GOLF TIP #1: THE NEW FRONTIER OF GOLF

We Americans love our technology and the challenge involved in solving problems. When we encounter a challenge (like the game of golf), we like to beat it into submission, figure out a way to exert control over it or conquer it with rational thought. This is only as it should be since we have been taught from birth that rational thinking (a mostly a left brain phenomenon) and hard work can overcome any obstacle. But is this always true?

A recent article in GOLF MAGAZINE, Finding the Zone, by Jamie Diaz (August 2004), quoted Joseph Parent, Ph.D. as saying, "Western culture is founded on the power of the intellect. We conquered the world with intellect - inventing and building and expanding - so we think we can conquer anything with the intellect. But intellect doesn't conquer golf, it makes it harder". What do you think about this statement? Do you agree or disagree? If we can explore space, create powerful computers, map the entire world, and calculate our location anywhere in the world within a few feet with a handheld GPS unit, isn't it logical to assume that we can figure out how to eliminate a few lousy strokes from our score? How hard can that be? Well apparently it's pretty hard. Since the statistical average eighteen-hole score for a male golfer is 97 and has remained so for thirty years or so, shouldn't there be a way to make a dent in helping golfers lower their scores? One would think so. Hickory shafts and feather balls used to be the "equipment" so why hasn't vastly better equipment significantly lowered the average score? Perhaps it is time to begin to examine the possibility that the owner of the new equipment needs a more updated operating system in order to improve play rather than relying solely on better equipment.

Now don't get me wrong! I can spend as much time in a golf store as anyone and I love the new equipment as much as the next guy. At age 59 I'll take all the help I can get by spending the bucks in order to get the new technology. There is no argument from this quarter that the new equipment does give us more distance and makes it easier to hit and putt the ball more effectively and consistently. However, the question remains; Why can't the average golfer lower his scores significantly?

At the risk of alienating more than a few readers who prefer to avoid "touchy feely golf " may I suggest that a golfer's brain state, belief system, habitual response to stress, and thought processes play an extremely powerful role in shooting lower scores. If Dr. Parent is right "intellect doesn't conquer golf, it makes it harder" how can we improve"? The article by Diaz refers to a recent poll of elite professional golfers and the discrepancy between what they believe will help their game and how they actually train. The poll revealed the players believed at their level of play that mental skills constituted half to 80 percent of the game. The majority admitted, however, that they spend less than 10 percent of their time honing these skills. If professionals neglect the mental side of the game, how much do you think the average Joe neglects his? At the end of the day, performance comes down to the ability to: 1) Imagine performance clearly 2) mange emotional arousal effectively 3) avoid and manage distractions 4) become intently involved in the process of play (maintain focus) and 5) avoid outcome thinking and thoughts of results.

Learning to trust the more intuitive mind by placing less emphasis on the mechanical and technical aspects of play seems to hold the most promise for most golfers. Excessive reliance on the intellect actually impedes reaching the zone for most of us. Will most players embrace this paradigm shift? No, they won't. Only a few players will seriously look into the mental aspects of the game and begin to embrace the more creative side of their brain.

One of my favorite definitions of insanity is: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Is there a new golf frontier? Yes there is. The question is: will you be going there?

back to Golf Tips