The Spirit of the Game of Golf

Anyone who has ever played the game of golf knows that it is different from all other sports and games. Besides the intricacy of combining one’s body parts to be in sync to hit/stroke the sitting ball squarely, golf is mostly not a reaction sport. Instead of reacting to a moving ball, the golf ball sits waiting for the club to hit it. The golfer also waits for his/her turn. In this waiting period, the mind of a golfer conjures up many negative scenarios unless the brain has been trained to focus in the moment on the predetermined strategy.

The Spirit of the Game 

The Spirit of the Game is different because golf is played for the most part without a referee or a rules official. The Rules of Golf were written to rely on the sportsmanship, integrity, and honesty of golfers to abide by the rules and etiquette for play.  It is a courteous game. Golf etiquette is an essential part of the game. Golf etiquette includes respect for other golfers, the safety of golfers, the pace of play, and maintaining the quality of the golf course.

The Human Spirit of the Golfer

Golf is a reflection of the journey into your inner self through exploring the mysteries of this royal and ancient game. At its highest levels of hitting perfect shots, and achieving your fullest potential, your spirit quietly soars “into the zone” where you are in a state of euphoria and trust. No longer is your spirit dampened by past experiences of fear, anxiety, indecision, distractions, and self-limitations. The joy you experience is in the moment, and not in the score outcomes.

When you take the self-imposed stress out of your golf game and regain confidence in your ability, you will be able to enjoy the game as a means of relaxation and a source of enriching your spirit and soul. To do this is to focus on your potential, not on your limitations.

Balance your Mind-Body-Spirit

1. Use your sense of humor: Think happy thoughts. There is an unlimited number of jokes about the game of golf and its unpredictability. Standing and waiting for your turn to hit has always been a traditional time to tell golf jokes. Perhaps it is a lost art that needs to be reinstated. Laughing is the best medicine for calming the mind and body.
2. Develop a sense of humility: When you let go of the judgments you have about yourself, golf becomes a game to enjoy. On the golf course, you will have opportunities to take a route to anxiousness or a route to happiness. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Don’t take other people too seriously, and don’t take life in general too seriously. Remember that your number one reason to play golf is to have fun.
3. Find the good in every experience. When your nerves take over and you hit your tee ball OB on the first hole, find something good in the experience. Realize that you have seventeen more opportunities to recover from that one mistake. Step away and take a deep breath and swing your club until you feel the rhythm of the swing you intended. Let go of your attachment to the mistake.
4. Develop good habits: We all have good and bad habits that we have developed over our lifetimes. To achieve the ideal balance for health and wellbeing you need to learn good habits. In golf, we consciously develop a pre-shot routine so our results will be consistent. In life, we need to let go of bad habits and replace them with good ones. It takes at least one month of constant repetition to develop a habit. Most people forget their goals during that period and don’t form a permanent habit that requires no thought.
5. Learn from your past. Keep a written record of your achievements in the past year. Appreciate your accomplishments by anchoring the good feeling in your heart. If you are holding on to bad memories, forgive yourself for making mistakes and replace them with your good intention, feeling, and visualization.
6. Start each day with love and intention. Do things that make you happy. Plan your day so you have time to do something to indulge yourself with happiness. This is your life to create. Remind yourself how fortunate you are to be able to play golf, to be alive, what you are grateful for, and how you are going to make the best out of the day.

Being in the zone state on the golf course is the feeling of experiencing love. You have lost your ego self by being in love with the game and have forgotten the worries, judgments, and thoughts you have about how you are playing. Align with your mind-body-spirit by experiencing love for the game rather than fear. It is an individual state of being and mind to make your own happiness happen.

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 mental 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.

This transformational golf book is available now on Amazon.com   and www.AmazonKDP

 All royalties will be donated to Junior Golf!