 One of the gifts that golf provides is an
opportunity to work diligently on our
patience. I have worked with athletes from
nearly every sport played, and I would have
to say that there are few- if any- sports
that require the level of patience that golf
requires. Whether discussing “big picture”,
long-term items such as the development of
your swing, or whether referencing more short-
term moments like rebounding after a double
bogie, patience is a key element in the
thinking of the best players. Impatience can
lead to a wide variety of challenges,
including unrealistic expectations, improper
course management strategies, increased
tension and tempo, lack of shot commitment, a
gathering of incomplete pre-shot information,
distraction away from task, and impulsive
shot choices. These things and the many
more
not mentioned here, will inevitably lead to a
decrease in enjoyment of the game and is very
likely to negatively impact the score of the
round of golf in which you are playing. On
the other hand, a patient player realizes
that in the pursuit of excellence in this
game, the progress is generally very slow and
is measured in very small increments.
Additionally, the patient player will look
for opportunities in a round of golf to take
calculated risks- within the context of her
game plan. She will not be influenced away
from her tempo, rhythm, or the consistency of
her pre-shot preparation. Nor will she make
shot-selection decisions because she’s
annoyed, irritated, feeling rushed or
frustrated by her round or her surroundings.
She’s taking in objective information, making
a fully-informed decision, and committing to
her choice. That’s patience in action, and
that’s how the best players train themselves
to think. Measuring yourself on your
patience on a daily basis in the practice
area and on the golf course can be a very
effective and helpful tool.
To conclude these last four columns,
remaining in the present, staying in the
process, approaching things and responding to
things in the positive, and maintaining a
high level of patience will help you think
like the best players in the world.
Challenge yourself to working on each of
these elements and enjoy the benefits they
will bring to your game!
The above column was reprinted with
permission from the e-book “Fitness Secrets
of Championship Golfers”. Jeff Troesch and
Susan Hill contributed several chapters to
this 212 page e-book, along with Kai Fusser
(Annika Sorenstam’s trainer) and several
other well-known experts on the physical,
mental, and technical aspects of golf
training. This e-book can be purchased on-
line at www.golffitnessexperts.com.
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