I seem to remember describing myself as a newcomer to golf this time last year. I suppose that 12 months on, I cannot really use that excuse any more – but I’m afraid to say that I haven’t got much better!

Having sat down and thought about it over Christmas, I set myself four modest golfing goals for 2013.

Sadly, three of them were the same as the targets I set myself for 2012, which probably tells its own story.

The first is that, like almost every other golfer, I would like to see my handicap fall over the course of the year. It’s actually a goal I achieved last year, my mark falling from 28 (the maximum a man is allowed) to a not quite remarkable 27.

I suppose it’s progress, but I’d like to drop a little more than one shot in 2013. Sadly, so far this year, my performances have not been conducive to this and I’m sliding helplessly back to 28.

My second target is to begin shooting rounds under 100 on a regular basis. It looked like I was making progress as I fired in three scores in the 90s a few weeks ago, but since then things have gone slightly awry.

I’d also love to complete a round without scoring worse than a double bogey, but at this stage that sort of consistency is something I can only dream of, while my fourth target, avoiding shooting over 110, went out of the window at the end of my very first round of the year!

At least things can only get better!

John Boyman

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