New Year's Resolutions: My 5-Point Golfing Plan For 2026

Fergus Bisset hits a putt on a golf course with trees in the background

Fergus is committed to a new approach in 2026

(Image credit: Kenny Smith)

I’m not normally one for New Year’s resolutions. They generally sound and seem like they would be boring – work harder, drink less, lose weight, learn to knit…. Not for me.

But when it comes to golf… well, that’s a different matter. Golf isn’t boring! I’d love to improve my game in 2026 and, with that in mind, I started to think about what I could do to maximise my enjoyment of a hobby I put an awful lot into.

I didn’t want to focus solely on the technical aspects of the game. Yes, I want to play as well as I can in 2026, but it’s important to be realistic.

Golf can be enjoyed on so many levels, whether you’re playing well or poorly. I want to have fun with my golf. That’s why I play it after all.

I’ve come up with a five-point plan to help me get the most from my game in 2026.

Perhaps it’s something you’re thinking about too? I’d love to see what others want to achieve in 2026 so, if you’d like to share your plan for the year, please do so in the comment box below.

My 2026 checklist

1 – Practice putting

I have lamented my poor performance on the greens for years. I have generally put the fact I can’t get the ball into the hole down to bad luck. That is simply not true. It’s because I never practice. In 2026 I’m going to spend decent time on the putting green, do some drills and give myself no more excuses. GM's ultimate putting improvement guide is a good place to start.

2 – Support my club

Physician, heal thyself. I often complain that the club is underused and undervalued by the members. I am going to set a good example. Not only will I try to play in club matches, but I’ll also make use of the bar and catering, take the family for lunch more and attend some of the social functions.

3 – Say yes more

I’m often invited to play other golf courses or take a golfing trip somewhere and I generally find a way to convince myself it’s too difficult or time-consuming to consider. If I get an offer to visit a friend and play some golf in a different part of the country, I’m going to find a way to do it.

4 – Ask for help

I’m too belligerent when it comes to my game. Forty years of playing and I think I know best. I don’t. If I’m struggling, I’m going to ask a qualified professional for help. They may be able to fix a minor fault in 30 minutes. How much better is that than stubbornly struggling on and wasting a chunk of the season?

5 – Enjoy the game more

Golf is supposed to be fun and that’s why I play it. Whether I play well or poorly, I need to enjoy each round or there’s no point to it all. I’ll enjoy the exercise, the company and the outdoors… how I score will be irrelevant… I’ll try my best.

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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