Heart

Many people would agree that the game of golf is highly technical. Much of your time will be spent on the practice range and the golf course learning how to play the physical game in a more skillful manner. However, the game of golf is also played with the heart. Your love of the game is of critical value to nurture. I truly believe that one cannot play anything as well as he or she is capable of unless the experience provides pleasure and is fun.

A great exercise I recommend is to revisit the joy you had when you really played a round of golf in a childlike manner. Please do not confuse this request with the word childish. Childlike means to play the game as it was meant to be played with passion and joy. Play the game for yourself and not the expectations of others. It is critical to play every shot with full focus and 100% commitment and then accept the result and go play the next shot.

The last point to this approach involves finding a way to get the ball in the hole in the least number of strokes. Sometimes this involves controlling your emotions and bearing down on this concept of pride in controlling the things that are controllable and letting the other things take care of themselves. You will find that rounds of golf played with this approach will be much more enjoyable regardless of the score at the end.  

Until next time. Enjoy your golf,

Dr. Richard Gordin