Thursday, January 3, 2019

A New Year And A New Mindset


It’s official - 2019 is upon us and many of us probably have our fair share of New Year’s resolutions that we’re trying to stick to. Whether it’s exercising more, eating better, or promising ourselves we’ll quit a nasty habit, there’s no better time than now to make some impactful changes in your life. You might be using an app or a wall calendar to track your progress and you’re ready to see your goals through to the end of the year and beyond.

Your disc golf game is no exception to this idea of resolutions, and while we can decide to buckle down and create practice routines more regularly or commit to spreading the sport in our hometown, it’s all too easy to get distracted. So how exactly can you create and stay on track with your disc golf goals this year? Here are a few ideas worth considering.

Accountability Matters

If you’ve ever tried to start a new workout routine or even a different diet, you may have been faced with the choice of whether to create a group that keeps each other accountable or not. The same idea can translate over to disc golf and can take many different forms. Perhaps you meet others regularly for practice putting after work or you Skype with friends to discuss the rounds you played each week - what’s important is that you commit to your goals because other people are counting on you.

Rather than creating a specified accountability group, some players have opted to use social media as a way to stick to their goals. Already this year we’ve seen new Instagram accounts being created just to highlight one’s improvement over the course of the year, and you could even create a Facebook athlete page that documents how you’ve carried out your 2019 resolutions.

Making A Difference

Beyond simply aiming to improve upon your own game, playing more tournaments, or promising to watch more live coverage over the course of the season, one of the best types of goals to create is one that focuses on growing the sport. Disc golf is huge compared to ten years ago, but it’s not going to continue to expand unless people like you make the effort.

You don’t have to spend a lot of time or money to #growthesport, but above all else your desire and commitment are crucial. Consider hosting a free clinic to introduce disc golf to your neighbors or contact local groups to see if a disc golf day would be an enriching activity that’s of interest. Volunteering to clean your area’s courses or even stepping up once tournaments get up and going to help relieve some stress off of a TD’s shoulders are also great ways to contribute.

We’ve only just begun this new year so it’s not too late to make some disc golf resolutions that are worth keeping. Whether it’s a small goal like simply getting to the course more regularly or you have your sights set high on raising your rating by a certain amount, let’s make 2019 the year that disc golf continues to reach people across the world.