How I become Better

tahirshamjigolf
May 6
3 min read

After the 2024 season I was proud of the progress I had made in the year and saw some really good golf which gave me the confidence in my systems. For 2025, I have made some clear, specific goals and modifications to my systems that will translate into better tournament results.

At Gorge Vale GC, I have access to a better practice facility and have broken down the areas of my game to focus on specific drills daily instead of playing lots of golf. I have known the team at Gorge Vale for a long time now and they have been pivotal in giving me a job and allowing me access to the facilities. I am incredibly grateful for them.

Strokes gained is a term coined by Mark Brodie to measure performance relative to PGA Tour averages. If a player gains 0.5 shots in their approach category, that means over four rounds of golf, this player will have scored 2 (0.5 x 4) less shots total than the average PGA Tour Player. For myself, I worked from losing two shots per round in 2023 (compared to PGA Tour average which means I took 2 more shots on average) to gaining 1.7 shots per round compared to the Tour average. Some players lose shots in one category and gain shots in another category to make their scoring average relative to tour average. The rest of the graph shows how I have gained and lost strokes compared to tour averages in the four main areas of golf: putting, scrambling, tee shots, and approach shots. 3/4 of those are trending positive as of April 30 which is a good position to be in.

My strategy to improvement in these areas is to build a consistent practice schedule where I can do drills to focus on certain areas of my game each day. This is what I have found works for me. Playing golf (in a tournament or local skins game) is an opportunity for me to test how effective my practice is and my goal is to play 36-45 holes per week.

My Four Main Goals:

1. Take care of my physical and mental health, and my nutrition.

I’ve started working with Sports Performance Coaching and their Mental Game Mastery program to train my mind more deliberately. I’m also working with a local gym to build functional, explosive strength. Rory McIlroy is a great example of how important these areas are to golf: he competes nearly every week, gets stronger and faster every year, speaks about his mental game, and rarely gets injured. He’s one of the most consistent players in the world, and I think that’s because he’s built a system that prioritizes long-term progress and health. (Bob Rotella also praises his discipline in this area.)

2. Improve my strokes gained stats.

There’s a strong link between how well I strike my irons, how well I putt and how well I play. When I hit quality approach shots and give myself chances, my putting tends to follow. And when my iron play is sharp, it usually means my wedges and driver are solid too. If I can steadily improve in these two categories, I believe I’ll consistently put myself in a position to score.

3. Compete Consistently.

I have monthly events lined up to test my game under pressure. These tournaments are opportunities to benchmark my progress and apply what I’ve trained. Nothing else. I want to compete enough to stay sharp, but my more important goal is to be getting better each week.

4. Push my strokes gained numbers above +1 across the board.This is my focus for 2025. If I can achieve this, I know the scores and results will take care of themselves. Strong body and mind helps this goal.

*Draft Schedule:

May:

RBC Canadian Open Qualifier

June: Vancouver Golf Tour @ Riverway (Monday, June 16)

Vancouver Golf Tour @ Golden Eagle

July:

Vancouver Golf Tour Pro-Am

August:

PGA Tour Canada Monday qualifier

Potential VGT

Instagram: @the_1tgolf

Youtube: the1tgolf