Question of the week [February 3-9]: What’s a goal you have yet to achieve in golf?
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What’s the goal I have yet to achieve in golf? Being able to walk off the 18th green without being pissed off.
Ed Randolph
Plymouth, Michigan
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I play golf for pure pleasure and fun, so I don't have a strong connection to goals and golf achievements. Luckily, I have a hole-in-one and I did win a prominent trophy at my club, so they are my most notable achievements. My only real goal is to play as much golf as possible with the people who I enjoy. To this point in my life, I have been truly blessed, so I hope that continues for many more years.
Reid Farrill
Toronto, Ontario
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A hole-in-one. Been waiting for one for 60 years.
Paul Sadownick
Scottsdale, Arizona
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A hole-in-one.
Tom Mavridis
West Des Moines, Iowa
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A hole-in-one. Did get it to about 3 feet twice.
I did break 80 once, about 20 years ago. An out-of-body experience. Would love to do it one more time.
Mark Kazich
Darien, Illinois
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My second hole-in-one. I thought the second and succeeding ones were supposed to be easier. Got my first one in 1972 and now, at age 82, I'm still waiting for that second one.
Bob Norris
Cincinnati, Ohio
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The biggest goal not achieved is not having a hole-in-one. Now that I’m retired I play well over 200 rounds a year, much more than numerous friends who have gotten their hole-in-one. I’ve had many close calls, some within inches, but sadly not quite there.
My biggest nightmare is that I will never get one and after I have passed from this wonderful world and game of golf, at my wake my friend will come up to say a prayer. Instead he will just say “I have a hole in one.”
Dennis Burns
Joliet, Illinois
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I am a 70-year-old who has been an avid golfer since age 8, playing on golf teams in high school and college. Last year, I posted 150 rounds. I am optimistic I will achieve several lifetime golf goals soon.
> My first goal is to shoot my age. In October 2024, I shot 71.
> Another goal I’m still looking for is my first-ever hole-in-one. In 2006, I had a double eagle.
> Another goal is to play 400 different golf courses in my lifetime. I have been fortunate to play 345 different courses in 33 states and 5 countries so far.
Mac Brockman
Montgomery, Texas
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HOW FAR IS TOO FAR?
[QOTW, January 27 – February 2: The pushback on the golf ball rollback]
They want to put limits on golf ball distance ... yet every year club manufacturers tout their clubs as long, longer, longest. Why punish 99.99999% of the golfers in the world because .00001% hit the ball farther? If a pro trains to have the ability to hit the ball 15% farther than his peers, more power to him. The farther the ball goes the more at risk it is of deviating from its intended flight. That’s the gamble in crushing it 360 yards. Me, I would much rather keep it in the short grass — left, right or center.
I seem to remember Phil Mickelson whining about the narrow fairways at Le Club Nationale (2018 Ryder Cup). He was in the rough more than the fairways. Hey, Phil, don’t hit it in the rough. Keep it in the fairway.
My opinion is leave equipment as it is. Make the course(s) longer, when possible. If not, make them more difficult, i.e., narrower fairways, cut the rough and fairway grass a bit longer, strategically plant trees and bushes. Make these pros play with their heads rather than their muscles. Or, simply make a dumbed down ball specifically and exclusively for the pros.
Michael Rutledge
Sarasota, Florida
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As a senior, the "reduction in distance" is not significant for the majority of courses I play. If this will allow high level amateur and professional tournaments to continue to be played on classic courses, I'm OK with the rollback.
Mark Kazich
Darien, Illinois
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Front: Nuria Iturrioz, of Spain, gets a hole-in-one on the sixth hole during the second round of the Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonld Links, Troon, Scotland.
Photo: Malcolm Mackenzie | Golffile