| Our brains are designed to race from one thought | | | | now focused on the PAST (the great score so |
| to the next especially if we have time and space | | | | far) and the FUTURE – what was needed to |
| on our hands. Golf is certainly a game that gives | | | | keep that score to the end of the round. |
| us plenty of that; walking between golf shots, | | | | In summary if you are going to play great golf |
| hanging around for playing partners to find their | | | | you need to be IN THE PROCESS and not in the |
| ball and for others to clear the tee. The mind likes | | | | outcome. If you play each and every shot in the |
| to fill in the gaps and getting it to stay in the | | | | moment then you are ruling out letting in the mix |
| present can be a real challenge, but it can be | | | | of emotions that will accompany the thoughts |
| done. In this article I want to stress how | | | | that go with playing either really well or really |
| important learning this skill is and what a | | | | badly. |
| difference it will make to how you play your | | | | You will not get ahead of yourself and get so |
| game of golf. | | | | excited that the pressure to succeed starts to |
| Some of you may have come to my newsletter | | | | outweigh the enjoyment of getting there. Equally |
| via my article about ‘Tommy the Golfer’ | | | | neither will you be concerned with what has gone |
| – Tommy is a truly amazing golfer because | | | | previously if you have not played too well. Golfers |
| he has a problem which allows him only to play in | | | | are very adept at beating themselves up over |
| the moment. He has a ten minute memory | | | | missed opportunities. So much so that playing in |
| capacity which is just perfect for the game of | | | | the moment when your mind is in this negative |
| golf, but obviously very irritating for use in | | | | state is almost an impossible task. |
| everyday life. Fortunately for the rest of us we | | | | TIP: Play your next round without keeping a |
| have the gift of memory to enable us to function | | | | mental running total. If you have to keep a score |
| in a world that requires past, present and future | | | | card then write down each individual score but try |
| knowledge to create the life we seek. | | | | not to add it up until play has finished. Ask your |
| Unfortunately, however, having a long term | | | | playing partner not to tell you your score at any |
| memory can often work against us especially | | | | point and that you do not want to know until the |
| when it comes to the game of golf. I am in the | | | | end. |
| process of writing Tommy’s story and how it | | | | If they ask why point them to my web-site! |
| can help you to learn the skills that come naturally | | | | The reason why playing in the moment is so |
| to Tommy. For now I am going to give you a | | | | important is that golfers need a very narrow |
| couple of tips for you to work on straight away. | | | | focus in order to play each shot well. Remember |
| BE AWARE OF WHAT YOUR MIND IS TELLING | | | | your actions follow what you last think about or |
| YOU | | | | visualise. So if you are dwelling on a poor previous |
| Your actions follow what you visualise. So if | | | | shot your mind is not free to FOCUS on what is |
| your mind is stood on the tee imagining how you | | | | important – where the BALL needs to go |
| will birdie the hole you will be racing ahead with | | | | NOW! |
| your thoughts and not be doing what you need | | | | One of the reasons I talk so much about your |
| to. The player who is truly in the moment thinks | | | | self-esteem and being at peace with yourself is |
| only about the shot they are playing and not | | | | that it is so much easier to stay in the moment if |
| about the one before or the one after. | | | | you are not worrying about the past or what is |
| The golfer who is truly in the moment uses the | | | | coming up in your future; off the golf course |
| following process: | | | | – as much as on it. |
| ? Hits the ball | | | | It is not easy to keep reminding yourself to stay |
| ? Let’s go of the outcome whatever | | | | focused and in the present with your golf - even |
| that maybe | | | | top professional golfers struggle and spend a |
| ? Finds the ball | | | | lifetime mastering this most simple yet most |
| ? Thinks only about the next shot | | | | challenging of skills. But if you are aware of what |
| ? Continues this process until he or she runs | | | | a difference this new skill will make to your game |
| out of holes! | | | | and you also choose to work on the bigger |
| The big mistake that Spoony made was to keep | | | | picture; creating a more confident and calmer you, |
| a running total of his score – immediately he | | | | then not only will your golf benefit but so will the |
| had placed himself in a position where he was | | | | quality of your life. |