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New day, new week, new month, new year, new decade. I fear though there will be nothing new about the resolutions. They are always old.
Does any other sport require its participants to spend so much time thinking – about the line of a putt, the position of the little finger of the left hand on the grip, the line of the shoulders and the feet, the strength of the wind, the firmness of the ground, the speed of the swing, the distribution of the weight on the feet, the position of the hands at the address, the angle of the spine, the length of the backswing?
I could go on. The first of January, and a good many days after that, marks the time when we all try to learn from our golfing mistakes of the previous year. If only I had used a 3-iron instead of a 4 on the fifth I might not have plunged into that grassy knoll and taken 6 on a par-3. If only I had taken my pro’s advice and changed my grip. If only I would pause and think before I hit a shot, get it really clear in my head. If only I would learn that invaluable piece of advice that is often dispensed but rarely obeyed – when in trouble the first requirement is to get out.
If only, if only.
In 2020 I resolve not to buy any more golf shoes. I already have 10 pairs. No more pairs of socks either. I had 79 at the last count, though not all for golf. No more golf trousers, preferably blue. Do I need any more tees? I have thousands, wooden, plastic, rubber, biodegradable. Must I buy the make of ball pros use when I am as far from being a pro as it is possible to be? This year I will improve my hunched position at the address, learn how to hit a cut, spend time on my putting, buy some winter gloves and not buy any more golf shirts because I have a rail full in my wardrobe already.
In 2020 I will get up earlier, play more quickly, spend less time in the bar and make sure I am home for lunch. I will not rush my shots nor will I slow down my playing partners. I will watch my ball until it stops rolling and make a mental note as to where it has landed.
Or will I? Almost certainly not. I shall resolve to do some or all these and as surely as night follows day fail to do so. In that at least I am consistent. What is the point of new year’s resolutions?
John Hopkins