Positive Golf Tip for Kids Golf ---

When teaching kids about the mechanics of playing golf, it's a great time to pass along tips about attitude too. I was really fortunate that my parents did that with me. They taught me the "can-do attitude" and encouraged me to think and say, "I can," at a young age when I was learning the game. This was such a valuable lesson that it inspired the development of the Can-Do Golf Program we offer at TheHeartofGolf.com. In the Can-Do Book that is part of the program, we list some Can-Do Golf Activities to help kids develop the can-do attitude while practicing golf skills. A couple of these activities are listed below. These are great to do with the kids during a family golf outing or as part of a golf camp. With a large group, you can put the kids into smaller groups to do Can-Do Putting Practice, Chipping Practice, and Full Swing Practice. The positive Can-Do theme helps develop confidence and inspires a feeling of fun. Let us know how it goes for you and the kids!

Can-Do Putting Practice: Put some golf balls in a circle one foot from the hole. Look at the hole and imagine the balls rolling right in when you tap them. Then say, I CAN DO THAT! before you putt. After putting these balls, move them a little farther away from the hole and putt them again, repeating the Can-Do Affirmation before you putt. Keep repeating this activity as you move the balls farther and farther from the hole.

Can-Do Full Swing Practice: Put a line of balls on the tee or the fairway. Pick an area or target to shoot for. Imagine your ball flying in the air right to the spot. Then say, I CAN DO THAT! before you swing. After hitting these balls, choose a different club or a different spot, repeating the Can-Do affirmation before swinging. Repeat the process as many times as you want.

Here's to great golf!

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

Positive Golf Tip - Watch Those Wandering Thoughts

Being aware of our thoughts is a valuable practice, both on and off the course. It helps us to catch those thoughts that are negative, critical, and expecting the worst and change them to thoughts that are positive, supportive, and expectant of good. I have learned first-hand the value of this practice to improve my golf game compared to when I wasn't aware and the negative thoughts ran rampant.

There is another practice related to this, and it is keeping our thoughts focused on the situation at hand. When we are practicing awareness of positive and negative thoughts, it also helps us to be aware if we are in tune with what is going on around us or we are letting distractions fill our mind. We have seen what happens to Tiger and other champions when their mental game is off and they aren't focused - errant shots, missed putts, and unfortunate mistakes. I had a first-hand experience with this over the weekend. On the 17th hole of the Spring Medal match at our club, I inadvertently marked my ball which was just off the green. Another player pointed it out immediately, noting that it was an infraction since my ball wasn't on the green. My mind had been filled with distracting thoughts, and I was immediately pulled back to the task at hand. The mistake cost me a penalty shot and missing third place by one stroke. It reminded me of the value of keeping our wandering thoughts (as well as our negative thoughts) in check on the course.

My wife pointed out that this was a good real-life Positive Golf lesson to pass along, so I humbly share it. Positive Golfers learn from an experience and move on rather than dwelling on the mistake and sinking into negativity. So, I'm off to the course again with my eyes and ears and mind in tune and wide open!

Onward and upward -

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