportunity for me. For example, am I going to have a higher probability for success on my next round if I spend time thinking about past bad shots or good shots? If I am focusing on positives, I have a higher probability of successful outcome on the golf course, or that is my belief. With all that being said I saw a favorable trend in distance off the tee with long irons and drivers. The ability to gain some distance off the tee with long irons has helped me become more selective and strategic when it comes to club choice on par fours and fives. I had periods of successful in round pitches and chips but that is still an area I have to find more consistency on in round like so many other areas of my game. Wait, I thought this section was about biggest improvements?

Favorite Tournament Moment

The 2024 Majors hold a special place for me in my heart, not to mention there were some incredible finishes, specifically the US Open at Pinehurst. I had the fortunate opportunity to attend Friday round of The Masters; the first and of course best Major of the year. It was extra special because I got to go with my wife, who was a first time Patron, along with my Dad and Father In Law. I also attended the Thursday round of The PGA Championship at Valhalla. Next up is try to get to a U.S. Open or a Ryder Cup.

2025 Areas of Focus

As much as it pains me to write this, I need to start practicing and improve on putting. I do not practice this are of the game often enough for as large of a positive or negative impact that it can have on a scorecard. Statistically speaking, putting is such huge part of the game. As the year went on I sensed a trend in lost opportunities on the course between too many three puts and making more puts within twenty foot range to drop my scores.

I also have to continue to learn to trust my swing on the course; this applies to my full swing as well as chipping and pitching. I am often guilty of changing swing thoughts mid round (huge no no) and losing confidence in my swing if things are not going well over the course of the round. I will even change swing thoughts during a practice session and then try and take that to the next round. Stick with the swing thought and trust my swing. Limit the thinking. I have seen glimpses of what my swing can be when I trust it and let the swing changes I have made and worked so hard on over the years take effect. I do not have a natural golf talent so I have to work continuously at this sport to try and see pockets of success.

2025 Course To Seek Out

My full list is longer than a eight year old’s wish list to Santa at Christmas. As we just celebrated the birth of our second child, the golf course bucket list will likely collect some dust this year, but that is okay, we are excited to raise our son, Adrian. I am going to put a weekend trip to Streamsong at the top of the list for 2025. With multiple highly touted courses, it has long since been a place I have sought to visit and play. A quick flight from Atlanta and short drive from Tampa, you never know?