Golf Mind Play: Playing your Own Game

Do you find less than perfect conditions discouraging?

Players tend to judge their performance by their most recent score, and spend a lot of time after a round obsessing on an extra stroke from landing in a divot, or by the wind affecting their lie on a green. By focusing on what could have been if the conditions were perfect, players end up dwelling on the bogeys, rather than cherishing the birdies. A half empty glass rather than half full! Circumstances will vary each time you play, weather and fairway conditions fluctuate even on the most meticulously maintained courses. It is how you perceive and manage these challenges that make you a better player. Getting out of a tough position just once is all it takes to fuel your confidence and add to your level of experience. Each time you hit the ball from a challenging lie, you have learned something about your technique whether you hit a good shot or bad one. No matter what the result of your shot, you become more skilled in assessing what to do the next time you are in that situation. If you view a challenging situation as a productive experience, you will not only avoid disappointment, you will improve your judgment and technical skills.

Are you using competition to your advantage?

An accomplished player maintains a positive attitude by seeing challenges as a way to improve her game. The accomplished player also enjoys competing against others, and finds that healthy competition can boost motivation and goal setting. Although player competition is a regular and enjoyable part of golf, it is important to remain performance oriented and to focus on your own game rather than thinking about keeping up with or falling behind your opponent. Although you are playing against an opponent, it is advantageous to keep in mind that you are really competing against the golf course. Your main focus should be to improve your personal score and not to beat your playing partner. Placing too much emphasis on your playing partner’s performance will only distract you from your own goals and will cause you to play differently than you normally would to try to match or surpass their skill level.

Tips

1. See challenges on the golf course as an opportunity to improve your game.

2. Focus on playing your own game, not how well your opponent is doing. You are playing against the course, and your goal should be to improve your own game, not to measure yourself against others.