- More Pars Than Bogeys
- Posts
- From Three-Putts and Self-Doubt to Player of the Year
Hey Fellow Golfer -
Thank you for reading this week’s More Pars Than Bogeys Newsletter. If you find it valuable, could you forward this email to a fellow golfer?
Thank you.
You can click here to read the online version of this week’s newsletter.
And be sure to catch up on this week’s podcast episode:
P.S. If you’re interested in learning more about how mindset coaching and hypnotherapy can help you get unstuck from the proverbial bunker of poor performance on (and off) the course, click here to schedule a coaching discovery call with me.
Every golfer has a shot that haunts them.
For Luke, it wasn’t a shank off the tee or a chunked wedge.
It was the second putt.
The one he should make.
The one he has to make.
And when he didn’t—when that short putt lipped out or sailed long—he didn’t just feel disappointed…
He felt like a failure. Like a moron.
And in those moments, his entire emotional state shifted. His hands would tighten. His shoulders would tense. His inner voice would go from mildly critical to outright cruel.
“You idiot.”
“You’re blowing it—again.”
“How can you miss that?”
That one missed putt would color his entire round - he’d spiral into frustration, tension, and experience more pressure, only making it more likely to happen again. It was a vicious cycle that left him exhausted after every round and increasingly afraid of putting altogether.
Luke wasn’t just battling his stroke.
He was battling the mental and emotional baggage he carried with him to every green.
In today’s newsletter, you’ll meet Luke and learn how one early-round three-putt used to ruin his entire day—and how that pattern of pressure, anger, and self-doubt wasn’t just hurting his golf game, but quietly sabotaging his career and relationships, too.
You’ll see how we uncovered the hidden origins of his perfectionism and performance anxiety through mindset coaching and hypnosis—and how rewiring these old emotional programs led to a significant breakthrough in his life: on the course, at work, and in how he sees himself.
If you’ve ever felt like one mistake defines your whole round—or that no matter how much effort you put in, it’s never enough—Luke’s story will resonate deeply.
Let’s tee off!
Once Luke began releasing anxiety, fear, and doubt, he went on an absolute tear on the course and on the green!
The Patterns Went Beyond the Putting Green
Luke wasn’t just frustrated because of golf.
He was stuck in a pattern that showed up in every area of life.
At work, anytime something happened outside his control—like a teammate dropping the ball or a client backing out—he felt rage and anxiety swell in his chest.
Just like on the course, his body would tighten, and his mind would spiral. He didn’t just feel stressed—he felt unsafe, out of control, and overwhelmed by a pressure to fix everything.
On the outside, he looked composed.
On the inside, he was cracking.
He was sick of this experience - the constant tune of anxiety and anger.
He knew that more practice wasn’t the answer. He wasn’t missing putts because of his mechanics—he was missing because of his mindset.
What he needed was someone to help him go underneath the surface. To uncover the root of these emotional landmines and retrain his nervous system to respond differently.
And that’s exactly what we did.
What We Uncovered through Mindset Coaching and Hypnosis
Through our work together, Luke came to realize that these patterns weren’t random.
They were protective.
Growing up, Luke had several experiences where his physical safety or emotional belonging felt threatened—whether by conflict, rejection, or the fear of not measuring up.
And as a young boy, he adapted the only way he knew how:
Be perfect.
Stay in control.
Never mess up.
In his subconscious mind, any failure—no matter how small—became a threat to survival.
A threat to being loved.
A threat to staying connected to those who mattered.
To cope, he developed an intense inner critic that policed his every move. He lived in a near-constant state of pressure and hypervigilance, always scanning for potential threats—on the course, at work, in his relationships.
If something felt out of control, his mind and body reacted as if his life were in danger.
And that’s what we changed.
We used hypnosis to go back to the origin of those patterns—to release, reframe, and resolve the stuck emotional energy tied to those moments. To help his nervous system realize that he was no longer that vulnerable boy trying to earn his safety and belonging.
He created new programs—ones rooted in trust, presence, and worthiness.
The result?
A calmer mind.
A quieter inner critic.
And the space to actually enjoy the game again.
Luke shot a new lifetime low and dropped his handicap to an all-time low in 2024. The only change in his approach: working with a mindset and performance coach.
Work with a golf hypnotherapist and mindset coach to unlearn the beliefs, programs, and behaviors that are no longer serving you so that you can play to your potential.
Click here to schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call to learn how I can help you make playing to your potential a habit.
Luke’s Story Recap
Luke didn’t get lucky.
He got honest.
He stopped pretending that swing tweaks could fix deep-rooted stress, and instead, faced the internal noise that was holding him back.
That’s when everything changed.
And now?
He plays lighter. Freer. More present.
Not just on the course—but in his work, relationships, and daily life.
Before Working With Me:
He was an 8.1 handicap index
Averaged multiple three-putts per round
Crippled by pressure, especially over short putts
Constant negative self-talk and a ruthless inner critic
Emotional spirals triggered by both on-course and off-course challenges
Frustration, anger, and self-doubt were regular companions
Why He Worked With Me:
Wanted to go beyond surface-level fixes and address the root cause
Was tired of performance anxiety ruining his rounds
Believed in the power of subconscious transformation and emotional rewiring
What We Discovered and Rewired:
Learned that his perfectionism and inner critic were coping strategies from past emotional threats
Realized how his fear of failure was rooted in a childhood need for safety and belonging
Used hypnosis to resolve old emotional imprints and replace them with confidence, calm, and clarity
2024 Results and Accomplishments:
Handicap dropped from 8.1 to 1.6
Shot a lifetime-best 65
Won multiple tournaments and was named Player of the Year
Eliminated three-putts and built rock-solid confidence
Left a misaligned job to step into one that reflects his values
Transformed how he shows up—in golf, work, and life
2025 Results and Accomplishments:
Left a high-paying job that was no longer aligned with his values
Took a bold leap into a new role that supports his growth and well-being
Won another tournament, made multiple eagles, and continued trending toward scratch
Grew his side hustle fishing podcast into a valuable, fulfilling outlet
Gained peace of mind, emotional control, and a renewed sense of confidence in life and golf
Whoops - I need to keep updating this testimonial because his handicap continues to get lower and lower!
Final Thought
If you’re anything like Luke, you have a deep knowing that more practice and time on the course won’t solve the deep-rooted issues you’re experiencing…the same ones showing up at work and at home, too.
Rather than remaining stuck in a state of fear and inaction, Luke knew that he needed to change if he wanted his results on and off the course to change.
So, he got honest with himself.
He began asking better questions and sought mindset coaching to help him get unstuck and out of his own way.
I help my clients get unstuck and out of their own way so that they can achieve their potential - on and off the course.
Your Next Step
Every newsletter will conclude with a suggested action step and further resources on the topic we discussed.
After reading today’s newsletter, I encourage you to reflect on the mental and emotional patterns holding you back: Are you putting the same amount of effort into unlearning these destructive patterns as you are working on your putting?
If you have any questions, feel free to DM me on Instagram (@thegolfhypnotherapist) or send me an email directly: [email protected]
After reading today’s newsletter, I want you to take the time to complete each step in my goal-setting process. Then, share it with me via email or on social media.
Thank you for reading today’s newsletter.
If you found it valuable, share it with a fellow golfer ready to take their game to the next level.
Until next time,
Paul
P.S. What did you think of today’s newsletter? Reply back / drop a comment below to let me know.
Birdie
Par
Bogey
Thank you for reading.
When you're ready, there are three ways I can help you:
Listen to The Scratch Golfer’s Mindset Podcast: Whether you’re an occasional amateur, a weekend regular, or a competitor seeking a tournament trophy or your pro card, this podcast will help you overcome the mental hazards of your mind to shoot more pars than bogeys. Start listening.
Download My “Play Your Best Round” Hypnosis Audio Recording: Let me help you lock in the level of focus, confidence, and clarity you need to create the mindset necessary to make your next round your best round. Download Your Free Hypnosis Audio.
1-1 Mindset Coaching and Hypnotherapy for Golfers: I help golfers overcome the emotional and mental hazards of their minds to shoot lower scores (and have more fun) using hypnosis. Book a free Golf Mental Game Strategy Call Today.
Reply