Positive Golf Kudos ---

I read the interview with Hunter Mahan in the November 2007 issue of GOLF DIGEST and thought it was a great example of positive mental golf ideas in action. Mahan indicates that the big positive change that has occurred for him goes back to the second round of sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open. In the first round, his attitude was about "just waiting for bad things to happen." He shot a 73. With some guidance from his sport psychologist and some work on his mental game, Mahan came back and shot 63 in the second round and qualified, and he's been playing pretty well ever since. This is what Mahan said about his attitude and approach: "I was so concerned with how I looked and how I swung, I forgot how to play and get the ball in the hole. I was able to let myself go out there and play and not criticize myself on the course as much." It is amazing the impact it can have on our game to change our "inner conversation" and stop criticizing ourselves. Reducing the pressure on ourselves and just letting ourselves "go out there and play" has a major impact as well, as illustrated by Mahan. Often, we don't even realize we're doing these things to limit ourselves and our game, and we keep blaming it on the equipment or something else. If we don't have a sport psychologist to point it out to us, we may keep on doing these things. But there is a new resource coming out that can change all of that and help you get out of your own way and "let yourself go out there and play," just like Hunter Mahan. Watch for the Positive Golf Handbook coming soon!

Here's to great golf!

Rick Semple
Positive Golfer
Co-Founder, TheHeartofGolf.com
http://www.TheHeartofGolf.com

Golf Tip to Make the Most of Your Time Off the Course ---

Your time off the course can be wisely used in ways that will encourage more frequent Positive Golf experiences on the course. Short segments of time can be used to practice both "inner" mental game skills and "outer" physical game skills. Done regularly, these "mini sessions" build upon each other, bit by bit, like putting bricks in a wall, to create a powerful mental-physical blend (we call it the Positive Golf Blend) that is strong and ready to support your game when you get back to the course. Reading articles and books on self improvement and golf improvement can certainly contribute to this blend by laying the groundwork and filling in some "kinks." But for the most benefit, it is essential to do something with these ideas and put them into practice sooner rather than later, while the ideas are still fresh. So many of these skills, especially the mental golf ones, can easily be practiced off the course. The thing is, people don't often realize they can be practicing these things so easily or the benefits that this practice will yield. The list below provides ten key fundamental things to practice off the course - five for the inner mental game and five for the outer physical game. So, rather than getting "rusty," your mindset and motion can be kept "well oiled" and much better prepared for action and positive results when you get back to the course.

For an expanded version of this list which provides an explanation of each point, send me an email and I will share the latest copy of our Positive Golf newsletter which includes a full-length article on this topic. You can also CLICK HERE to subscribe to our newsletter and get a free downloadable e-book that has all kinds of Positive Golf ideas and tips that will help your game. Here you go:

Mental Game Practices for Off-the-Course:

1. Practice positive self-talk.
2. Practice positive expectations.
3. Practicing imagining positive outcomes.
4. Practice letting go of anger.
5. Practice body motion awareness.

Physical Game Practices for Off-the-Course:
(Practice these in combination with the mental game practices - not instead of - to realize the optimum power and benefit.)

1. Practice fitness for your body.
2. Practice your motions with a mirror.
3. Practice with your shadow.
4. Practice swinging with one arm only.
5. Practice turning your back to the target.

I'm happy to send you the full-length article that covers this in more detail. Just send an email request to me at rick@theheartofgolf.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Here's to great golf!

Rick Semple
Positive Golfer
Co-Founder, TheHeartofGolf.com
http://www.TheHeartofGolf.com

Positive Golf Kudos---A Can Do Positive Attidude

One of the main characteristics of Positive Golfers is a "can do" positive attitude. The Positive Golf mindset is about being a "possibilitarian" and believing that you CAN achieve the goals that you choose for yourself. Here is a great example of someone who epitomizes these characteristics. He is a 48 year old man who was born without arms. Twenty-five years ago he decided to learn how to play golf and you will see that he has indeed mastered the game. He didn't focus on his limitation, but instead on the power of possibility. In his own words, "You never know what you can do unless you try." CLICK HERE to view more and you'll see why he deserves Positive Golf Kudos!

Here's to great golf!

Rick Semple
Positive Golfer
Co-Founder, TheHeartofGolf.com
http://www.TheHeartofGolf.com

Positive Golf Tip - Take Time to Watch the Turkeys ---

I know. You're wondering what turkeys have to do with golf. Well, I'll tell you. Yesterday, Bill - a Positive Golf friend of mine, told me about a great day he recently had on the course. Early in the game, he noticed a flock of 25 to 30 wild turkeys near the course. As he watched the turkeys while playing the next couple of holes, he realized that he felt relaxed and had stopped worrying about some business issues with his company. "Suddenly, I was really aware of what was going on around me," he said, "and I understood what was meant by 'being in the present.'" "I was hitting the ball a lot better too," he added. "I was using that tip about bringing my shoulders back square that you told me about, and it was working really well." I didn't feel tense, and my swing was nice and smooth." Bill attributed his nice swings and pleasant experience to those turkeys. To him, they weren't a distraction and a nuisance. Instead, watching them helped him to relax, re-focus attention away from business and other activities off-the-course to what was happening there around him "in the present." As it turns out, he enjoyed himself more and played better than he had in a long time. And what about his playing partners? "They didn't notice the turkeys," he said. They were busy complaining about their bad shots and looking for their lost balls."

So...next time your're out on the course, take time to watch the turkeys - or the geese, or hawks, or other wildlife - and let them help to enhance your awareness and relaxation, and open you up to a smooth swing and a great game.

Here's to great golf!

Rick Semple
Positive Golfer
Co-Founder, TheHeartofGolf.com
http://www.TheHeartofGolf.com