Focus and Concentration

Depending on who you are playing with and the competition type can determine how you approach your game. Some very sociable, others more competitive. But at the end of the day, you always want to do your best, so give yourself the best chance on every shot by re-gaining and maintaining focus at the right time.

The Angry Golfer – Stroppy, club thrower, moaning about their game putting you off

The Chatter Box – Never stops talking

The Silent Golfer – Never speaks and just focuses on their game, no engagement

The Selfish one - Talks and moves when you’re playing, but wants full attention when they are playing

The Fidgetier - One that walks in front of you while getting your line on the green, stands behind the hole, moves the flag, rattles items in their bag, anything to deliberately put you off and pretend they don’t know they are doing it.

The Pacer – Someone who knows how you don’t like to play (Fast, Slow) and tries to put you off your preferred style of play.

First and foremost, you will be able to identify the style your playing partner / opponent operates with, and you can adapt your persona to cope with this. Golf is a very individual game, and despite what you may think, other people are not interested in how well you are doing, they want to beat you. They may be a smiling assassin and all encouraging, but deep down, they want to beat you, its human nature.

Now, be honest and identify yourself in the 6 styles, and do you flit between them depending on how you play, and who you play with?

Useful focus techniques to utilise:

1 - Play your game not there's, don't get dragged into Negative thoughts

2 - Agree don't get into arguments or politics of others while in your round

3 - Play 3 holes at a time - Focus on trying to get under your handicap in each set of 3 holes - A mini game against the course.

3 - Refer to your score card and study the hole distance and features, you can become complaisant playing the same course so go into auto pilot and make the same mistakes week in week out.

4 - Ready Golf and play when you are ready

5 - Walk down the opposite site of the fairway and have your own space when you need

6 - Have a Trigger to start your swing process (Glove on, Club in hand, Stand behind ball and 3 deep breaths. - Whatever you choose as your trigger this is your time to switch on and focus on nothing else other than the shot you are about to take.

The Angry Golfer

Golf can be a very frustrating game.

We challenge ourselves, it is you against the course, we cannot control what anyone else does so don't even try.

Missed putts

A slice or a hook can cost us shots.

We can never get them back, they are gone.

Calm, deep breaths, pause and go back into a positive mindset.

Make your next shot your best shot.

Don't let others around you getting angry and frustrated affect your game.

**Secret share - Julia was this in the pursuit of perfection in the early days, has mellowed (slightly). But still tries to seek as close to perfection as possible.

The Chatter Box

Its good to talk, but knowing when and where is key.

Take time to engage in conversation on the long walks down the fairway.

Stay switched on - you can learn a lot about the course and how to play your next shot as you approach your ball.

You don't need to finish your conversation, you can stop and pick it up again on the next hole.

The Silent Golfer

We are all different. Some people play golf to be sociable, some are playing to make a career of it.

Due to the diversity of ages and abilities in some competitions or team events you may be drawn with someone who approaches the game in a completely different way to you.

This can be a hard 3 - 4 hours, also different dynamics if a caddy is used.

Be polite, respect other peoples style and use your own coping mechanism for the round.

The Selfish One

Talks and moves when you’re playing, but wants full attention when they are playing.

This again can be gamesmanship, but mainly is a social trait that the person playing is wanting to be sociable.

They are happy to be out on the course and having a good time. They forget its a competition or that you want to concentrate on your turn.

They automatically switch on and focus for their shot but their taking and movements have distracted you and disrupted your routines as you don't want to offend them.

Deep breaths and pause, refocus before going into your swing process.

The Fidgetier

Some people really do not know they are doing this as they are just so focused on what they do, rather than anything you are doing.

Others, absolutely do and use this as a gamesmanship tactic

Politely request them to stop, move their bag, or ask them to get whatever it is they need out before they get to the green.

Alternatively, if you start doing it, they will probably comment and ask you to stop.

The Pacer

Where possible be ready to play

Over the last 5 years rules of golf have changed to speed up the average round.

Unless Matchplay where playing in turn is a requirement be ready.

Mark your card while others are Teeing off

Play while others are raking a bunker

Play up onto the Green even if closer

Let faster groups through if you have lost a hole but focus on moving forward and keeping up with the people in front, don't feel pressured by the ones behind.

Dont rush your game to make up for a slower person in your group - play your game, but try and spped your playing partners up.