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As we have entered the New Year, I would like to wish you all good health, prosperity, and plenty of lower scores and enjoyment in this wonderful game called golf. I am sure many of you have compiled a personal goals sheet for 2009 and something pertaining to golf may appear on that list. Nutrition, conditioning, relaxing, and organization are some common themes of good New Year's resolutions. For those that have followed my newsletters since their inception in January 2007, you have noticed a great deal of attention to drills, mechanics, and stretching. This year I am going to focus more on the mental and management side of golf to entertain the reader on how we should think in relation to golf.
We will begin with an old school approach to training the mind called words of affirmation. Thoughts are powerful weapons for the mind, and we truly can control what we think. At the same time, thoughts influence the words that we use and words trigger pictures. Remarkably, pictures trigger actions. To reiterate, words trigger pictures, pictures trigger actions, and this process all begins with thoughts. I am not sure who authored the famous quote, "As you think you will become," but I am a big believer in it! My point is that for many of us to play better golf in 2009 and beyond, we must think better.
I challenge you to follow this protocol in 2009 and let it apply to golf or any area in life that is important to you. Once a week, before you turn out the lights, write down one affirmation that you will say to yourself daily. An example of golf affirmations are as follows:
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Look in the mirror every seven days
and make a weekly golf affirmation.
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1. Every time I look into a mirror this week I will tell myself I love my golf swing.
2. I have a great short game. I make all putts inside of 6 feet and I am a great chipper of the ball.
3. I always play to my strengths, and I take a deep cleansing breath before every shot.
4. I am a great driver of the ball.
5. I love the sand.
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This month I have personally chosen a word of the month to assist my weekly affirmation: COMMITMENT. My week one affirmation: I will commit to the distance on every shot from putt to drive. My week two affirmation: I will make a commitment to a specific club on every swing and never leave doubt to enter my mind. My week three affirmation: I will commit to my target. My week four affirmation: I will commit to where I am going and not where I have been.
This should give you an idea on what the curriculum of our Scoring Schools involves, as well as, what my 2009 newsletters will seek to accomplish.
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