As I watch the Open this weekend from the Dunluce Course, which refers to the championship course at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland, I am trying to figure out the solution to playing winning golf. The professionals all have a plan on how to play this challenging course and I am sure it is tailormade to their game; execution of that plan will be the challenge. Many amateurs, including myself most of the time, do not develop a plan but play reactive golf. We determine our next move by the result of our previous shot. This is a fun way to play golf, but not necessarily conducive to low golf scores. We are not playing winning golf, but hope and prayer golf. And that needs to change.
Continue readingmental game of golf
The Challenge Of Wanting More In Golf
As every golfer improves, their desire to play better grows. Through my golf journey, I experienced many peaks, valleys and plateaus in my game. I think this is normal for any athlete who wants to improve in their selected sport. Golf is no different or is it. I find that my desire or passion to improve is never satisfied. I always think and know I could have shot better even when I broke par. I always felt that I left a few strokes on the course and that my score could have been better. This desire can be a challenge, mentally, for many players as it was for me in my early years!
Continue readingThe Most Important Skill In Golf
The most important skill in golf is not what you think. To excel in golf, we need to develop skills on the green, off the tee, from the fairway and from hazards. The ability to hit solid shots from difficult lies is also a great skill to master. Yet, my experience tells me that, although important, the most important skill in golf touches all these areas without overshadowing any. Seems like a crazy thing, but it is completely true; let me explain why!
Continue readingOpening Your Golf Mind
Golf is as much a mental game as a physical one. If you have played even one round, you will immediately understand that how we mentally approach and prepare each shot is as (some would say more) important important as hitting the golf ball. After many of my early years of focusing on my physical game, I took a different fork in my golf journey and this change shaped the player I am today. It was unexpected, yet I was not surprised. Opening my golf mind to different possibilities was definitely a turning point in my game.
Continue readingOwning A Poor Golf Shot
Every golfer hits a poor golf shot. I know that I have hit my fair share that may or may not be considered my fault. Interestingly, this view of my performance has changed over the years such that I own my poor shots and focus less on the conditions or other factors. Yup, if I attempted to hit the ball, the results have to accepted as my best attempt at that time. This mental acceptance is difficult sometimes, but it does allow for lower golf scores over the course of any round.
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The Grateful Golfer 