Finally. It’s time to put 2016 in the rear-view mirror and raise a glass to the unlimited potential that 2017 brings. We all want to be better versions of ourselves, and no ritual symbolizes that more than our annual New Year’s Resolutions.

Do you remember what yours were for 2016? Probably not. But even if you are one of those freakazoids who puts in the effort to write them down, did you put any effort in to actually achieving them? Probably not. That’s okay. This year will be different. (Probably not.) So, let’s talk about what you can do better on the golf course in 2017.

Take a lesson. Sure, you have every intention of curing the slice that’s been plaguing you for years on your own, but I can assure you that trying harder is not the secret sauce. There are people who make a living helping golfers overcome the things that drive us insane on the course. Take advantage of their services. The sticker price might seem steep at first glance, but you can’t put a price on the frustration it will save you. Which leads me to…

You’re an adult. Stop throwing temper-tantrums on the golf course. When Rory chucks his 3-iron into the water, it’s charming. For us weekend warriors, it’s just childish… and expensive.

Lose fewer balls. If you’d like more 4s than “fores” in 2017, try hitting something less than driver off the tee every once in a while. Some holes are driver-friendly, but many are not. If you can leave yourself 150 yards or less with something less than a driver, it’s time to re-think your club selection. There’s a good chance you’re going to miss the green in regulation anyways. If you can do that without adding an extra stroke for a drop, you’ll save yourself a few shots, and a few Washington’s in the process.

Stop hitting on the cart girl. Just. Stop.

Swallow your pride. That single or twosome that’s been running out of patience on the tee box behind you the last six holes? It’s time to wave them through. And when you do, try not to give them the same look you give your kid’s Little League ump when he calls a third strike that was CLEARLY out of the zone.

Learn your yardages. It’s (almost) 2017. There’s too much technology available today to not know how far you hit each club. Whether you employ a free app, rangefinder, top-of-the-line GPS watch or the highly-sophisticated color-coded stake system, figure out your distances. Golf is hard enough. There’s no sense in throwing away strokes because you “flush” one that comes up 15 yards short of the green.

Whether you see 2016 as chock-full of unmet expectations or not, 2017 is yours to control. Take advantage of these New Year’s resolutions to make it your most enjoyable year on the course. And, if you forget about these efforts for 50 of the next 52 weeks, don’t worry… there’s always 2018.