The iconic hole #17 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Florida
⛳ When the round doesn't go their way
If you had to ask me what
the hardest part of parenting a junior golfer is, it's watching them work through the mental game.
Not only do we have to deal with the challenges of growing up, school, hormones, and everything else these kids face, but we somehow have to find the magic words that support (or even
inspire) them in one of the most mentally-challenging sports on the planet. Ultimately though, we can't control their thoughts so it's something they have to focus on and improve themselves, as much as Mom and Dad want to make it better.
I'm not at all implying we've figured out the
secret sauce or our junior golfer doesn't have lots to learn about the mental aspect of golf, but I do want to share some tidbits after recent challenges on the course and what has helped our son face them.
This past weekend, Hamilton was +7 after the first 8 holes during Round 1.
It wasn't the start he wanted, but he's been there before. In the past, this might have discouraged him and sent him down a path of negative thoughts, but this round he was able to stay more focused. He adjusted and went on to end even for the tournament and a T-7 finish.
As I
thought about the turnaround, I tried to come up with practical steps he took mentally that might help other golfers out.
While I'm certainly not a professional, here's what I observed:
- It pays to be patient: You have to acknowledge you hit a bad shot or mis-read a putt, but then trust yourself you can settle into the round at some point. Lean in on the muscle memory from all the work you've done to this point.
- You can't get upset with yourself: While it's easier said then done, you have to remind yourself you've put in the hard
work, the hours of practice, and you have the skills that got you here. Positive self-talk is a must!
- Stay in the moment: It's easy to get ahead of yourself and try to predict an outcome. As cliché as it sounds, one shot at a time, sticking to your pre-shot routine and process, will help you stay centered.
Bad shots are inevitable but when you keep dwelling on it, I've noticed it’s a domino effect for the rest of the round. It’s like you’re panicking and keep digging a hole and then you can’t get out of.
I hope this small amount of information helps! If you're looking for more
help, I highly recommend the books Putting Out of Your Mind and Golf is Not a Game of Perfect, both by Dr. Bob Rotella.
