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Judy
Anderson "Business Coach" will
be here exclusively every month to share with you
on "How to use Golf to gain a
Competitive Edge in Business".
"IMPROVE YOUR
GAME & YOUR BUSINESS!"
SEPTEMBER, 2000
Think Your
Way to a Better Golf Game
Whether you
play golf competitively, for business reasons, or
just for fun, you probably want to play better.
If you’re like most golfers who are trying
to improve, you’ll work on the mechanics of
your swing. Or you’ll look for new equipment
that will give you a few extra yards or a truer
putt. Although you may see some improvement if
you use this approach, you’re neglecting the
most important part of your game!
Ask any pro
what you really need to master to be a winner and
they’ll probably tell you "the mental
game." Some pros on the Senior Tour who
learned the game without the benefit of a lot of
lessons on the mechanics of the swing will tell
you the game is 90% mental!! That’s because
they know that even if you’ve mastered the
mechanics, course conditions vary and your
physical game will fluctuate. So the pros who are
consistently in the money have learned to focus
on their mental game.
Mastering the
mental game is especially important for business
golfers who need to play a respectable game and
at the same time stay focused on their business
objectives. Both their golf game and business
will suffer if they haven’t developed such
mental game skills as concentration, focus, and
thought control.
Although
books have been written on the mental game, most
of the information has been very generic and
based on principles developed through research on
other sports. Dr. Deborah Graham is the first
psychologist to study the champions on the LPGA,
PGA, and Senior PGA Tours. She wanted to learn
what mental traits set them apart from the pros
who are only occasional winners. She found that
there are eight specific personality traits that
make up a Champion profile. This means that your
personality influences who you are on the golf
course. Your mental game is as individual as your
swing! No wonder the generic mental techniques
have been so difficult for most golfers to apply.
The eight
Champion traits that form the basis of the
GolfPsych® system can help improve your game.
Knowing how they rated on these traits and then
learning mental game techniques allow the
champion pros to master these 5 components of the
mental game.
1.
Concentration and focus.
This is the ability to focus on what’s
necessary to successfully execute the shot.
Contrary to what many golfers believe, this focus
cannot be on your swing mechanics. This
only gets you into the mode of "playing
swing" rather than playing golf. When you
can’t concentrate, your focus widens and you
can become distracted by other players, adverse
course conditions, and even your own thoughts.
2. Thought
control.
Regulating your thoughts between shots and before
the round is a critical skill to master. Thinking
the wrong thoughts can stimulate your emotions,
which makes it even more difficult to concentrate
and focus. This explains what happens to the
golfer who plays well on the front nine but
totally loses it after the turn.
3.
Managing Tension.
Your mental game will suffer unless you can
stay relaxed throughout the round. And it
isn’t just the negative emotions! Even
getting excited about a great shot can make it
difficult to concentrate and can cause you to
lose focus. Deep breathing is one of the best
things you can do to regulate your tension level.
4.
Confidence.
A strong mental game require both personal and
performance confidence. You have to feel
comfortable with your physical skills in practice
before you ever take your game out on the course.
Keeping records will help you recognize areas
that need improvement. Then you can work on
increasing your performance confidence through
goal oriented practice.
5. Mental
preparation, imagery, and attitude.
Many golfers will prepare for a round by warming
up and practicing the mechanics. Very few will
prepare mentally for the round. Make sure to take
a short mental break before you start the round.
This allows you to let go of any tensions and
concerns you brought to the course with you.
Without this mental break, it will be difficult
to concentrate and stay focused as you begin the
round.
Your level of
skill in these 5 areas of the mental game is
based on how close your personality is to the 8
champion personality traits and how well
you’ve learned to think like a champion.
None of the pros tested were in the champion
range on all 8 traits! Golf is a tough game and
nobody’s perfect! But the pros have learned
how to adapt their behavior to make them
consistent winners. Begin thinking like the pros,
and you’ll see a big improvement in your
game -- whether you play for business or just for
fun!
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Do you want to Improve your
Golf & Business?
Ask Judy for FREE advice and she will e-mail you
an answer.
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Judy
Anderson is the founder of Business Golf
Unlimited and the author of "Teeing
Off to the Green" & "Using
Golf as a Business Tool". Through
her speaking and coaching, she has helped
countless executives improve their golf
game and gain a competitive edge in business.
Her programs have been featured at
the Greater New York Golf Show, the Northville
Long Island Classic and First of America Classic
Senior PGA Tour events, and at the PGA's Quad
City Classic. Clients have included, Merrill
Lynch, the National Alliance of Sales and
Marketing Executives, United Cerebral Palsy, the
National Association of Female Executives, and
the World Sponsors Forum.
Judy and Business Golf Unlimited
have been featured in the New York Times,
National Business Employment Weekly, Selling
Power, Executive Female and Golf Digest
magazines. She has been a guest on numerous tv
and radio shows, including CNBC Money Talk, The
Business News Network, and Smart Money with the
Dolans.
Her 20 years experience in post
secondary education, human resources, sales and
consulting, plus undergraduate degree in
business, graduate degrees in counseling
psychology and certification in GolfPsych ® give
her the saavy to use golf to help you identify
and address the challenges facing you in today's
workplace.
Business
Golf Unlimited is a
company dedicated to developing individuals and
organizations through golf. We offer a variety of
speaking and coaching
services. Judy Anderson and Brian
McMahon are committed to helping you
reach your true potential, in golf and, through
golf, in business.
How
to contact:
Business Golf
Unlimited
42253 Parkside Circle Suite 105
Sterling Heights, MI 48314
Phone 810-739-8506
Fax 810-739-9012
e-mail:Judy@BizGolf.com
Visit
Business Golf Unlimited
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