Everything is Mental

We are living in a very unique time for golf.  Much of the United States has been cut off from golf of any kind.
I have just returned from 2 weeks in Scottsdale, AZ getting some golf in ( courses remained open under strict guidelines of social distancing, etc).  My time playing there and not being allowed to play in San Diego ( my home) allowed me to take greater stock of my golf game and of course appreciate life a little more.

The challenges golfers may face now is the lack of courses or ranges open due to the Covid-19 situation. Even when courses re-open things will not be the same with social distancing the norm for the foreseeable future.  So as golfers return to golf your mindset will have to be different.  This not only pertains to social changes on the course but also how you approach golf perhaps?

Certainly every golfer has been challenged at home these last weeks due to the quarantine everyone has been subjected to.  In this off time from being in a golf training center, it was great to just play golf and certainly appreciate every different course I played in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.  In so doing this, I certainly approached each round of golf with more mental fortitude and indeed more appreciation of every shot I was able to take.

The constriction of the mind wanting to control the swing and how it was accomplished really has less hold on you as you just appreciate the freedom to play.  This is where Gratitude comes in and as you know, Gratitude attracts better things in ones life.  Not too many good things happen if  you always complain. As golfers we all have these built in systems of belief that seem to prevent us from creating what we want or desire with our golf game.  Since I am writing a new book called Alchemy of Golf I wanted to give you an idea of what Alchemy is in regards to golf (or anything) and how you can begin to use it as you return to golf in the hopeful near future.

Merriam-Webster describes Alchemy as "a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way".  As a golfer, Alchemy is a conscious journey to understand how your mind leads you to the path or journey you are on.   All golf begins with 'pure potential', from there each golfer has the ability to mold that potential into something wanted or desired.  This is why I tell golfers 'golf is very mental' .  As you can see the mind sets the stage for what you can create in golf.

Many golfers believe that if they think of the swing and what they want that to do then they will accomplish the goal.  But Alchemy in golf comes from a transformation that can be cyclical or even linear at times but within the confines of Alchemy(transforming something in a mysterious or impressive way) we unravel or unlock the past that has hindered our progress to unlock our true potential and thus become true to our calling and true to ourselves.  If you are a golfer, you know at times you get in your way.  The key now is; "how do it get out of my way"?

To begin with the first steps back on the course will be easy for you to get out of your way.  Your appreciation for the course( like I just had in Arizona ) will be much greater than this time last year.  The exact way you swing the club will be low on your list of things.  Your Appreciation for the course, you Gratitude for playing will both Boost your energy and when your energy ( I call it Emotional Vibration) is higher, better things happen.  Conversely when you complain and worry and have fear you have LOW vibration thoughts. Thoughts attract your outcome (more on this later in this article) so if your thoughts are low your golf will reflect that.  Remember, everything you do in golf starts with your mind...not the swing.  Simply put....Everything is Mental.

In the journey of golf you are guided by many seen and unseen forces.  Any external manifestation you see on the course has an internal source of origin.  This means that any idea of life process or golf shot you see does not occur without an inner creative force molding and shaping it into its external outcome ( the shot you thus see as a result of your inner thoughts).  So when you return to the course the first thing to notice is how will you respond to the external environment that surrounds you?  The balance from your inner self must be on point to allow you to see the external reality you wish to.  Like I said earlier, at first this will not be too hard to weave into your game due to your appreciation and gratitude you have while you finally get back to the first tee.

In the near future I am going to begin a series of blog topics on Alchemy of Golf to assist you in creating more faster dynamic change you all want.  However for now here is the first step you can take when you return to the course.  After the gratitude and appreciation to breath fresh air, see the green fairways and be with friends for golf and an IPA after wears off....now what?

A simple starting point is to realize that first every golfer is thinking various different things on the course. As you know golfers tend to have too many swing thoughts about the mechanic of the swing  or fear of an unwanted outcome.  Everyone you know has this around them when they play (some may hide it better than others, but I assure you, it is there).  So as you can see, thoughts have ENERGY.

When thoughts are provided a target and direction they become like ARROWS as they strive to attack the target with pin point accuracy.  These thoughts drive your ideas into action.  However I would rephrase that and say thoughts create the potential for action.  Feelings you may have when you play are a by product of action.  Meaning you frame a feeling with an action.  Many golfers have been told that thoughts and feelings lead to your desire you see, but that is not totally true with how Alchemy works in golf.

If you are in the mood for golf you think about playing and hitting certain shots(action).  After that you may Feel tired or happy or upset based on how you played.  The feeling follows the action , not the thought.
Thought is the energy potential that drives action!  Passion for golf and even love of golf adds fuel to the thought.  So thoughts with passion help.  Think of Tiger Woods, he has tremendous intent to create any shot he desires and he has an unfathomable passion to play to his highest ability.

So as you return to the course you number one priority should be to notice what are your thoughts? Where are you pointing that Arrow?  As I sit here writing this I would suggest you feel like you are in Las Vegas and for some reason you have some 'house money' to play with.  Someone has given you $100 in free chips to play as you want.  How free will that feel?  Pretty free.  Just like as you step back on the course, how will that feel?  Pretty freeing.

Now the free feeling needs thoughts to create the desire you want. Your energy will be higher than normal and that passion filled energy is power to help you create.  Create what?  

Yes, that is THE question to ask yourself when you return to play golf.  What do I want to create?  What will you create? Where will you point the arrow?  Your mind may see things like:

• My first tee shot will be in the middle of the fairway
• I am placing my approach shot on the green
• I am making this putt
• I am paring this hole
• I will birdie this par 5
• I will shoot under 80 (or whatever your goal)

As you can see you now have a thought pointed toward something.  Toward an outcome, toward an alchemy potential that can happen in mysterious or unknown ways.