How do I deal with an annoying golf partner?

Because we have so much free time to think during a round, there is a lot of time to stew about things that bother us.

Are you bothered by someone who gets very angry, or a Chatty Cathy who is talking when it is your turn to hit, or a complainer whose shots are never good enough? These kinds of distractions can keep you from focusing on your game.

The best way to handle these problems is to focus on the solution. For the most part, men and women handle these situations differently. Generally men handle annoyances by confronting them head on, often by making fun of the person’s behavior. Women on the other hand, are afraid of hurting feelings and will find solace in talking about the annoyance to the other players.

Here are some examples of relationship problems you might encounter on the golf course:

• A person who never stops talking.
• A chronic complainer.
• A slow player.
• A person who cheats.
• A person who has poor golf etiquette.
• A person/spouse who tells you what to do.
• A person who uses gamesmanship.

Paying attention to the annoying person and becoming emotionally involved will surely affect your game negatively. Think of these kinds of situations as part of the process of preparing your mind, just as you do for other challenges.When the annoying behavior breaks your concentration, take personal responsibility by using one of the following options:

1. Ignore it. All golfers says things out of frustration and expectation. Know that we are all human and having occasional emotional outbursts is part of the game of golf.
2. Detach yourself. Move away from the person. Get out of the cart, walk and breathe deeply to relax your mind and body. Focus your attention on something you love.
3. Confront the person’s behavior. If the person continually repeats the annoying behavior, say how it is affecting you. Communication skills are very important here so you don’t get into a shouting argument about who is right and wrong. When saying what you want it is important to speak up before you get too emotionally involved. Tell the person what it is you want, not what they should do.
4. Use imagery to change your belief. Reframe the picture in your mind of the person’s behavior. Use your imagination and see the person’s behavior as humorous instead of something to combat. If the person is talking too much, see the person as a chattering hyena or a Disney character like Elmer Fudd stammering.
5. Don’t play with the annoying person. The last option is to decide that you are playing golf for fun and will not tolerate the abusive behavior.

Golf is a game where you have to be responsible for your behavior. Without personal responsibility, there is a lack of self-worth. You must be responsible for how you create your life. Positive energy works more effectively than negative energy in each and every situation.

Play “in the zone” with Joan

Entrain Your Heart & Mind for Peak Performances 

If you would like to improve your mental golf game, call Joan for a complimentary 15-minute consultation. She can be reached by phone at 828.696.2547 or by email at pmi4@bellsouth.net  Self-hypnosis CDs to improve your golf game are available at www.pmi4.com/cart