Turning Your Obstacles into Challenges

One of the best ways to start is with a little insightful reflection on the mental obstacles you will likely face in your competitive event.  These vary from person to person and each event, with its related circumstance, may hold obstacles unique to you.  Identifying these obstacles and choosing to acknowledge them more positively as challenges is your first step toward managing them instead of letting them manage you. 

Following are examples we often hear from our clients:

• I expect to play well and will be disappointed if I don't
• I am concerned about what some people will think of my play
• I have a really frustrating (or intimidating) playing partner
• The weather is bad and I hate playing in these conditions 
• My tee time is late and I dread the slow play
• I worry about how low I have to shoot on this course
• This course plays so long for me
• I hate these bumpy green
• I have to play well this week, many things depend on it
• I have such bad memories on several of these holes
• I have so many personal problems I can hardly enjoy my golf

Writing your list of personal obstacles on paper will help you convert them to challenges.  Once written, your goal is to keep them out of your thoughts and on your paper until you have finished your event.  Be prepared to catch related thoughts as they pop into your head and mentally send them back to your paper.  You can even try changing the thought to reflect your new view.  For example, "I don't like these bumpy greens but they are now my challenge to stay relaxed and use full smooth strokes."

Choose not to use mental energy on topics that detract from your peaceful focus.  All items on your list should now represent your challenges to maintaining a peaceful focus

Bob Shirey, PGA, is a Golfpsych certified instructor. For help with your mental game contact Bob at 805-286-2590 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .