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- From Plus-Two to Panic Under Pressure
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.
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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.
What do you do when your game seems to disappear when you need it most, such as on the day of a tournament?
You shoot under par during casual rounds.
Your swing feels dialed.
Your prep is solid.
But when the pressure’s on—something changes.
Suddenly, your game disappears.
Your confidence vanishes.
You start questioning everything.
That was Kyle.
In today’s newsletter, you’ll meet Kyle, one of my exceptional coaching clients who struggled mightily with cultivating confidence under pressure.
You’ll learn what was happening beneath the surface that was holding Kyle back from performing at his best when he needed it most, as well as what steps he took to break free from the outdated programs keeping him stuck below his potential.
Let’s tee off!
From Under Par to Under Pressure: Why Kyle’s Game Vanished When It Mattered Most
When I first met Kyle, he was already a standout in his local golf community.
A plus-two handicap.
Head professional at his country club.
Known for routinely shooting under par in casual rounds.
On paper, Kyle was living every competitive amateur’s dream. But what the paper didn’t show was how much he struggled when it actually mattered (or what his score was…).
Because despite all that talent, he had a handful of tournament rounds where he shot in the 90s.
Nineties.
Not because he forgot how to swing a golf club. But because the version of himself that showed up on tournament days wasn’t free. Wasn’t focused. Wasn’t confident.
He’d get tight.
Try to control his shots.
Overthink.
Doubt every decision.
And spiral into self-sabotage the moment something didn’t go to plan.
It didn’t make sense to him. And it was infuriating.
His goal in working with me was crystal clear:
“I want to become the best golfer I can be—and win sectional and national events. I don’t just want to hang—I want to show up and win, especially under pressure.”
To do that, we had to go far deeper than tournament prep routines, positive thinking, or course management.
We had to get to the root of what was truly holding him back.
Before we ever talked about performance tactics or golf-specific conversation, we uncovered the real reasons Kyle was struggling in competition:
A lack of true confidence: Despite his low handicap, Kyle was quick to second-guess himself. One poor shot could shake his belief. And it wasn’t just on the course—this self-doubt showed up in other areas of life, too.
Imposter syndrome: He often felt like he didn’t belong. Like his plus-two was a fluke. Like everyone else knew something he didn’t. He was waiting to be exposed.
Fear of judgment: He cared deeply about what others thought—especially fellow competitors. At tournaments, he’d even change his warm-up routine to avoid drawing attention.
Fear of winning: This one often surprises people, but it’s real (click here to read more about what’s known as the upper-limit problem). Kyle feared how his life might change if he actually won. Would people expect more from him? Would he have to prove himself every time he teed it up?
And here’s the part most golfers miss:
Kyle’s biggest breakthroughs didn’t happen on the range. They happened when we looked off the course.
Dismantling Destructive Mindset Programs
On our first call together, we uncovered a major source of stress in his personal life that was silently draining his energy—mentally, emotionally, and physically.
And that kind of depletion doesn’t just vanish when you walk onto the first tee.
It follows you - like it followed him in the situations that required the most energy to remain poised and composed (like a golf tournament).
You can’t play free, focused, confident golf when you’re carrying unresolved tension from the rest of your life.
That’s why a huge part of our work centered around eliminating that stress, building emotional resiliency, and helping Kyle reconnect to a sense of calm confidence he could live in—on and off the course.
Additionally, it’s important to note that the fear and lack of confidence Kyle was experiencing prior to working together were a result of learned responses from earlier moments in his life.
Yes, you understand me correctly: patterns of fear, doubt, anxiety, and caring what other people think are all learned patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
Just like they were learned, they can be unlearned. Through hypnotherapy and mindset coaching, we uncovered the moments in his life when the dial of confidence got turned down and when he learned to default to fear when feeling uncomfortable.
Thanks to Kyle’s growth mindset, coachability, and tenacious work ethic, we’ve cultivated significant changes in what he thinks, feels, and believes in himself, which is showing up on and off the course!
In his opening tournament round in 2025, he carded a 77 in harsh winds at a difficult course.
The biggest reason for his above-par score?
He was driving the ball 30 yards further than last year, which caught him by surprise, to say the least. Fortunately, he adapted and allowed the emotional resiliency and belief in himself to shine through as he conquered this unexpected challenge.
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.
Kyle’s Story Recap
Before Working With Me:
Routinely shot under par but fell apart during tournaments
Struggled with confidence, often second-guessing himself
Felt like an imposter, doubting whether he truly belonged
Obsessed over others’ opinions, especially in tournament setting
Feared success and the unknowns that came with winning
Carried significant off-course stress that bled into his golf game
Why He Worked With Me:
Wanted to unlock his full potential and perform under tournament pressure
Needed to conquer self-doubt and play with genuine confidence
Sought support in identifying and eliminating internal and external stressors - especially the sneaky forms of sabotage he wasn’t aware of
Results and Accomplishments:
Playing with calm, poise, and quiet confidence
Opened the 2025 season with a strong tournament round in difficult conditions
Cultivated a powerful set of mental habits and tools that will enable him to continue moving toward his potential
Final Thought
If you’re anything like Kyle was, you’ve already:
Spent thousands on swing lessons
Watched every YouTube video out there
Practiced like hell to “figure it out”
And yet, in the moments that matter most…
…you still feel tight.
…you still question yourself.
…you still struggle to play with freedom and flow.
Just like Kyle, you might be looking for answers in the wrong places.
Because the real hazard?
It’s not your mechanics. It’s not your warm-up. And it’s not your putter.
It’s the stress, fear, doubt, and emotion that live in your mind—whether you’re aware of it or not.
Clear that, and your game (and life) will transform in ways you can’t even imagine yet.
I can help you get there. Let’s talk.
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 hitting driver?
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.
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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.
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