NOT FOUND: game to course.jpgEver gone to the driving range to warm up and you proceed to strike every shot just the way you want? Then you go to the first tee only to hit your ball into trouble and your swing unravels throughout the entire round? How could this possibly happen after you had such a
productive warm-up? You can prepare all you want physically, have the best equipment, a solid short game, and the ability to adapt to
situations, but without having control of your mind and your emotions, things can go south in a hurry, even on the first tee. Ever hear of
the phrase,"as a man thinketh, so shall he be." Golf is a mental game and if the way you think is flawed, so will your execution. Whatever
you are thinking will help or hinder your performance. Here is another famous statement, "human beings can alter their lives by altering
their attitudes of mind." Whatever one believes with feeling becomes his reality. In order to develop a strong mental game, you can do
several things:
(1) maintain a strong self-image and confidence as a golfer, (2) be able to focus on the task of the moment, (3) relax and remain mentally and physically composed in stressful situations, (4) have a creative imagination to produce positive mental pictures, and (5) have
the desire to be the best you can and the character to maintain perspective and patience. Confidence, concentration, and the ability
to relax will allow you to take your game from the driving range to the golf course. Just like you were able to groove your swing through
practice, you MUST practice the mental aspect of the game. This requires patience and perseverance as it is not the most exciting part
of the game, but an absolute necessity for good golf.

Confidence is developed through practice but also being positive about what you are doing and a strong self-image, or feeling good about yourself. Concentration is the ability to obtain information such as wind, terrain, hazards, lie of the ball and then assess these factors, make a decision, visualize the shot, then execute without any mental interference. Relaxation is something that needs to be addressed in our daily lives. If we take a few minutes just to take a deep breath several times a day, it will allow us to relieve some of the stress and tension from our day-to-day living. The worst enemy your swing can have is tension. Take the time to clear your mind every day and see if it helps you become more relaxed on the golf course. Don't forget to practice your mental game, and you will see better results and enjoy your round of golf more.