"Where do you want to go?"

Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
The Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to
Alice: I don't much care where.
The Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn't much matter which way you go.



This exchange between Alice and the Cheshire Cat has long been a favorite of mine.  I used it constantly with my students when I taught history, and I still bring it out every now and then with my golf students.  I like it because it reminds us of an often-overlooked truth: if we don't know where we want to go, we'll never get there.

I find that most golfers are only slightly better off than Alice.  Ask them what they're trying to achieve and they'll tell you, "I want to get better" or, my own personal nails-on-a-chalkboard, "I want to be more consistent."  Better at what?  More consistent at what?  These are the sayings of someone without a plan, and, if I may use a cliche, failing to plan is planning to fail.

So, then, what is a good goal, you ask?  A good goal is SMART: Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Time Bound.  Here's an example:

"I'm going to improve my make % from inside 10'.  It's currently at 50% and I want it to be at 65%.  I want to accomplish this by the end of the month

Now, the Realistic part might be arguable, but this goal is very Specific, Measurable, Actionable, and Time Bound.   This is a golfer on the road to improvement.

As you start your golf season, think about where you want your game to go.  Are you aiming for a lower handicap?  More fun on the course?  Whatever your goals, make them SMART.

Act Like, Believe, Be

In my opinion, the most under appreciated aspect of golf is the mental game.  The average player, and even a lot of good players, don't adequately appreciate how much their mindset dictates how they will play.  With that in mind, I offer this quick thought:

It is easier to BE a good player if you BELIEVE you are a good player.

It is easier to BELIEVE you are a good player if you ACT LIKE a good player.

Acting like a good player doesn't mean being cocky and it doesn't mean playing slowly; it simply means you should act, and treat yourself, like a good player would.  Force yourself to smile on the course and walk with your head up; it will make you feel better.  Dress well.  Don't berate yourself for bad shots and don't sulk. 

ACT LIKE a good player, BELIEVE you are a good player, and you will BE a better player.


To discuss how you can improve your mental game, please contact MattSaternus@gmail.com

Recommended reading: the books of Dr. Bob Rotella and the books by Marriott and Nilsson of Vision 54.