- More Pars Than Bogeys
- Posts
- Mentally Tough Tournament Golf
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.
The forecast called for heat—and it delivered.
Ninety-three degrees.
Zero cloud cover.
And enough humidity to make your glove feel soaked before you even stepped onto the first tee.
But the heat wasn’t the only thing rising.
It was my first-ever Member-Member tournament. My first time playing match play. And my first experience navigating five rounds of competitive golf across three days, paired with a playing partner I had just met 24 hours prior.
I had no idea what I was walking into.
What I encountered was far more than a test of swing mechanics or stamina. Yes, the conditions were brutal, the competition was strong, and the golf course demanded precision.
But what challenged me most wasn’t the golf—it was what the golf exposed.
Tournament golf reveals everything.
It highlights the habits, tendencies, and blind spots you’ve developed when the stakes are low—and magnifies them under pressure.
It shows you where you leak energy.
Where your confidence wavers.
Where your focus falters.
And where your emotions still get the best of you.
It humbles you. It sharpens you. And, if you’re willing, it transforms you.
Over the course of 63 holes, I was exposed in ways I didn’t expect. But I also walked away more encouraged, motivated, and mentally locked in than I’ve ever been.
In today’s newsletter, I’m sharing the most powerful mindset lessons I took away from this experience—lessons that will help you better manage pressure, protect your energy, stay mentally present, and play to your potential when it matters most.
Because if there’s one thing I know now, it’s this:
Tournament golf hits different.
And that’s exactly why you need to play it.
Let’s tee off!
1. Stay in the Fight (Even When You're OB Off the Tee)
One of my proudest moments came not from a birdie, but from how many bogeys I saved.
I lost count of how many times I found myself in trouble—terrible lies, punch-outs, fairway bunkers—and still managed to stay in the hole. There were multiple instances where my playing partner was performing to start the hole, yet, faltered in his short game, which meant it was essential someone else was able to push to save par or bogey.
I wouldn’t have been able to do that if I had checked out after one bad shot.
Lesson: You are always one good shot away from saving a hole, shifting momentum, or turning the round around. Stay in the fight.
2. Your Emotional Energy Is More Valuable Than Your Swing
I watched grown men—some great golfers—unravel because of their energy.
One playing partner cursed the maintenance crew for a pin placement.
Another broke down over a “friendly” rules disagreement.
And I witnessed a two-some bicker like an old married couple from the first to the last hole.
In each case, the player began playing poorly after (or even before) the incident, yet none of those reactions were rooted in the person’s actual playing ability.
Tournament golf doesn’t just test your swing—it tests your ability to manage your emotions, ego, and expectations.
If you can't protect your energy, you're leaking fuel before the round even gets hard.
Lesson: Learn to identify energy leaks—and close them. That means breathwork. That means letting go. That means walking away when necessary. You can’t play to your potential when you’re giving your power away.
3. Pressure Is a Privilege (If You Learn to Label It Right)
My heart was racing.
It wasn’t fear.
It wasn’t anxiety.
Standing over a 12-footer to win the hole, with my partner out and eyes on me—it was the most fun I’ve had on a course all year.
That physical surge you feel in tournament golf?
The pounding heart, sweaty palms, shallow breath?
It’s the same physiological signal—but you choose the label.
I chose excitement.
And because I did, I was able to stay calm. Present. Clear.
Lesson: Learn to reinterpret pressure as proof that you care. That your body is ready. That you're exactly where you’re supposed to be.
If you’re serious about taking your game to the next level - on and off the course - click here to schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call to learn how I can help you make playing to your potential a habit.
4. The Course Is Hard Enough—Don’t Make It Harder With Poor Self-Talk
I’ll never forget the moment it happened.
We were midway through one of our Saturday matches, in a tight back-and-forth battle, when I watched the round start slipping away—not because of swing mechanics, but because of mindset.
My partner, Pat, was frustrated. A few bad swings, a couple unlucky bounces, and suddenly his shoulders slumped, his grip tightened, and his language shifted.
“This always happens.”
“I can’t hit a single good shot today.”
“Why do I even try?”
Sound familiar?
We’ve all been there—one poor shot spirals into a mental tailspin, and before you know it, you’re out of the hole before it’s even finished. But here’s what made this moment memorable: I saw it happening, and I saw the opportunity to shift it.
“Hey,” I said calmly, “we’re one swing away. Let’s get back to neutral and give the next shot a chance.”
He nodded. Took a breath. Stepped up—and striped it.
That moment didn’t win us the match.
But it reminded me of this truth: Your internal dialogue shapes your external performance.
You can hit the same swing, from the same lie, with two completely different outcomes—depending on what you’re telling yourself before you pull the club back.
Lesson: Don’t underestimate the power of your self-talk. It either reinforces belief and composure or quietly feeds frustration and collapse. Start noticing what you say to yourself. Would you talk to a playing partner that way? If not, it’s time to shift the tone. Your mindset is your most important club.
5. Guard Your Headspace Like Your Handicap Depends on It
One of our Saturday matches started with what should’ve been a clean slate—but it didn’t take long before tension crept in.
One of our opponents had a certain… energy.
Not overtly disrespectful, but enough to rub my partner Pat the wrong way. It was in the way he carried himself, the tone of his voice, the subtle jabs and comments disguised as small talk.
And I could see it—Pat was rattled.
He couldn’t stop talking about him.
Couldn’t shake the annoyance.
His rhythm was off.
His body language got tighter.
And with each hole, his focus slipped further away—not because of his game, but because he gave someone else real estate in his head.
And I get it.
We’ve all had that one playing partner who throws us off.
A guy who plays slow.
Or talks too much.
Or questions your drop.
Suddenly, you're not playing your game anymore—you're reacting to theirs.
But here’s the thing: the moment you let someone else’s presence dictate your emotions, you’ve given away your power.
Lesson: You can’t control who you’re paired with—but you can control whether or not they get to live rent-free in your head. Learn to recognize when someone else is hijacking your focus, and reset.
Use your breath. Walk away from the cart. Regain control of your energy. Because the second you give it away, your swing goes with it.
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.
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 hope you’ll sign up to participate in an upcoming local tournament. They’re phenomenal teachers and connect you with excellent golfers and like-minded people - a win-win.
Check out one of my transformational guided hypnosis audios for further visualization support here.
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