In the coming months, after the ground thaws, golfers around the country will begin to excuse their poor play with phrases like: "I'm still shaking the rust off!", "I haven't touched a club for months!" or "I'm just happy to be out here!".
Don't be one of those players!!
While it's not wise to expect to have the best round of your life in the first week or spring, here are 5 Easy Steps to hit the ground running when spring finally does arrive.
1. Swing a club every day
This is one of the easiest, yet most overlooked ways to get your game in shape during the off-season. Hank Haney says that you can actually improve your game simply by taking 100 swings a day. Swinging every day will help you increase your stamina and flexibility and will physically prepare your body for the upcoming golf season.
You don't need a golf ball or driving range to do this! Keep a club in your garage, office or anywhere in your home with room to swing.
2. Watch golf on TV
Hopefully you had the opportunity to watch some of the best golfers in the world collapse down the stretch at the Honda Classic this weekend. It was exciting, and got me pumped for the upcoming season. If you didn't see last week, you can still get ready for some great PGA Tour action in the coming weeks.
This week:
WGC Cadillac Championship @ Trump National Doral - All 50 of the top 50 players in the world will be in attendance to test out Gil Hanse's re-design of Doral's Blue Monster.
March 20th-23rd:
Arnold Palmer Invitational @ Bay Hill Club & Lodge - This will likely be the last time we see Tiger Woods play prior to the Masters in April.
April 10th-13th:
The Masters Tournament @ Augusta National - World #2 Adam Scott will attempt to defend his title at the season's first major.
Watching these tournaments is exciting and will get your mind geared up for the 2014 season.
3. Take a lesson
Taking a lesson is easily the most efficient way to get your game in shape for spring. Being away from the game for several months usually is detrimental to your golf game. Sometimes bad habits arise, even when you haven't played enough golf to really develop them!
Preferably, you will seek instruction from a coach who has access to a launch monitor. Making sure that the golf ball is traveling toward your target in the winter will eliminate any unpleasant surprises when you get outdoors.
4. Practice!!!
Once you've taken a lesson or two, be sure to practice. Although some lessons can include a 'quick fix', most winter lessons will include a new move or swing thought. New moves can be hard to perfect on the golf course, making time away from the course in the winter a blessing in disguise.
Take the time in the off-season to practice and make your new move autonomous. When you put in the hard work off the course, the game becomes much easier on the course.
5. Play as soon as you can
Many of you who read this will prefer to wait to hit the links until it is warm enough outside to wear shorts. Instead of waiting, try to get in a few rounds as soon as your home course's greens open up... your short game will thank you.
Many of us put the putter and wedges away for the winter. Even for those who don't, there is no substitute for the real thing... putting on and chipping off of real grass. The more chips and putts you hit early on, the sharper your short game will be.
Start working your way through these 5 Easy Steps today, and you'll be on your way to your best spring ever!
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