I would consider myself a serious golfer. Well, to a degree I do because as an amateur there are limitations to my abilities and motivation to be a better players. This is an unfortunate reality for most players who at one time in their career were too involved to realize that their “dedication” to the game was actually hurting their scores. This seems to be the case for Jordan Spieth as he recently explains during an interview.

Here is what Jorden has to say:

Some great advice from @JordanSpieth pic.twitter.com/Zv22uuflFF

— GOLFTV (@GOLFTV) June 15, 2020

Watching this clip from a larger interview, I was struck by his candid and thoughtful answer. I am pretty sure he has thought about this question for some time as he slowly slides down the world rankings. His golf game a few short years ago was the best and he looked all but unstoppable for years to come. Then the pressures of success started to chip away at his psyche to a point where he struggles to string a few rounds of great golf together.

Like many golfers, Jordan became too serious about his golf game. Every shot (practice or otherwise) became critical to a point where a miss hit was catastrophic. I can relate to this situation from years ago when I would admonish myself for a poor swing, bad result, or the multiple unlucky bounces I was getting. I am sure I was not much fun to be around when playing as everything appeared to be nothing but negative energy.

So, I decided to make a change. I decided that, although important, golf was not the end all for my life. Golf was a sport that was meant to be fun and enjoyable. And like Spieth, I was not enjoying my time on the links as I had in the past. I decided to continue to have golf goals, but to enjoy the journey. It was a game changer on many levels.

By choosing to be positive about my golf game (and life in general) I immediately noticed improvements in my scores. When I was struggling to shoot below 80, I was shooting in the high 70s. The area I noticed the greatest improvement was in my short game. Chipping was no longer stressful and putting became enjoyable. I no longer lived in fear of making a poor shot. I felt a weight was lifted off my shoulders and a new path that lead me to where my game is today emerged!

I am a serious golfer! However, I am not paralyzed by overthinking my game or with fear of making a poor swing. I would prefer not to hit any shot badly, however how I react to these quasi stressful moments is really what counts. I still get frustrated from time to time, but it is as fleeting as the wind. I prefer to have fun, play well, be grateful, and enjoy my current journey!

Are you a serious golfer?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!