The majority of players know there is a better golfer hiding inside. Everyone has hit it well on the range or had that glowing few holes where everything went pretty well. Seeing a glimmer of the golfer you could be is usually enough for you to expect to magically become that player. But unless Hermione Grainger is a regular in your fourball, improvement is unlikely to happen.
Frustrations build when the golf of your dreams turns into the golf of nightmares. Cue the angry face and sense of failure. Is expectation really the culprit when it comes to playing bad golf? Do we expect too much from ourselves, our scores and the distance we hit the ball?
This is where I’d step in and ask an important question.
How Much Do You Practice?
I asked this recently in a mind games talk for a group of female golfers. Everyone agreed they could all play better golf, but when asked, “How many of you practice?” only a handful put their hands up. It’s no wonder people hit a wall with their golf when they never actually work on their games.
If a part of your game isn’t firing on all cylinders, ask yourself how much you actually practice?
(Image credit: Katie Dawkins)
Own Your Outcome
You’re in charge of whether or not you improve. Sorry to say, the lass from Hogwarts isn’t going to help you. So firstly take responsibility for your game. I’d recommend journaling, or at least putting pen to paper and taking a moment to really write down what you want from your golf.
First step is to write down WHY you play. Once you have a few reasons, work out HOW you can improve those areas.
If you’ve written ENJOYMENT down, yet all you play in is medals, then it’s worth injecting a few fun rounds into your golfing week.
If you’ve written COMPETITION down, then it’s worth investing in a few lessons to pinpoint where your game needs help. Perhaps you’re expecting great things from your golf yet have never been custom fit for kit, or you’re using clubs that have been around the block a few times. The new tech will really improve your golf you just have to invest in it.
If you’ve written SOCIAL LIFE on your list, take a look at the golf you are playing. Think about the people you enjoy playing with the most. Write them down, then call them to sort a few fun holes or maybe a visit to another course. Spend time with people who give you positive energy. You can control this.
At the end of the day you hold the reins with much of the golf you play. Where you…
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