Gotta Have a Goal

Okay, so you don't actually gotta have a goal in golf; but, it doesn't hurt.
One of mine the past couple of years was to play every course, public and private in the Tulsa area (a goal helped when I discovered that most private courses at one time or another hold fundraiser events where any golf nut willing to fork out the bucks - usually for very good causes (and tax deductible) - can play such historic courses as Southern Hills Country Club, site of PGA, U.S Open, and U.S. Amateur championships.)
I finished this goal playing the new The Patriot course a couple months ago. And what a great course to finish the goal with. Wish I could afford to join. But, then I wish I could also afford to join Tulsa Country Club or Oklahoma Golf Club (just down a couple miles from my house; but miles away from my affordability level).
My second goal was to reach a 10 handicap by 10/2010; which amazingly I did. Making it to 10.6 on the October 15 GHIN posting. As I've only played now for four years I felt I was doing pretty good.
My new goal (aside from retaining the coveted Tulsa Golf Challenge Champion medal; more about that some other time) is to get my handicap down to 1.2, or whatever the current level, is to qualify to play in the U.S. Open Qualifying event. It's an absurd goal; but golf is an absurd game. And, given that playing scores aren't nearly so diligently checked before getting entered toward one's handicap, who knows. Not that I out and out cheat with my scores. I never cheat playing my buddy - in fact, we play probably a lot closer to the rules than most golfers playing for fun (although "fun" is our primary requirement). And if I may have entered more of my good scores than poor scores, this is only going to hurt me when I play tournaments (which I definitely need to concentrate more on this coming season; both for the competition (to help get me qualified to play a U.S. Open qualifier) and who knows, maybe I'll actually win some silver; or at least a free beer and hot dog.
Just for a lark, yesterday I played my home course from the tips (for the first time). The temperature was 45 to 50, the winds 10 to 20. My score for my usual, walking nine holes was 7 over par, for a 43. I was elated.
Today I played a different course I'm not quite as familiar with, also from the tips; but the weather was probably too good: 50 degrees and no wind. I shot 11 over for the nine holes, scoring a 47. I think the less benign weather helps keep me from over-thinking; keeping my swing thoughts to just "hit the ball and don't blow over."
Tomorrow my golf buddy and I play for the coveted Tulsa Golf Challenge medal. An idea I came up with after continuing to lose bets when we played. So, now we play under greater pressure: the pride of being the medal winner. (Our 35th high school reunion was this summer; and as I seldom possess the medal, I shamelessly wore it prominently to the reunion.) As revenge, I bet he's going to try and give me a thorough thrashing tomorrow. Hopefully, the wind will be blowing.