I was walking up to the green on the seventh hole at Belmont Golf Course, on the verge of making my first birdie. A six-inch putt to make my first score that wasn't a bogey, or worse. Why do I tell you this? Because it was my thoughts walking up the fairway that changed everything. Let's back it up a lot further. I used to be a great golfer. I mean a bad round in a tournament was par. I received a scholarship to a Division 1 school. Here my world crashed down. I crumbled to the pressure. I got the full swing yips. I went from shooting 65's to shooting 85's. I was narrow minded and full of fear. I quit! Over time I casually played a few rounds but my problems were still there. Golf was a permanent bummer.
Or so I thought. Fast forward back to my epiphany that occurred on my walk up the seventh fairway. "There has to be a better way!" A simple thought that began a transformation. The rest of that round I never played against myself, or the par. My thought was every hole should take 4 shots, if I beat 4 I win, I get a point. Vice versa if I go over. At the end I won, by a lot! I went home that night and played back the entire round in my head, and counted all my strokes. I shot a 70!
As an educator I quickly started thinking how can I relate this to my practice. Well........here is my attempt, feet first and ready to take the plunge!
Or so I thought. Fast forward back to my epiphany that occurred on my walk up the seventh fairway. "There has to be a better way!" A simple thought that began a transformation. The rest of that round I never played against myself, or the par. My thought was every hole should take 4 shots, if I beat 4 I win, I get a point. Vice versa if I go over. At the end I won, by a lot! I went home that night and played back the entire round in my head, and counted all my strokes. I shot a 70!
As an educator I quickly started thinking how can I relate this to my practice. Well........here is my attempt, feet first and ready to take the plunge!
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