| You may well be familiar with the following | | | | echelons of the company. However, the problem |
| scenario; you have played a brilliant front nine, so | | | | arises when the younger person actually play |
| good in fact that you can hardly believe how well | | | | better than the others. What to do? Does the |
| you are playing. You are set to beat your lowest | | | | person play normally and perhaps beat their |
| ever score BUT the back nine goes all wrong and | | | | superiors; with the possibility of causes |
| you end up scoring near your normal average. | | | | antagonism. This is a common scenario where a |
| What went wrong? Self-sabotage became your | | | | player may consciously self-sabotage in order to |
| playing partner and ruined your game. In this | | | | come in behind a more senior person simply for |
| article we will discuss the 5 most common | | | | political reasons. |
| reasons why you might self-sabotage your game. | | | | This situation can also arise amongst married |
| Self-sabotage is the process whereby a golfer will | | | | couples (or partners) who play together. Often |
| subconsciously prevent themselves from playing | | | | the better of the two will not play to the best of |
| better golf. Let's examine the 5 most common | | | | their ability simply out of respect for their loved |
| reasons why self-sabotage takes hold: | | | | one. |
| 1) You are playing better than normal | | | | 4) You are on track to win a club tournament |
| This is probably the number one reason why a | | | | Competition can have a strange effect on many |
| golfer might self-sabotage. Many golfers have | | | | people. The majority of club players enter local |
| days when they just seem to be playing far | | | | tournaments for the extra spice it can bring to |
| better than normal, they are in the zone, and | | | | the game and for the chance to play with people |
| after several great holes their score card is | | | | they may not normally meet on the golf course. |
| looking amazing. They are on track for a personal | | | | Most don't expect to win or even come close. |
| best round. Once the realisation of the situation | | | | However, one day you may well find yourself at |
| sinks in, i.e. you have become aware of how well | | | | the top of the leader board with no where to |
| things are going, you suddenly begin to make silly | | | | hide. This can be a daunting situation for a player |
| mistakes. These little mistakes lead to bigger ones | | | | who wouldn't normally expect to play well enough |
| and before long your score card is looking | | | | to rank in the top three of a tournament. |
| miserable and you finish with around your normal | | | | This situation often leads to self-sabotage even |
| score. | | | | amongst seasoned competition pros. I know one |
| What happened? Your inner demon started to | | | | club pro who beat his club's record by 10 shots, |
| undermine you with thoughts like: you are not | | | | yes 10 shots, and who threw away an almost |
| worthy of such a good low score; you will not be | | | | certain pro tournament win because he didn't |
| comfortable if you get it; you might never be able | | | | believe he could actually do it; even though he |
| to do it again; your friends will not want to play | | | | was comfortably ahead and proving he could do it! |
| with you again; peoples expectations of your | | | | He self-sabotaged the last few holes and came |
| game will rise and you may not be able to deliver | | | | second. |
| next time. Any or all of these doubts will cause | | | | 5) You are losing the round |
| you to self-sabotage in order to remain at your | | | | This is an odd one; the player is losing the round |
| current level and not rock the boat of your | | | | so why would he or she even need to |
| position. | | | | self-sabotage. They are losing anyway. Well, in a |
| 2) Your friends are playing worse than you | | | | losing (not necessarily lost) position you have two |
| Loyalty and camaraderie at two powerful forces | | | | choices: play better to grab the win, or continue |
| amongst friends and quite often a golfer who is | | | | to play badly and lose even more badly. To |
| playing quite normally during a round when his or | | | | understand what I am about to say I ask you; |
| her friends are playing badly may self-sabotage | | | | which of these choices is likely to be the easiest |
| without even being aware of it. This happens | | | | to achieve? When someone is in a losing scenario |
| because we have a powerful urge to be part of | | | | they will often self-sabotage so that it is clear |
| our peer group; we want to fit in and not upset | | | | they are playing really badly and couldn't have |
| the apple cart. If we find ourselves playing really | | | | won even if they had wanted to. The |
| well when others are not we tend to become | | | | self-sabotage puts the person in a position where |
| uncomfortable with the situation and this can lead | | | | they can handle the defeat and also undermine |
| to self-sabotage. | | | | the achievement of their competitors. Then you |
| We are prone to lower our own game, usually by | | | | hear the old: "I might have beat you if I hadn't |
| making avoidable mistakes, just so that we will | | | | been playing below my form." |
| remain part of the group and not upset ours | | | | Next time you find yourself on the wrong end of |
| friends who we feel empathy towards. This | | | | the score card after the front nine, be aware of |
| probably happens so subtly that you may not | | | | what happens to your thinking and hence your |
| even notice yourself until you compare scores at | | | | game and ponder if you are using self-sabotage |
| the end of the round. | | | | as a way out of the shame of losing. |
| 3) You are trying not to upset someone | | | | There you have it; 5 things that can lead a golfer |
| We all know that golf and business often go hand | | | | to self-sabotage during a round of golf. Be aware |
| in hand; many deals are made over a round of | | | | of these 5 common scenarios and the next time |
| golf. It is also quite common for younger | | | | you find yourself in one see if you can prevent |
| executives to be invited to play a round with | | | | yourself from self-sabotaging your play! |
| senior people as a gateway into the upper | | | | |