Realistic golf targets to have for 2026

It's raining again. And I know that for some of you there has been biblical amounts of snow to contend with too. For golfers, the British winter is not a lot of fun.

Now I want to say here and now that I am not a fan of making resolutions because they are made to be broken. In the past I have resolved to stop smoking (succeeded, failed, succeeded, failed and finally succeeded again), I have vowed to reduce my alcohol intake (failed miserably on every single occasion). You get the picture.

But this foul weather has got me thinking about some golfing targets that I believe I can actually achieve.

Don't Let The Weather Stop You From Playing Golf

It is all too easy to peep out the window, see the rain tumbling down and opt to return to the sanctuary of my warm and inviting bed. But NO MORE! 

The way I now look at it is that I have set the alarm and have arranged to get up and meet a group of fellow golfers at a given time. 

Why should the rain scupper our plans? I will be speaking with our group and with the aim of determining that the weather will not keep us away from the sport we love. Are we stark raving bonkers? No, we are not. Our golf course now has a state-of-the-art Trackman-powered driving range so instead of abandoning our plans we will now head to the range at the appointed hour, where we can programme a given course into the system and complete 18 holes from the driving bays. 

There are all sorts of games and challenges you can play at a driving range. If you don’t fancy playing a specific course, give everybody three shots to play to the 100-yard markers, three shots to get to the 150-yard marker etc. You can award points for the shot that finishes closest. You can also award points for the most accurate drives or fairway woods.

And at the end of it all, the best news is that you will still be bone dry. It’s a no brainer and it means that instead of sitting at home twiddling your thumbs, you still get the chance to get out there and groove your swing.

Don’t let the weather stop you from hitting golf balls!

Spend More Time in The Clubhouse

If you really don’t fancy heading to the range - or your course doesn’t have one - why not head to the clubhouse with your mates anyway? Golfers will always find something to talk about over a coffee. And why not bring a pack of cards or a set of dominoes and while away a couple of hours that way? 

Personal Golfing Targets For 2026

Last year I set myself the target of getting my handicap down to 12. Unbelievably, I managed to achieve this. In fact, playing off the blue winter tees, I am currently off eight. I played a lot of good golf in 2025. I also played my fair share of utter rubbish. 

So what’s the target for 2026? The most obvious answer would be to get down to proper single figures. However, I am a realist and at my advanced age I can tell you that I will be perfectly happy if in 12 months time I am still playing off 12. 

I have a busy year ahead of me - at the end of January I begin my stint as Senior Captain at Dunston Hall Golf Club. 

I know that I will be playing a lot of golf but there is also a great deal of administration and paperwork ahead of me. Team matches mean that I will be leading our seniors section in a total of 22 clashes with other golf clubs. It will fall upon my shoulders to select a team of 12 for each and every encounter. On the face of it, that may seem to be a pretty simple task but I want to ensure that everybody who puts their name down for these matches gets a fair crack of the whip. 

For me, it is not about winning these inter-club affairs. They are friendlies, played in a wonderful spirit. I will be working hard to get the mix right because what I want is to get back to the clubhouse after every game and hear laughter and banter. I hope to encourage our higher-handicappers to take part in these games. If half the senior section play in these games then I will regard my year as a success - regardless of the results.

My biggest challenge for 2026 is my Captain’s Charity. In each of the past two years we have managed to raise a whopping £8,000 for charity and I feel that the pressure is on me to at least equal that this time. It involves approaching sponsors, many of whom I will be going back to for a third successive year. I will be going to individuals and businesses for the first time. I have already set the ball in motion and the early signs have been encouraging. But trust me when I tell you that this is a pressure I have not experienced before - all the more so because my chosen charity is the East Anglian Children’s Hospices (EACH) - and my son just happens to be its chief executive. Gulp!

Have a Healthy Year on The Golf Course

As a senior golfer I play with people who have undergone all manner of surgeries - knee and hip replacements are commonplace. I know what it’s like to be sidelined through injury and I can tell you that it is a thoroughly miserable experience. Not being able to follow your passion is no fun at all so my wish for you all for 2026 is to enjoy a healthy 12 months.

Why Not Book a Golf Break?

The weather may be cold and miserable, which makes this the ideal time of year to plan ahead and the perfect way to do that is to get a group of golfing friends together and book a break. I already have two in the diary, both within striking distance of my home city of Norwich and both incredibly competitively priced. There are hundreds of great deals to be had, both in this country and further afield. If you doubt it, take a look at Golfbreaks - this is the time of year when we all need something to look forward to and a golf break might just be the solution.