STOP Gambling on YOUR Golf Game

One of the premier locations for great golf, entertainment and gambling is clearly Las Vegas, Nevada.

While you want to leave your gambling prowess for the casinos (not your golf game), here are some great tips to ensure that your game is not left for chance when golfing in the desert.

When I used to schedule my golf vacations in the past, I chose to focus on the specific things that were going wrong in my game at that time.

Why?

No one ever told me the proper way to think!!!

If you want to experience maximum enjoyment from your next golf getaway in the desert, there are certain things YOU MUST KNOW to PLAY YOUR BEST GOLF EVER.

Here are three of the most important areas YOU MUST Improve in YOUR GAME:

#1 – Communication
#2 – Relaxation
#3 – Preparation

# 1 – Communication

One of the things I used to say while en route to my golf getaway was ….

“I hope I don’t pull hook my driver all trip.”

This is one of the worst possible messages to send to your subconscious mind.

#2 – Relaxation – Another area that troubled me was my physical anxiety, or nervousness, of playing a new and more challenging golf course (especially on the first tee).

I had no clue how to STOP these over stimulated emotions, and allowed them to negatively impact my game.

#3 – Preparation – My idea of preparation was to arrive at the course, hit some balls at the range, knock down a few putts and go play.

WRONG, WRONG and WRONG again!!!

Here is how you can combat each of these scenarios in your game and PLAY YOUR BEST GOLF EVER.

# 1 – Communication – The fastest and most simplistic way to improve your golf game is to improve your communication. Always remember to think and talk about WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE, not the opposite.

When you say things such as “I hope I don’t pull hook my driver all trip,” all your subconscious mind hears is “pull hook my driver all trip.” Saying these types of things, sends what is referred to as negative command statements to your subconscious mind, and wreaks havoc on your game.

By improving your communication and sending “the right message”, you should incorporate sentences that start with I AM or I WILL. Some examples are:

“I WILL focus on my target on EVERY SHOT.”
“I WILL PLAY MY BEST TODAY.”
“I AM THE GREATEST GOLFER IN THE WORLD.”

#2 – Relaxation  - Almost every golfer experiences first tee jitters at some level. Most golfers confuse nervousness with excitement. When this occurs, your body is chemically responding to the anticipation of playing, but it is perceived as nervousness or fear.  These physical anxieties can be diminished by using the ‘4-4-4 Breathing Technique’.

This involves a simple process of breathing in for 4 seconds, holding your breath for another 4 seconds, and then exhaling for 4 more seconds. Try this a few times whenever you experience physical anxiety, and I guarantee you will feel a sense of calming, immediately.

#3 – Preparation - Over 97% of golfers are unprepared to effectively play a round of golf.

As a result, they have a tendency to let their mind wander in the wrong direction when they are playing poorly, or playing well.

They start to think about their score, the hazards, their misfortunes on previous holes and all kinds of other A.N.T.s (Automatic Negative Thoughts).

To prevent this from happening to you, I stress the importance of having a strategy EVERY TIME YOU PLAY.

Why?

A strategy keeps you focused.
A strategy keeps you relaxed.
A strategy lowers your score.
A strategy gives you a competitive advantage.
A strategy keeps you focused on YOU and YOUR CURRENT SHOT.

I always suggest implementing the KISS (Keep It Super Simple) approach for your strategy.

An example of a super simple strategy is:

I WILL focus on my target on EVERY SHOT.
I WILL breathe to relax on EVERY SHOT.
I WILL only engage in positive conversations.

By applying these simple tips and techniques into your game, you are guaranteed to INCREASE YOUR ODDS for performance on your next golf getaway in Las Vegas.

Speaking of Las Vegas, if YOU WANT information on some great golf getaways in the Las Vegas area, go to the Golf Now page by clicking here.

Greg Liberto is the co-founder and Thinking Skills Expert at INDARE Golf. He is also the creative writer behind the “Thinking Game blog.” His six week “Tour Pro Mind” coaching program shows touring professionals as well as golf hobbyists, how to ‘Think Like the Pros’ and PLAY YOUR BEST GOLF EVER.

If YOU WANT GREG to bring his uniquely effective message to your next golf or business event, please contact him via email at greg@indaregolf.com.