Someday I’ll stroke my last putt on the last hole I’ll ever play. Until then, I intend to be conscious of my good fortune every time I tee it up. As a mental practice for a club-level golfer, nothing’s more fundamental than simply being grateful for being there.
I love playing golf, and I make it a point to keep quiet if I don’t have something positive to say. But this decision makes no sense to me.
In my 17 years playing golf, I’ve never heard one guy finish a round and complain about how far he was hitting it off the tee. If
As Paul McGinley said at the end of this segment … “Wow, what a take.” Even for me (a non-pro) who won’t be hitting 300 yd drives any time soon, this insight from
@chambleebrandel
is worth a serious consideration.
Golf is arguably the world’s hardest sport. So next time you make a bad swing /get a bad break, don’t respond as if you should be the one player on earth exempt from the reality of the game. Your mother thinks you’re special, but the game will treat you like everyone else.
I’d like to tell a story …
yesterday, when i left the golf course, I was angry as hell.
Here’s what happened …
— playing with 3 strangers (I’d guess in their 30’s)
— one guy was a chronic complainer; every time he hit a bad shot or missed a putt ( a relatively regular
Just emailed this to myself … hopefully I’ll remember to watch it again down the road if my grandson or granddaughter start to play golf … for as
@padraig_h
repeats often in the is clip, it’s all about loving the game. (With thanks to
@Walimu5
for retweeting the original)
“Ask yourself how many shots you would have saved if you always developed a strategy before you hit, always played within your capabilities, never lost your temper, and never got down on yourself.”
— Jack Nicklaus
“The best putters are players who spend almost all of their energy and focus on the line and the speed of the putt, and almost none of it on mechanics.”
— Dave Stockton in Unconscious Putting
To love golf is to say ‘yes’ to the striped drive down the middle and the nasty slice OB; to an approach shot to gimme and a shank with a wedge in your hand; to a 40ft bomb for birdie and a missed 2footer par putt. All of it is a gift from the gods; all of it. Play accordingly.
Stay quiet after a miss hit or a missed putt. No matter how you feel, a bad swing is no excuse for downloading frustrations / excuses on your playing partners. Besides, they witnessed the hack; they’ve no interest in listening to a replay.
The average avid golfer has a strong emotional response to a poor shot and a weak emotional response when he/she manages to hit one on the screws. Reverse that pattern, and you’ll enrich your game.
If you lose a match at your club (especially if you’ve played poorly and coughed it up at the end) you should
- remember you’re light years away from being a world class player
- follow these 3 rules
* shake hands
* offer congratulations
* shut the
Here’s one of my personal rules of golf — If I’m anxious or frustrated on the golf course (at any time for any reason) it’s a sign I’ve lost my connection to the most fundamental truth of my game — I’m there for recreation and I’m spending time and money to enjoy myself.
One of the hardest things for a recreational golfer to accomplish is lowering your handicap to single-digits while maintaining the carefree attitude of someone lucky to break 100.
It seems to me that 1) life is unpredictable (see Covid shenanigans) and 2) i’m in the winter of my life and my time on the planet is coming to a close (see birth certificate). Therefore, i’m going to grab as much joy as i possibly can from my relationship with golf in 2022.
From what i’ve seen, i’d say most avid golfers have a strong emotional response to their worst shots and a weak emotional response to their best. Reverse that pattern, and you’ll enrich your game.
This morning … as i get ready to go and play golf … i’m feeling very grateful for the men and women who tirelessly maintain “my” golf course. Without their dedication and effort … well … there’d be no golf played by me or anyone else.
When I’m playing poorly, and I just can’t get off the bogey train, I’ve found it useful to remind myself that someday I won’t be able to play anymore. Period.
Sometimes this improves my scores. Sometimes it doesn’t. But it always improves my attitude.
Here’s a glimpse into the art of positive self talk; 1) it’s grounded in reality, 2) it’s focused on what you want vs what you don’t want, 3) it’s repeated multiple times.
Watched this lesson and must say i came away impressed in two ways.
First with
@PaigeSpiranac
Her candor about her swing tendencies, and the effect these tendencies have on her inner game, was frankly surprising to hear. (I mean, for someone with a huge following on social
“Ask yourself how many shots you would have saved if you always developed a strategy before you hit, always played within your capabilities, never lost your temper, and never got down on yourself.”
— Jack Nicklaus
Timeless wisdom from the immortal Bobby Jones …
“The real way to enjoy playing golf is to take pleasure not in the score, but in the execution of strokes.”
A rattlesnake will bite you; that’s it’s nature. A wild horse will buck you; that’s it’s nature. And golf (despite the joy /satisfaction it brings) will humble and occasionally humiliate you; that’s it’s nature. To expect otherwise is a fantasy, no matter your level of skill.
A rattlesnake will bite you; that’s it’s nature. A wild horse will buck you; that’s it’s nature. And golf (despite the joy /satisfaction it brings) will humble and occasionally humiliate you; that’s it’s nature. To expect otherwise is a fantasy, no matter your level of skill.
the Masters app is a thing of beauty. Late last night (having missed most of the live telecast because i was playing myself) i watched every shot from every player i was interested in watching. Give it a download if you haven’t already.
Today, if my back cooperates, i’ll play 18. Makes me realize i’ve been fortunate to play golf as much as i have … and what a gift it is to have the opportunity to execute a golf shot. If you’re playing today, be grateful, and if you’re pain free, be very grateful! 🙏
There’s 2 things every golfer would do well to avoid after a bad swing or a missed putt; 1) complaining; 2) explaining. Neither will help you on your next shot or putt. And frankly, your playing partners watched the miscue live … we’re just not interested in hearing the replay.
Gratitude is the alpha and omega of recreational golf; begin your round in a grateful state, and walk off the 18th thankful you had the opportunity to play … and you’ll find yourself much more able to accept and/or appreciate everything that happens in the middle.
i’m ‘playing’ golf today … so i get a chance to walk on a beautiful piece of property, breath easy, smile, relax, get immersed in my target, and enjoy the feel and the feeling of hitting it solid ( on occasion). And i’m playing with friends to boot! Can’t wait!
This is for sure ... someday I’ll make the last putt on the last hole I’ll ever play. Until then, I try to be conscious of my good fortune every time I tee it up. As a mental practice for club-level golfers, nothing’s more important than simply being grateful for being there.
i love this quote …
“Just because you’re in your 50s or 60s, you don’t have to go downhill. You’re probably going to lose some power, but you can get better mentally and in other parts of the game.”
— Bernhard Langer
i want the golf course to be a sacred space for me. When i’m there, i want to be unencumbered by self-imposed expectations for my ‘performance’, and i want to be fully immersed in the joy of play. (That’s it. That’s my goal as long for as i’m fortunate enough to play the game)
From my perspective as an avid recreational golfer and a performance coach, this is a practice that should be a foundational aspect of your game. (Thanks to
@RickShielsPGA
and
@TommyFleetwood1
)
I’m more likely to try too hard rather than not try hard enough … which is why i appreciate this quote …
“There comes a point where trying harder doesn’t make you any better. I was getting far too serious about what is, after all, still a game.”
— Lee Westwood
although i’m not a pro or an elite amateur, golf is far more than a hobby for me; it’s become an important part of my journey through life … and every now and then i’m able to glimpse how profoundly the game both reflects and effects my overall wellbeing.
#beautifulgame
From what i’ve seen, i’d say most avid golfers have a strong emotional response to their worst shots and a weak emotional response to their best. Reverse that pattern, and you’ll enrich your game.
The terrain of a golf course is variable. Pin positions are variable. Weather is variable. My swing is variable, as is the quality of my strike. My state of mind is variable. My biorhythm is variable. So why on earth would I ever criticize myself for not being ‘consistent’.
In what seems like a brief passage of time, my 2022 golf season is over … and i can never get it back. Makes me want to make absolutely sure i soak up every moment 2023 provides … the great, the good, the bad, and the downright ugly … because I love the whole golf enchilada.
The lower your handicap goes, the more essential it becomes to let-go of your expectation to post a low score every time you tee it up. Once you’ve developed the physical/mental ability to play well, your best golf is more about letting it happen than making it happen.
Whenever the opportunity arises, offer your golfing partners words of praise and support. You never know when a few kind words will make a big difference in someone’s day … or someone’s life.
Another great quote from Raymond Floyd … “if I truly wanted to be as good as I can be, a good attitude would be as essential as a good swing or a good putting stroke. In fact, it would be the catalyst that improved every part of my game.”
during your next round, take a few moments to look and listen; to really see the nature all around you; to really hear the sounds nature continuously offers your ears. You don’t need to go all Dalai Lama … just choose to be fully present once or twice. It’s good for the soul.
Yesterday i played in Florida. Nice track. Great weather. One guy in my group literally spent the entire 4 hours critiquing the course and himself; at one point tossing a club in disgust. And at the end of the round, shakes my hand and says “thanks. i enjoyed that.”
#misaligned
there’s grinding to turn a double into a bogey, or a bogey into a par, (which can be one of the most immersive and enjoyable aspects of golf) and there’s grinding with joyless effort because nothing is, or ever will be, quite good enough. Embrace the former. Reject the latter.
Great quote from the King …
“I won because I mastered my method while other players tried to find a method that would make them a master.”
— Arnold Palmer
Golf is a hard game. Don’t make it even harder — and far less enjoyable — by feeling neutral after a great swing and feeling agitated after your worst. If you’re going to get emotional about your game, let yourself feel great when a solid strike is on the way to its target.
Here’s what Jack had to say about pre-shot mental imagery (from his 1974 book Golf My Way … highlights are mine). This was before sports psychology became a thing. The greats all intuitively understood how to make the mind an ally instead of an adversary in the biggest moments.
If you’re on the fence about playing in your club championship, i strongly advise giving it a go.
No matter how well you play, you’ll learn from the experience.
And you never know … you might love playing the game with no gimmies and someone else’s card in your pocket.
Teeing it up today at 1:10
Weather forecast looks great.
Am I fortunate, or what?
(my answer:
Yes.
Just look around at what’s happening in the world, and closer to home, take notice of a golf buddy who had a debilitating stroke and will likely never play again, and let that
When you’re doing something you claim to enjoy — like playing golf — it’s important to actually enjoy yourself while you’re doing it.
For me, that’s having fun when it’s my turn to play.
No doubt, i enjoy being outdoors. And i enjoy spending time with my golf buddies.
But
Golf doesn’t owe you a specific score at the end of 4 hours; no matter how much you want it / feel you ‘deserve’ it because of your efforts. In fact, the ability to just go out and play the game is a gift … or a blessing if you prefer … and it really doesn’t owe you anything.
Show me a golfer who is genuinely happy upon striking it pure, and I’ll show you a golfer I’d be pleased to tee it up with … no matter his/her handicap.
Every time you make a declaration such as “My putting sucks” … well … you dramatically decrease the odds that you’ll feel carefree and confident over your next putt … and you make a hard game even harder.
Of course i want to play to my full potential … and there’s things i’d love to achieve this season. But my primary goal in golf is to experience every opportunity to tee it up as a gift that fills me with gratitude. Achieve that … and anything else is gravy.
A very small percentage of golfers have the potential to experience playing the game at the highest level. But every golfer — no matter his/her age or handicap — has the potential to experience the joy of play each and every time we tee it up.
As a recreational golfer, you’ve undoubtedly have a swing that’s fundamentally flawed. But if you’re willing to accept and enjoy your swing —just as it is—you’ll drop the fruitless search for perfect mechanics and enrich your relationship with the game.
It’s easy to walk off the golf course focused on miss hits and mistakes. But if you discipline yourself to consistently do the opposite — remember and relive your best moments — your enjoyment will definitely increase … and you just might find yourself playing well more often.
Every avid golfer wants to shoot the lowest possible score for any given round. But if you’re not an elite amateur or a pro, and you let score be the
#1
reason you tee it up ... well ... you’ve set yourself up for a lot of frustration and disappointment.
I love this quote, and regularly reflect on it’s implications for swinging a golf club with a smooth tempo …
“Only one player in a thousand grips the club lightly enough.”
Johnny Miller
For me, golf’s a three dimensional game; it’s physical, it’s mental, and it’s emotional (or dare i say it, spiritual). And whenever I really want to get my head and hands in synch and play well, i’ll first make sure my heart’s in the right place regarding my expectations.
It’s easy to walk off the golf course focused on miss hits and mistakes. But if you can discipline yourself to consistently do the opposite — remember and relive your best moments — your enjoyment will increase and you’ll find yourself playing well more often.
i respect every golfer who works hard to improve … and i know it works for many … but for me … my game changed for the better — by every measure — when i put my focus onto a) being grateful for the chance to tee it up, and b) being playful when it’s my turn to play.
“The best putters are players who spend almost all of their energy and focus on the line and the speed of the putt, and almost none of it on mechanics.”
— Dave Stockton in Unconscious Putting
Shane Lowry missed this Thursday; and if a world-class putter can miss a short one, we’ll definitely miss our share. But hey … that’s part of the game. Worst thing you can do is dwell on it. Best thing you can do is let it go and make the next one.
#realisticexpectations
It’s fair to say my life revolves around golf ... and a non-golfer might conclude that’s a bit silly because I’m not a pro. But I see my time/energy revolving around my desire to live a soulful life, and for me, experiencing the joy of play is at the heart of that desire.
Once you become a competent golfer, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll become obsessed with “perfecting” your golf swing or putting stroke. And then ... well ... you’re biggest challenge won’t be mechanics. It will be staying connected with why you fell in love with the game.
Ever since i started golf, this has puzzled me — I’ve never seen this set up and stroke being taught (as an option )to club-level players. I mean ... this guy did ok with it.
If you’re anxious or aggravated during a round, it’s a sure sign you’re disconnected from your natural surroundings. Before trying to change your mental state with a ‘technique’, you might simply take a “good long look” at the beauty all around you. It’s often quite calming.
Thinking deeply about this quote from Bobby Jones has helped my game …
“If there’s a watchword or slogan that a golfer should always remember is to avoid tension. His first position should be as natural and comfortable as he can possibly make it."
Played 9 holes today on a cool BC (6C) afternoon. Gotta say … any opportunity to tee it up in February is a bonus. Hit some on the screws as well … feels wonderful whether its warm or cold. (but i prefer warm) Hope you also had a chance to play today.
#gratitude
Here’s a ‘routine’ that will enrich your game … After your opening tee shot, take a few moments and simply be present to reality. Look at the sky; listen to the birds; feel the breeze. There’s beauty and mystery all around you, and none of it depends on how well you score.
One of the hardest things for a club-level golfer to accomplish is lowering your handicap to single-digits while maintaining the carefree attitude of someone lucky to break 100.
Simply being grateful — literally thanking your lucky stars for being fortunate enough to be on the golf course — is a mental key that unlocks your potential to have fun and play well.
Golf isn’t physical and mental. It’s physical, mental, and emotional. How you feel shapes your relationship with the game every bit as much as how you think.
Next time you tee it up, take a moment and be grateful for the course superintendent and his/her staff; all the management, food services, and pro shop staff; and your club pro and assistants ... they work hard to make your round possible.
Just finished reading Jon Sherman’s The Four Foundations of Golf. Here’s my review … if you’re an avid golfer, it’s a must read. Great job
@practicalgolf
Master’s reflections ..,
— Scheffler’s faith gives him a spiritual advantage; an ability to ‘care without really caring’ that, when combined with his skill, makes him zen-like under pressure
— Aberg’s smile, when things went well and when things went sideways, was a joy to
Every golfer should follow Kent, in my humble opinion!! I have taken so much from his daily tweets about the mental side of the game and, Im playin some of the best golf of my life! Make golf fun, not a chore. It should be an escape from reality for 4 hrs, shouldn't be like work!
Every golfer would take an improvement in accuracy, distance, or consistency. But if you truly want to enhance your experience on the golf course, start feeling grateful for being there, and grateful for all the people and things that must come together for you to enjoy a round.
My view (as a recreational golfer) of golf’s holy trinity — Gratitude for being there — Immediate acceptance of a miss hit — The spontaneous enjoyment of a solid strike.
Note to self - When you lose a match, or someone else wins a tournament you’re in, congratulate the winner AND refrain from making excuses, “I didn’t play well”, “I didn’t make any putts”, etc. Stop whining and put your energy into figuring out how you could’ve played better.
when i tee it up, i believe I’m faced with a fundamental choice … to play with expectation, or, to play with appreciation. Truth is, i grab onto the first option all too often, but when i choose the latter and stay in that vibe for 18 holes … playing is a pleasure.
Heading out this morning for a 3week golf trip to sunny Florida … I’m as excited as I used to be for a Little League trip as a kid … golf is such a great sport
#fun
#gratitude
#pumped