This May 2019 article was published in WomensGolf.com online magazine:
When you play well, golf is fun. Golf is a game, and as such should be rewarding by itself, just for the experience. Golf can be made more enjoyable when all your expectations aren’t centered on rewards like praise or prizes. Learn to have fun on the golf course whether you are playing well or poorly. Every golf shot and every golf course has its own unique beauty and challenges. Learn from the challenges and enjoy the beauty.
To play better, set some goals for yourself so you will be able to measure your success. An important aspect to your mental golf game is good goal setting. It is necessary to have a plan to improve. Organizing your plan with specific progressive steps will keep your motivation high. Analyze your game to determine where you lose the most strokes. More than likely it is in your short game, since it comprises 65% of all shots.
To lower your score, learn to love your scoring clubs. Begin by putting for 5-10 minutes every day, either on your carpet or putting green, enjoying the movement of the putter, while holding your eyes transfixed on a spot on the golf ball. See your short game as an art form instead of shots that you “have to make” for a certain score. Enjoy the rhythm, tempo (speed), the sound, and the feel of the putter.
Here are 9 mental tips to lower your score and enjoy your golf more:
1 Whatever you are trying to do, don’t. Trying means steering. Make up your mind to hit
to your target and Just Do It!
2 Don’t give yourself instruction. Become aware of your body and swing. Imagine
feeling your body swinging the golf club easily and effortlessly.
3 Be decisive about what you are going to do. Indecision is the enemy of golfers. Don’t
hit a shot until you have absolutely made up your mind about what you want to do with
the shot.
4 Believe in yourself no matter what the results are. Believe in your ability to play well.
Trust that you can improve.
5 Emotionalize only good shots. Emotions of fear, doubt, anger, and anxiety will
sabotage your game. Be positive in talking to yourself and others.
6 Feel your balance, rhythm, and tempo. Instead of focusing your attention on a specific
part of the body or part of the golf swing, go beyond the mechanics and find your own
rhythm and tempo.
7 Leave all problems at home. Golf requires a balanced emotional level. Relax your mind
and body with deep breathing.
8 Stay in the NOW. Give each shot your full attention as if it is the only shot you will hit
today. Be fully present. Play one shot at a time.
9 Let go of all expectations. Don’t add up your score until you are finished. Enjoy each
shot as its own reward.
To recapture your joy on the course try out some of these tips and remember to have fun playing the game. Enjoy all aspects of being on the golf course, not just the score.
Play “in the zone” with Joan
Entrain Your Heart & Mind for Peak Performances
To train your brain to play your best golf, listen to Positive Mental Imagery self-hypnosis guided imagery CDs in the privacy of your own home, available at www.pmi4.com/cart
If you aren’t able to maintain trust and belief in yourself on the golf course, email Joan at pmi4@bellsouth.net or call 828.696.2547 for a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation about developing a new strategy. Learn what is missing in your golf game so you can achieve the success you desire.
“THE HEART OF GOLF, Access Your Supreme Intelligence for Peak Performances” 
explores and explains negative emotions such as fear and performance anxiety, the four Cs of mind blockage, the four progressive stages of learning the supreme intelligence of the heart, and the way to access the zone in competition. It is a player’s guide for developing your true inner self by returning to the joy and love of self instead of seeking praise and rewards from the outside world.
“THE HEART OF GOLF” guidebook for transforming your life and golf game
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All royalties will be donated to Junior Golf!
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