Anticipating or hoping for success on the golf course is not the mental frame of mind needed to shoot low golf scores. I believe that by setting my thoughts in the realm of success and then actively seeking ways to accomplish my thoughts has helped me find success on the links. Focusing on success in golf starts before I tee it up, but must be present during my round. If not, I might as well stay home and hope that I would have played well that day!
I am a big fan of Dr Bob Rotella. I think he can articulate most complex golf topics into something we amateurs can understand. I found this video that proves my point about anticipating or hoping for success. Take a look:
What strikes me most about the above video are two things: First is that success starts before you even hit the golf course. I have followed this mantra for years and it works. By the time I hit the first tee, I have successfully loop the course with a very low score. Not surprisingly, more often than not, I feel I accomplished my goal.
Second, is that Dr. Rotella explains about Jack Nicklaus’ ability to focus on what he was doing at the moment. This is a huge eye opener for me because multi-tasking is not effect. Sure, I can accomplish some things, but sometimes I feel like I wasted the time because I did not accomplish what I needed to do in a time period or I was haphazard in my effort. Both of these things detract from being more successful on the golf course.
Dreaming big (really big according to Rotella) is critical to success. Accomplishing any golf goal takes active effort. Anticipating or hoping for success without action only leads to disappointment and frustration. That is why I try to set golf goals and work to achieve them; that is how I actually achieve success in golf!
Do you set golf goals and actively try to accomplish them?
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
You’re point about anticipating might need more clarity. You should anticipate hitting a good shot every time you stand over the ball. You shouldn’t anticipate getting better without putting in the time.
As to goals. I haven’t really done much about setting a new goal since I shot my first under par round and checked that goal off the list. I’ve just been enjoying being able to play. Shoring up my game on the greens with the new putter. And continuing to seek ways to improve the game. It may not be the way to golfing nirvana, but I don’t anticipate that as a reachable goal anyway.
I had a little bit of an up and down day today thanks to not warming up first. I started off ok going one under on the first two holes, but my mid irons needed a few swings to get in sync. I lost two balls over that over the next 7 holes. One to a push, and one to a pulled draw (7 & 6 iron respectively). But I recovered quite nicely and missed a 35 foot eagle putt on a 250 yard par 4 by an inch on #11. When I stood on that tee box I can assure you I was anticipating hitting that green. I certainly wasn’t thinking about the weeds to the left, or the creek just in front. If I had been, that’s where I would have likely landed. So anticipation is good for every shot. But it’s not going to do the work for you. It’s just a tool to use to set your mind before swinging.
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Kevin,
I would use the word expect something to happen like hitting the green on the 250nyard par 4. I think we are having a raging agreement and a slight semantic interpretation. Great recovery after the two lost balls. That is always a confidence booster for next time.
Cheers Jim
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Jim, Dr. Bob is one of my favorite authors. Thanks for the video. His point about preparing for any outcome during your round, and not letting it deter you, resonates. I use that before playing important tournaments because it helps me stay focused on the objective and not get shocked from a positive or negative result. Last year, I made a triple on the first hole of the club championship but stayed on an even keel and ultimately won. A fellow competitor also made triple and just melted away. I believe my mental prep was the key.
Now, you can’t just mentally prep your way to success 🙂 In building software projects we say, “Vision without execution is just hallucination.” The same holds true in golf; gotta have the physical and the mental.
Nice post, thanks!
Brian
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Brian,
Absolutely it is important to take action. Without it there is no success.
Cheers Jim
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