INSTRUCTION

Reset Expectations For Better Golf Experiences

Hopefully by now the golf courses in your state are open and eagerly await your arrival. What an opportunity to press your own reset button to create a positive experience. We all have felt the anticipation of shooting great rounds as new Spring seasons lure us back. But this time it’s different. What will your expectations be?

Of course, you will have a legitimate excuse to shoot a million. The shelter in place protocols of the last month surely have created more “rust” in your game than ever before. With all practice facilities closed, many courses will initially turn into “park and play” opportunities. You’ll arrive with just enough time to grab your clubs, walk straight to the first tee, put a peg in the ground and BOOM. Working on golf drills and pounding balls will have to wait until the practice facilities open again. You won’t be alone in shooting higher than normal scores!

So, what can you do, regardless of your score, to enjoy the game more this year? First, adjust expectations. Golf can be a cruel game, pushing us towards frustration with every missed shot. Know that the scores of even the best Tour players in the world fluctuate. Justin Thomas won 5 times in 2017. But he missed 6 cuts. His highest and lowest score differed by 21 shots!! Golf is a game with inconsistency built in. Bad stuff happens! Covid-19 has given us the chance to put that in a totally new perspective.

Make new choices. Lose the anger and ALL negative self-talk. Monitor your reactions by putting a rubber band around your wrist. Every time you feel those negative reactions brewing, SNAP the band on your wrist. Be kinder to yourself when you play, especially on days when your score is higher than your expectation. Remember, 21 shots!!

Covid-19 has shaken us to the core. We have the opportunity to fall in love with golf again. Modify your expectations for a while. Hopefully, your first day back will be a warm, sunny day. Notice the beauty, the sounds of the birds, the smell of Spring. In other words, come to your senses! Eventually, the lesson tees will be open for business. Take a lesson from your PGA or LPGA Professional and you’ll get back on track faster. In the meantime, let’s be grateful to be outdoors! Choose that new mindset. Attitude affects outcome.

View Sue Kaffenburg’s Latest Indoor Training Video

The Pre-Shot Routine

The third principle in Mr. Palmer’s Method is Course Strategy and pre-shot routine is a part of that process. Pre-shot routines are different from person to person, so choosing a strategy that fits both your golfing ability and your playing personality is key to success. If you turn on your television in the afternoon on the weekend and watch the Senior PGA, the LPGA or the PGA Tour, you will notice that all of the good golfers have a pre- shot routine. What is a pre-shot routine and why do it? A pre-shot routine is something you do that prepares you for the golf shot you are about to hit. It can be anything from taking two practice swings to feel and see the shot, aligning your target to your golf ball utilizing your club’s shaft and then stepping into the setup, or giving the club a waggle before you pull the trigger. Learn the difference between taking a risk versus a gamble and how to play golf shots versus thinking swing m e c h a n i c s . Whatever it is, it should be done con

Sue Kaffenburgh, PGA/LPGA,

Bayberry Hills Golf Course, Yarmouth, MA. 508-364-GOLF (4653) www.GolfLessonsCapeCod.com susiepga@comcast.net

By Lucas Hitchcock

sistently prior to every shot. This gives us a sense of consistency when on the golf course, where sometimes nothing seems consistent.

Lucas Hitchcock

Director of Instruction Arnold Palmer Golf Academy at Gillette Ridge Golf Club. Bloomfield, CT (860) 726-1430 LHitchcock@centurygolf.com