5 Tips to Become an Empowered Golfer
Golf is commonly referred to as a “lifetime” game…easy on the joints and can be played at any age. It’s more about the mental game than the physical game. As we all know, the mental game can go downhill quickly. it’s easy to get frustrated on the course, especially if you’re new to the game or have struggled for years trying to break 100. But sometimes the best thing you can do is step back, relax and remember that it’s supposed to be fun!
You can make it a positive experience by educating yourself about what really makes up a good round of golf, then setting achievable goals so you can enjoy yourself when you’re playing. And to some, a good round of golf is just being outside with people that make you feel good about yourself.
Empowered golfers are driven by positive thinking and goal management, which helps them focus on the good rounds they play while learning from the bad. If you’re new to golf, it might seem like everyone else is a pro. They can hit the ball 360 yards right?! And they look so confident. But guess what? Golfers of all skill levels struggle with many of the same things, including setting reasonable goals and expectations, staying focused on good rounds vs bad rounds, and overanalyzing their swings or putting. You’re not alone! Read on to learn more about our 5 tips to become an empowered golfer.
Here are 5 tips to help guide your way:
- Be kind to yourself
This is the most important step of them all, and it’s where the empowerment begins. Your limiting beliefs are running your life without you knowing it. Breaking down those walls is the first step to becoming an empowered golfer.
Many of us struggle with negative self-talk, especially when things don’t go our way on the golf course. We’re full of doubt, tell ourselves we’re not good enough and think we can’t possibly improve. The end result is often missing opportunities to play better golf. Be kind to yourself and take it one swing at a time. Being kind to yourself is a rule that you should follow on and off the course.
- Don’t compare yourself to others
When you compare yourself to others, you are opening yourself up to worry about outcomes. You’re going to let outside influences dictate the success of your game, when in reality, all that matters is what you do with the tools that are given to you. Comparing yourself to others will never help your game, it will only hinder it. Again, follow this on and off the course.
Focus on your own game, and don’t rely on anybody else’s metrics for success. The only metric that matters when it comes to improving your game is what you do with the time that you have, and how much work you put into yourself. You are on the course to learn, get better, and enjoy the company of other like-minded people.
- Understand your strengths and weaknesses
Learn about yourself and the game, then try different things to find the best fit for you. Understand your strengths and weaknesses so you can be a better player. Some are better right off the tee. Some are better with the big clubs. Some might have stronger mental strength than others. Know you’re your golf weaknesses and begin to work on them.
- Set realistic goals
You don’t have to be a pro to be a great golfer. It’s about understanding the fundamentals and knowing what specific areas you should focus on for improvement. Set realistic goals, practice the right way, work on your mental game, and stay on track.
Golf is a game of setting realistic goals. Achieving them will make you want to go further, and playing with purpose will motivate you to achieve more.
- Learn to love everything about the game of golf and the special time on the course, not just your score
Learning how to enjoy the game for all that it is: good and bad shot-making, gorgeous setting, camaraderie and networking with friends – it’s all gift to not be taken for granted. Once you learn to love the entire experience and not just your strokes, you will enjoy yourself more and stop worrying about whether or not your game is good enough.