Golf delivers many distractions.
- Other players
- Your score
- Possibilities – like, “If I make this putt I’ll be on track for my best score”
- Hazards and other trouble
- Your mind
There’s more but that’s a good start.
I played nine holes this morning. A great way to walk off Christmas dinner and get some fresh air. I was joined by a golfing friend that was easily distracted.
He was worried about how far he was hitting. He was concerned with my score and how I was playing. He was trying to win. He was thinking about everything except for the most important thing.
Playing golf
Despite previous lessons he was distracted from the task at hand. Playing his game. Choosing the right shot at the right time. I’ve written about this before. It’s a an important lesson and something when mastered allows you to play your best golf.
The more I play the better I get at doing my thing. I’m not concerned about what the course designer has in mind, playing partners or what that little pestering voice in my head has to say. I avoid all distractions (most of the time anyway) and choose the shot that I know I can hit successfully.
The I repeat until I putt out on the 18th.
Not the most exciting instruction and far removed from ego. But it will allow you to improve your game without swing instruction or new clubs. It’s a simple step but a vitally important one.
3 Comments
Tony Lucas (Lukey)
December 27, 2009Cam
It is interesting what you written above because my brother in law and I went for a hit yesterday and at my request we played matchplay but with a twist.On my recommendation I suggested whoever won the first hole that person decided what club you would hit off the tee on the next hole a 290 metre par 4 and I made it a six iron (he bogeyed it I parred it).We both thoroughly enjoyed it with me winning it on the 12th(only played 12).Whilst in the main we hit what we would normally hit off most we did throw in a couple of beauties with my brother in law suggesting 5 wood on a 135 metre par 3 .As stated earlier though it was thoroughly enjoyed by both with a lot of friendly needle involved.I did not let ego get involved and just played auto golf.
Cheers Lukey
Steady
December 28, 2009Hi Cam,
distractions can come in many forms.Yourself, others, score etc. The best way to handle distractions is to distract yourself so you can play better. You are actually fighting fire with fire. Good Post.
Cheers Steady
Grayden Provis
December 28, 2009Hi Cameron
I particularly liked your comment that “the more I play the better I get at doing my thing”. A timely reminder to me that we’re talking about a learning process that takes time. Patience is a wonderful thing in golf as in life.
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