As we enter the 2026 season, players of all skill levels begin the familiar ritual of looking ahead and setting their goals for the year. For some, these goals may be as simple as improving their chops or breaking 90. While other goals may be much higher, such as winning the club championship or, at the highest level, capturing a major championship.
Ambition alone is not enough to achieve the targets we have set for next season, but this is where the journey begins. Setting goals and charting a path to accomplish them is a skill—one that tour pros hone with years of experience. With the right guidance, even amateurs can learn how to ignite their season early and turn lofty aspirations into real results.
To better understand this process, I spoke with two-time LPGA winner Lynn Grantusing her expertise on what it takes to set – and achieve – goals, no matter how ambitious they may be. According to her, there are only four keys to remember when setting your goal for this season.
1. Ask yourself, “How can I get there?”
Goal setting requires balancing big dreams and being realistic. At first, the two may seem at odds, but after talking with Grant, it’s clear they need to work together—and it starts with one important question: How do I get there?
“For me it’s about taking the biggest goal and then stretching it to the smallest point of effort,” says Grant.
In other words, Grant — and other tour pros — work backwards from their end goal to map out the exact plan they need to follow to get there. For example, one of Grant’s goals this season is to win a major championship.
“Okay, I want to win a major, let’s say it’s the US Women’s Open,” she says, “Historically, I have to win at even.”
Reviewing past performances is essential when your goals are focused on winning a specific event, but it’s also useful when you’re pursuing broader goals. Viewing previous rounds will help you evaluate your game and identify areas for improvement.
2. Use statistics to analyze your game
No matter how big or small your goal may be, understanding your game and knowing where you currently stand is essential to playing better golf – and there are many tools that can help.
It’s called the analytics platform that Grant relies on throughout the season ShotsToHolebut there are many options available. The key is to find one that you will use consistently.
To gain true insight, you need to understand your game as a whole – not only to identify weaknesses, but also to recognize and exploit your strengths. The only way to do this is by recording statistics every time you go through the course. Entering them sporadically, or only during “good” rounds, will give you a skewed perspective and limit the value of the data.
3. Review the basics regularly
Throughout the season, there will inevitably be weeks when your swing feels off or when something doesn’t click. Rather than assuming it’s a major swing defect or equipment problem, Grant encourages hobbyists to start by checking the simple, controllable elements first.
“I might have a week where it’s super windy and you start changing things up because you want to score well, and it works for one week,” Grant says, “But the next week, you notice your ball position is way back and now I’m aiming straight.
“Sometimes, you have to go back to the basics,” she continues, “Find an easy way to control yourself, instead of changing too much and getting lost.”
That’s why we see tour pros using alignment rods every time they practice—not because they need them, but because these training tools prevent small habits from escalating into big problems. When your setup is strong, your control is accurate and yours the extent is called toyou can pursue your goals without fear of obstacles caused by weak foundations.
4. Remember: experience builds confidence
As you work towards your goals this season, it can be easy to be hard on yourself. You can get frustrated after a double chip or a missed green – especially if you’ve been practicing that shot lately.
Golf, as we all know, is incredibly humble. If you want the confidence to hit the course without fear, you have to do it a lot—and not always perfectly.
“A lot of people think that confidence just shows up, but it’s all based on action,” Grant says, “If you do it over time, then it becomes part of you, I think.”
There will be moments when a shot is almost perfect, or when fear creeps in and nearly paralyzes you. It’s all part of the game. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at it and the more confident you’ll become in lifting when the pressure is high.
;)
