What are others thinking about their golf game?

My next book is set for publication in March of 2020.   This new book will complement my previous one, Awakening to Golf and is based on my coaching of players these last 3 years in specific mental areas.
It will chronicle methods of coaching I have used to assist players to escape inconsistent play, discover how to reach and play from 'the zone' and help the average or advanced player reach a higher potential.

In preparation for the book some research has been included and the latest is surfacing these last few weeks. A survey was created to find answers to certain topics that I see my players confront each day, week on the range or on the course.

My new book is a mental coaching book and dives deep into how and why a player thinks and believes about themselves and their golf games.  Most of the answers I found from those surveyed (this was a totally anonymous survey, where I do not have access to who individual answers came from) were basically in line with what I thought I would find.

Some players dug deep into these open ended questions and tried to expose there thoughts as best they could while others were not so reflective.  I would say that is about average with who I coach.  One of the things in the coming book will encourage (demand might be a better word) is for the player to look to their past to understand where they sit in their game today.  As the book will outline; you are where you are; Now What?

So here are some answers of how others find themselves with their golf game today.  Some answers may be near what you reading this also see? Maybe not, but we all know that golf is one of the most challenging games to be played.  You are courageous to play the game and EXTREMELY courageous for striving to get better.  Just yesterday I had a player call back after months of thinking about taking lessons after I did an initial evaluation of his game.  He politely said he wants to improve, but he will go it alone some more and try to get it done on his own.

I certainly respect that answer because years ago I was a self taught golfer; over 10 years in fact.  Ugh, what I would change if I could go back to getting coaching and understanding that my poor mental process to golf was hindering my play in tremendous ways.  But as my new book will state; you are where you are; now what?

So here is a very small sampling of answers I have received from research of players in 17 different states that I have been in contact with over the last 9 years in coaching golf full time.  Ill put a few categories of answers and you can look over what others are stating.  No doubt, you will see part of you in them, after all, we all know golf is a challenging endeavor to get after and get better at.

What are the current frustrations you have with your golf game?

• When I think I’ve “got it” I go to the course and realize I don't.
• I consider myself a good all-around athlete but my golf game suffers. And I believe it’s my lack of confidence and knowledge of certain aspects of the game.
• I wish I could just play golf without thinking of all the technical aspects.
• I don't feel like I am doing anything different in my swing, yet the shot (and the result of the shot) vary dramatically.

What fears if any do you have with your golf game?

• I have no fears because I view every event that happens, especially a negative event as a learning process.
• Fear of losing my focus and momentum when I’m have a great round. Also a fear of letting my team down during competitions.
• I believe I have the athletic ability to do well in golf but my mental game needs a lot of improvement. I tense up during league and tournament play. It’s not like me to do that since I’ve been in competitive sports all my life.
• I fear what I had working this last week will not be working the next time I play.

Do you do anything away from the course or practice range to improve your game?

• No, I do not see how that could help.
• Read and watch videos with golf tips.
• Film my swing, watch some youtube.com instructors that I think to be helpful, and workout/stretch.
• Practice putting at home w blast app. Go down YouTube rabbit hole for golf, which may or may not be a good thing.

I am still going through all the surveys and have a long way to go. One of the interesting responses (there were many interesting ones) came from golfers who were successful in business.

Essentially they all said that they found that they are extremely successful in business and could not take that success to the game of golf.  I have talked to many of my players I have coached over the years and they certainly have said that.    They can run a company, a division of a company, be their own entrepreneur but they cannot take that success to golf.

I hear others state, including golf instructors that I have met over the years and they state; golf is hard and you have to work at it hard to get better.  I certainly agree with those thoughts.  In coaching golf full time for the last 19 years after being a club professional for my first ten, I definitely know golf has some basic swing principles that are needed for consistent play.

As a coach though I strive to get players to reach certain what I call shelves in their golf game. I describe it as if you are looking at a wall in front of you and you see a stack of shelves from bottom of the floor to the top.  Any golfer at any particular time sits on one of those shelves and is striving, desiring, demanding to rise up the wall and get to the next shelf and then the next.

Fundamental golf instruction is based to get any golfer to swing on a consistent arc or plane, have solid contact with the ball and make sure the clubface is aligned at impact to achieve the desired ball flight.  But I can tell you without hesitation that I see golfers achieve these things each wee, month and year; but they still do not reach the next shelf.  They worked hard to get to where they are, but something limits them from reaching the higher shelves on the wall.

Many great athletes have the will to overcome obstacles and push through barriers, this is in many instances sheer determination.  Finally really good golfers hit their snag on the wall and get stymied. As I said,  many business people who find success at the corporate level or board room can push to the next shelf in their areas of business; but get stuck in golf on their shelf and not move up the wall.

Why is this? This has been a quest for me to dive into ever since I wrote my first book in 2012.  Now after research and new coaching methods I have implemented successfully with individuals who understood their mind is the next door to get through to reach a higher shelf; they are reaching these higher shelves.

I am excited to lay out these methods in my new book. If you feel attracted to the idea that your mind is a gateway to better performance; then look for this book's release in March of 2020.

In the mean time, as you see the answers above from others, you will see that you are not alone in your quest to get better.  But you are courageous to strive to get better.  And as an old school mate who runs marathons and races still today and was a state champion back in the day at our high school; 'Stride on'!
Celebrate your journey in golf where ever you sit on that shelf that is in front of you.  Stride on to reach the next one, and then the next.