Classic Club Insider

H ave you ever stood on the first tee after having several really good practice sessions with your driver or hitting every fairway with ease the round before, only to snap hook or slice your opening shot out of bounds? I can guarantee just about every- one has had this experience. How about this one? You're playing the best round of your life with three holes to go and all you have to do is par out to shoot your career best score. You've been hitting the ball effortlessly all day and stripe your drive down the middle on No. 16 with a simple second shot into the green. Then, inexplicably, you address the ball and make a swing, completely miss-hitting the shot and finding trouble. Your mind starts to race about the possi- ble negative scenarios. And instead of hit- ting a good recovery shot, you make things worse by trying a hero shot and finish your round with three straight bogeys or worse. We've all experienced situations like these; the key to overcoming them is confidence. Most of us gain confidence through prac- tice and hitting good shots on the course. This is natural. However, when we hit a bad shot all that confidence tends to disappear instantly. This is temporary confidence. The confi- dence to play consistent golf needs to be a long-lasting enduring confidence. This kind of confidence is rooted in qualities such as talent, ability, months or even years of prac- tice, and remembering past successes. Enduring confidence is resistant to the highs and lows that most golfers experi- ence. The key to building this kind of confi- dence is basing it in a realistic and honest assessment of your present skill level – not what you think you can achieve, but where it is currently. Through practice, positive experiences and a routine honest assessment of your skill level, you will develop an enduring confidence on the golf course. ............................................................................. > Alex Witt is the PGA Tournament Coordinator at Classic Club. MENTAL TOUGHNESS Let confidence guide you to success on the course • BY ALEX WITT, PGA GAME IMPROVEMENT > L E A R N M O R E A B O U T G O L F I N S T R U C T I O N AT C L A S S I C C LU B

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