Think Above Par | Your Mental Caddy for Golf Mindset & Performance

Even if your clubs are collecting dust and your course is covered in snow, your golf brain doesn’t have to hibernate.

In this throwback episode, I’m sharing 6 simple, powerful ways to work on your mental game off the course—no glove, no tee time, no problem. We’ll talk about managing negativity, handling emotions, setting intentions, and building real-deal confidence before the season even starts.

Because here’s the truth: you don’t need 18 holes to train your brain. You just need a little awareness and a willingness to do the work now—so when it’s go time, your mindset is ready to roll.

Perfect for winter, busy seasons, or anytime you’re not playing but still want to play above par. Let’s go.

Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE

How many shots is your mental golf costing you?
Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com

Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE

Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching

Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook

Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain

Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book

Email Kathy at [email protected]

Website: KathyHartWood.com

You ever stand on the tee trying to fix the shot you hit two holes ago? Welcome to the club. In this episode, we’re talking about how your brain loves to bring past shots (and all the emotion tied to them) into the present—and how that kills your confidence and your scorecard.

I’ll show you how to stop fighting your fade, start playing the shot you actually brought that day, and make smarter choices based on evidence—not ego. This is how you lower the pressure, clean up your headspace, and play with more certainty. Because golf gets a whole lot more fun when you stop arguing with reality.

Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE

How many shots is your mental golf costing you?
Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com

Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE

Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching

Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook

Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain

Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book

Email Kathy at [email protected]

Website: KathyHartWood.com

Ever feel so frustrated on the golf course that you want to quit? You're not alone.

In this episode, I sit down with my client Karl Pelli to talk about his transformation from being angry for days after a round to learning how to work with his brain instead of against it. Karl shares how he discovered the mental game after hearing me on another podcast, and why golf lessons alone weren't solving his real problem—his experience on the course.

You'll hear Karl's honest journey through the three stages of awareness, how he uses tools like STEAR and Pivot daily (not just on the course), and why he believes investing in your brain is the best gift you can give yourself.

This conversation is real, vulnerable, and full of practical takeaways about how mental skills transfer from golf to every area of life—relationships, work, even road rage.

What You'll Learn:

• Why practicing more doesn't fix the mental game
• How to catch yourself before "going nuclear" on the course
• The power of pivoting your thoughts in traffic, tough conversations, and bad shots
• Why journaling and doing the work matters (and what happens when you get lazy)
• The real cost of not working on your mental game

If Karl's story resonates with you, it's time to start doing the work. Your brain is worth the investment.

Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE

How many shots is your mental golf costing you?
Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com

Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE

Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching

Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook

Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain

Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book

Email Kathy at [email protected]

Website: KathyHartWood.com

What does it really take to see success on and off the course? In this episode, I’m talking with longtime client, Karen Rainey about what helped her go from frustrated to focused, both in golf and life. 

We break down the exact mindset tools she used, how she defines her wins, and why there's no magic checklist—but a whole lot of power in showing up, doing the reps, and being your own solution. Karen’s journey is full of wisdom, heart, and real-life application. Grab your mental caddy and let’s go.

Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE

How many shots is your mental golf costing you?
Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com

Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE

Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching

Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook

Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain

Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book

Email Kathy at [email protected]

Website: KathyHartWood.com

Welcome to Episode 7 — the final episode of The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path series.

Today's episode: Stretch Beyond Golf

Carl is one of my clients. He's done the work. He's used the tools. He's seen tremendous success on the golf course.

But recently, when I asked him what created the most success for him, he sent me a message that stopped me in my tracks.

He said: "The biggest thing is that you have one brain and you get to use the tools you give me in all parts of life. Practicing with my aging parents, stepdaughters, daughters, and wife has been the biggest gift you've given me. Golf is just what got us started."

He went on: "My appreciation and gratitude for you is off the charts. Don't let it go to your head, but you're an amazing human. FYI, my wife just said she thanks you."

Golf was just what got them started. But the real transformation? That happened off the course.

In this final episode, you'll learn:

• Why you have one brain (how you do one thing, you do everything)
• How the tools work everywhere — STEAR for family relationships, Brain Dump before tough conversations, 18Proud at the end of your workday
• Why practicing self-compassion on the course makes it your default everywhere
• How using these tools off the course makes you better on the course
• The complete S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path roadmap and what comes next

This is the end of the series, but it doesn't have to be the end of your transformation.

Grab the tools in the free Your Mental Caddy community: Here

The Complete S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path:

• Episode 1: Start & Commit ✅
• Episode 2: Use Your Tools ✅
• Episode 3: Clarify Your Wins ✅
• Episode 4: Control Your Thoughts ✅
• Episode 5: Engage in Reps ✅
• Episode 6: Share & Support ✅
• Episode 7: Stretch Beyond Golf ✅

Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE

How many shots is your mental golf costing you?
Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com

Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE

Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching

Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook

Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain

Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book

Email Kathy at [email protected]

Website: KathyHartWood.com

Welcome to Episode 6 of The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path — the 7-day series on the exact steps my most successful clients took to transform their mental game.

Today's episode: Share & Support

Karen lives in West Virginia. And she's not the only one in my program from her area — there are quite a few golfers from her community who are members.

And here's what happens: they share their wins with each other. They speak the same language. They partner up in tournaments.

And when one of them catches herself saying something unhelpful out loud — "I always choke under pressure" — her playing partner, who knows this work, catches it and gently reminds her to shift that thought.

They pivot together. And they go on to have amazing rounds.

That's the power of community.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why you can't do this work alone (I know because I tried for years)
• What happens when you get stuck in your own head with no one to call out your blind spots
• How community gives you people who get it and can support you in real time
• Why many of my private coaching clients are ALSO active in the community
• The simple practice of sharing one win this week (with anyone)

Grab the tools in the free Your Mental Caddy community: Here

Coming tomorrow: Episode 7 - Stretch Beyond Golf (Carl's story about using these tools with his family — the finale!)

Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE

How many shots is your mental golf costing you?
Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com

Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE

Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching

Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook

Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain

Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book

Email Kathy at [email protected]

Website: KathyHartWood.com

Welcome to Episode 5 of The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path — the 7-day series on the exact steps my most successful clients took to transform their mental game.

Today's episode: Engage in Reps

Judy is 80 years old.

She listens to my podcast every night as she falls asleep. (Yes, my nasally Rochester voice is apparently very soothing.) She bought one of my programs — Unleash Your Golf — and listened to it over and over and over again.

Then she went out and won one of the biggest tournaments for her age group in the Senior Olympics.

She showed up to our coaching call with her medal in hand, beaming with pride.

At 80, she proved you're never too old to transform your mental game. But here's the real lesson: she didn't listen once and call it good. She did the reps.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why mental mastery is a practice, not a one-time lesson
• How mental reps build your "default settings" (just like swing reps build muscle memory)
• Why you'll hear the same information differently each time (and why that matters)
• What separates golfers who transform from those who just collect information
• How to pick ONE thing to do on repeat this week

Grab the tools in the free Your Mental Caddy community: Here

Coming tomorrow: Episode 6 - Share & Support (Karen's story about building community and speaking the same language)

The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path Series:

• Episode 1: Start & Commit ✅
• Episode 2: Use Your Tools ✅
• Episode 3: Clarify Your Wins ✅
• Episode 4: Control Your Thoughts ✅
• Episode 5: Engage in Reps ✅
• Episode 6: Share & Support
• Episode 7: Stretch Beyond Golf

Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE

How many shots is your mental golf costing you?
Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com

Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE

Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching

Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook

Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain

Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book

Email Kathy at [email protected]

Website: KathyHartWood.com

Welcome to Episode 4 of The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path — the 7-day series on the exact steps my most successful clients took to transform their mental game.

Today's episode: Control Your Thoughts

Becky texted me before a state tournament. She was nervous — more than nervous. She didn't think she belonged there. Everyone else seemed better.

So I sent her one thought: "You belong. You're as good as any of those players."

She said it a thousand times that day. Over and over. One thought, on repeat.

And she went out and shot 69 — about 10 strokes better than her usual tournament score.

One intentional thought changed everything.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How your thoughts create your emotions, your emotions drive your actions, and your actions create your results
• Why your brain defaults to "keep you safe" thoughts (and why they're usually crappy)
• How to catch unhelpful thoughts and replace them with Power Thoughts
• Why Becky said it a thousand times (that's the practice, that's the reps)
• How to use this process anywhere in your life — not just golf

Grab the tools in the free Your Mental Caddy community: [HERE]

Coming tomorrow: Episode 5 - Engage in Reps (Judy's story about doing the reps at 80 years old and winning the Senior Olympics)

The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path Series:

• Episode 1: Start & Commit ✅
• Episode 2: Use Your Tools ✅
• Episode 3: Clarify Your Wins ✅
• Episode 4: Control Your Thoughts ✅
• Episode 5: Engage in Reps
• Episode 6: Share & Support
• Episode 7: Stretch Beyond Golf

Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE

How many shots is your mental golf costing you?
Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com

Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE

Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching

Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook

Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain

Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book

Email Kathy at [email protected]

Website: KathyHartWood.com

Welcome to Episode 3 of The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path — the 7-day series on the exact steps my most successful clients took to transform their mental game.

Today's episode: Clarify Your Wins

Janie showed up to one of our coaching calls and shared something powerful. She'd played with a group of golfers who were much younger than her. They were hitting it past her. Scoring lower than her.

And she didn't give up on herself.

She didn't try to swing harder. She didn't play a game that wasn't hers. She just showed up, played her game, and walked off 18 feeling proud.

That was her win. Not her scorecard. The way she showed up.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why your brain remembers what stings the most (and how to change that)
• What actually counts as a win (hint: it's not your scorecard)
• How to use the 18Proud™ intention before every round
• Why scanning for process wins rewires your default settings
• The simple practice of writing down ONE win after every round

Grab the tools in the free Your Mental Caddy community:

Coming tomorrow: Episode 4 - Control Your Thoughts (Becky's story about one thought that changed everything)

The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path Series:

• Episode 1: Start & Commit ✅
• Episode 2: Use Your Tools ✅
• Episode 3: Clarify Your Wins ✅
• Episode 4: Control Your Thoughts
• Episode 5: Engage in Reps
• Episode 6: Share & Support
• Episode 7: Stretch Beyond Golf

Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE

How many shots is your mental golf costing you?
Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com

Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE

Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching

Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook

Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain

Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book

Email Kathy at [email protected]

Website: KathyHartWood.com

Welcome to Episode 2 of The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path — the 7-day series on the exact steps my most successful clients took to transform their mental game.

Today's episode: Use Your Tools

Jennifer decided to actually use one of the tools I teach — the CCC tracker (tracking calm, certain, and confident shots).

At first, she was at 67% calm, certain, and confident — and shooting mid-80s.

As she improved that number to 76%, she was shooting low-80s.

Then she hit 92% calm, certain, and confident — and shot 76.

But here's what really drove it home: when she stopped tracking, her numbers went back up.

The tool only worked when she used it.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why your tools are the reps for your brain
• The toolkit available inside Your Mental Caddy (Mental Prep Protocol, CCC Tracker, Reality Check, Brain Dump, STEAR)
• Why tools don't work in your head — they work in your hands
• How to pick ONE tool and commit to using it consistently

Want the downloadable tools? Join the free Your Mental Caddy community HERE

Ready for year-long coaching? Learn about upgrading inside the community.

Coming next: Episode 3 - Clarify Your Wins (Janie's story about walking off 18 proud even when her game wasn't her best)

The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path Series:

• Episode 1: Start & Commit ✅
• Episode 2: Use Your Tools ✅
• Episode 3: Clarify Your Wins
• Episode 4: Control Your Thoughts
• Episode 5: Engage in Reps
• Episode 6: Share & Support
• Episode 7: Stretch Beyond Golf

Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE

How many shots is your mental golf costing you?
Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com

Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE

Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching

Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook

Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain

Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book

Email Kathy at [email protected]

Website: KathyHartWood.com