One of the questions I get alot is "What does it take to be an expert at golf." For almost 20 years, I have wondered about this and so I thought I would share a couple of ideas.
(1) Own your swing. Your golf swing is the tool you need to get the ball moving forward toward your goal. It doesn't have to be pretty or look a certain way. Don't let people convince you that hitting a draw is better than a fade (or visa versa). The important thing is that the ball flight is predictable. If you hit a fade...LOVE IT...ACCEPT IT...OWN IT!!!
(2) Love new challenges. Today, I played with our elite team and I must say that I did not play up to my ability. However, when I found myself in a weird situation, I created an internal game of accepting and loving the challenge. If the ball was buried in the sand or if I hit a ball in the water hazard, my goal was to find a way to make par (or at worse bogey). Loving the challenge will give you a winner's mindset. You can not always control the result, but you can surely influence it by accepting the shot for what it is.
(3) Be a world-class putter. Being a good putter takes lots of pressure off the other aspect of your game. If you know that you can roll the ball well (irregardless of the outcome), you will most likely be a good chipper / pitcher of the ball (because you will be more relaxed with each shot knowing that your putting will back up any mistake).
(4) Accept the result and move on. Golf is a game of mistakes and if you can not accept a mistake for what it is...an opportunity to learn and improve...you are surely missing the point. Don't carry anger or expectations around on the course. Play each shot with the best of your ability and move on. Don't judge yourself and don't worry about what other people think (Most are thinking about their own game...unfortunately, you are not that important to them...harsh, but true).
Think about these ideas and start putting into use on the course. You may surely be on your way to becoming an expert golfer. Good Luck!!!
Steven
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