David Charlton hosts the Demystifying Mental Toughness podcast with his colleague and a fellow competitive amateur golfer, Colm O’Donoghue today.  Colm discusses his journey from playing golf as a child to returning to the sport in his mid-20s, driven by an interest in the psychological aspects of golf.  He shares his struggles with perfectionism and the importance of maintaining a present-focused mindset. Together they talk about a case study of a young golfer, who excels in match play but struggles with stroke play due to focusing too much on the score.  Colm and David emphasize the importance of a pre-shot routine in maintaining his focus and staying present, which can help manage his arousal levels, in turn, lowering his scores.

Key Learning Points:

·        Trying to play perfect golf and focusing too much on the score can impact enjoyment of the sport.

·       Colm explains the difference between match play and stroke play, emphasizing the reset nature of match play and the need to focus on the process in stroke play.

·        Self-awareness is critical, recognising and being able to reset when you are ahead of yourself and predicting future holes, shots or score and identifying when you are stuck in the past, dwelling on mistakes.

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Podcast Episodes To Help Golfers Focus On The Process

Ep243 David Charlton - How I Would Help Rory McIlroy Win The British Open

Ep099 Trevor Jones - How to Deal with Overthinking on the Golf Course

Ep167 Karl Morris - How To Manage Your Emotions To Improve Your Golf #BITESIZE

Other Valuable Resources To Help Children, Young Golfers, Parents and Youth Sport Coaches

Youth Sports Psychology Library

Conversations With Kids Ideas

Frequently Asked Questions - Sport Psychology for Children and Parents

Resources To Support Golfers So That They Focus Better

Frequently Asked Questions on Golf Psychology and Golf Mental Skills

Golf Psychology and Mental Skills for Golf Library

Control Your Thoughts on the Golf Course

Play Your Best Golf More Often