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 episodes:

1. #42 [Journey to Scratch] Pressure to Perform, Slowing Down, and Humbling Observations from My Past Two Rounds

2. #43: [Inside the Mind] Maurice Harden: Activate Your Muscles to Prevent Injury and Hit the Ball Further

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. 

It was a quiet Monday morning, less than 48 hours away from the first of back-to-back hurricanes that hit the West coast of Florida.

Not only was I the only individual on the range while I warmed up, but I was also one of five people on the entire golf course that morning.

A freakin’ dream, right?

This experience was unique for many reasons, yet, what stood out most upon reflection was how free of a round I played.

• I was free of distraction.

• I was free of conversation (with others, as there was still an ongoing one in my head).

• I was free of pressure to play faster (or slower). 

• I was free of the pressure to hit a shot with a small group of people watching.

• I was free of the fear of failure - of embarrassment - because nobody was watching.

• I was free of the self-imposed pressure to shoot a better score than my playing partner.

• I was free from rushing back home (my afternoon of calls had been rescheduled).

I was free of nearly all of the mental and emotional hazards of my mind that take me away from playing to my potential.

The result?

I played loose, I had fun, and I was present. The entire round felt like a meditation; I was locked in a flow state.

And, I shot my lifetime low round of an 87.

Yes, this is a unique situation that will likely never happen again; however, what if you could effortlessly begin to let go of the emotional baggage weighing you down and begin playing more freely?

Playing free of doubt, fear, anxiety, nerves, pressure, anger, and an overly strong attachment to a score or outcome?

I imagine that your round would feel vastly different from a typical round.

In today’s newsletter, you’ll learn what it means to play freely - and why this should be your intention each session - and effective action steps to let go of the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors holding you back from playing to your potential.

Whether you’re aiming to break 90, 80, or simply enjoy the game more, the principles you’ll learn here will help you approach each round with a lighter, more focused mindset - allowing you to play your best golf with ease and enjoyment.

Let’s tee off!

What Does It Mean to Play Freely?

Imagine you're hiking up a mountain with a heavy backpack…

Every step feels harder than it should because you're carrying unnecessary weight - doubts, fears, and expectations. 

Now, picture stopping halfway, taking off the backpack, and continuing the hike without the bag's burden upon your back. 

Your steps become lighter, your movements more fluid, and suddenly, you're able to enjoy the scenery and the journey itself.

Playing freely in golf is like removing that backpack. When you let go of the mental and emotional weight, the game feels lighter, smoother, more enjoyable, and you perform at your best.

Playing freely means letting go of the emotional and mental hazards of your mind that hold you back from playing to your potential. 

Playing freely during a round means…

• Approaching each shot, hole, and situation with a relaxed yet focused mindset, unencumbered by mental clutter or emotional baggage. 

• Trusting your strategy, club selection, and shot selection, and executing with commitment and conviction.

• Swinging with trust, commitment, and ease.

• Letting go of any fear, doubt, or harsh negative talk.

• Saying goodbye to the feeling you need to rush, play with a sense of urgency, or force a decision because you don’t have the time to step back or consider another option.

• Being wrapped up in the present moment while experiencing every aspect of the beautiful scenery and lighthearted conversation around you.

When you play freely, you rid yourself of the cumbersome collection of:

• Negative self-talk

• Doubt

• Fear

• Uncertainty

• Distrust

• Anger

• Judgment

How much better would you play if you stepped up to each shot free of any mental clutter or emotional baggage and effortlessly focused on your simple process to execute the desired shot?

Much better, right?

Before we continue to discuss how not to attempt to play freely, I want to address your emotional baggage. 

Emotional Energy Leaks

Imagine you’re driving a car with a full tank of gas, but there’s a small leak in the fuel line…

As you drive, fuel is slowly draining away, and by the time you’re halfway to your destination, the tank is almost empty. 

You didn’t notice the leak at first, but now you realize you won’t have enough energy to get where you need to go. Carrying fear, anxiety, and pressure is like playing with a leaky fuel tank during your round. 

These emotions slowly drain your limited energy throughout the round, leaving you with less and less fuel to focus on what truly matters - executing each shot with clarity and confidence.

Let’s be candid: you know how to execute nearly every shot in a given situation.

So, why don’t you?

It’s not a lack of information problem.

It’s a lack of energy problem.

You begin each day with a finite amount of energy.

The root derivative of the word emotion is “energy in motion.”

Why is this relevant?

The unprocessed anger, grief, or fear you continue to carry with you is energetically costly. 

In an oversimplified manner: these emotions demand a hefty supply of your limited daily fuel, which means you’re left with little energy to execute what needs to be done to achieve your goal - on and off the golf course.

If you show up for your round with fear, anxiety, or anger driving the decisions and actions of the day, you will not only operate with immense tension and tightness throughout your body, but you’ll also have limited energy left to execute what you know needs to be done.

Scratch Tip: If you want to play to your potential, you must make playing free a habit. To expedite this process, you must have a practice(s) to foster healthy, safe, and effective emotional expression.

Many of the clients I work with - from entrepreneurs and business owners, to professional poker players, and competitive golfers - struggle because they’re carrying repressed emotions, such as anger, shame, guilt, or grief. 

These emotions consume them until they dig into the work to release and heal them.

As a Golf Hypnotherapist, I use hypnosis to defuse toxic emotions robbing you of the energy you need to play to your potential. Click here to schedule a free Mental Game Strategy session to learn how I can help you make playing to your potential a habit. 

What Playing Freely is NOT

Before we begin discussing strategies to help you play more freely, it’s imperative you’re aware of what playing freely is not - and what not to do to play more freely.

Playing Freely is Not Repressing Emotion: Playing freely doesn’t mean ignoring or suppressing how you feel. 

You may think you need to push away fear, frustration, or anxiety to perform well. But in reality, trying to bottle up these emotions creates tension and adds to the pressure. 

Playing freely is about acknowledging your emotions and learning to manage them, not hide them.

Playing Freely is Not the Absence of Thoughts: A clear mind is important, but playing freely isn’t about having zero thoughts during a round. Remember that you have between 50,000 and 70,000 thoughts per day…

Thoughts will come and go, and trying to eliminate them entirely can lead to frustration. 

Instead, playing freely means accepting your thoughts as part of the process and choosing which ones to engage with, while letting others pass.

Playing Freely is Not the Absence of Fear, Anxiety, or Pressure: Playing freely isn’t about never feeling fear, anxiety, or pressure. You’re an emotional being.

These emotions are natural and will always be part of competitive golf. The key is not to eliminate them but to acknowledge and accept their presence without letting them control your actions or decisions. 

You stay in the driver’s seat, calmly navigating these feelings rather than being overwhelmed by them.

Playing Freely is Not Avoiding Uncertainty: Golf is filled with uncertainty, and playing freely doesn’t mean having all the answers or guarantees of success. 

Instead, it’s about embracing uncertainty and trusting your preparation and instincts in the face of the unknown. It’s about making clear, confident decisions despite uncertain outcomes.

Playing freely means acknowledging and accepting the full range of emotions, thoughts, and challenges that come with the game, but maintaining control over how you respond. 

It’s about remaining in the driver’s seat of your actions and decisions, allowing you to play with confidence, ease, and clarity.

How to Play More Freely

Playing freely means stepping onto the course with a clear, focused, and unburdened mind. It’s about focusing on the process rather than being consumed by the outcome, allowing your natural abilities to shine. 

When you strike the right balance between effort and ease, you’ll find yourself playing your best because you’re no longer weighed down by mental clutter.

Here are key elements to prioritize so you can experience more freedom during your round and play to your potential:

See and Feel the Best in Your Game: Consciously commit to choosing a positive attitude every time you step on the course. Visualize your best shots, feel the confidence in your swing, and carry that energy throughout the round.

Build Confidence: You can’t play freely if you lack confidence in certain areas of your game. If short putts or tee shots with your driver make you feel tentative, invest time practicing those areas. The more prepared you are, the less mental clutter you’ll carry during your round.

Prepare Your Body: Just as your mind needs preparation, so does your body. A solid fitness routine will help you feel strong and capable throughout the round, making it easier to trust your swing and play with ease.

Harness the Power of Your Mind: Your mind has the ability to increase focus, calm, and presence while reducing fear and anxiety. Use visualization techniques to mentally rehearse how you’ll handle mistakes and bounce back with composure. This mental preparation ensures you can perform at your best before stepping onto the course.

Use Your Breath: Your breath is a powerful tool to manage emotions. Practicing breathwork off the course cultivates emotional resilience while using specific breathing techniques during your round helps you maintain focus and defuse negative energy.  A simple deep breath can bring you back to the present and free your mind from distracting thoughts.

Ready to harness the power of your mind and the heavily research-backed strategy of visualization to play your best round of golf?

Click here to download My “play your best round” hypnosis audio recording.

Execute Your Pre-Shot Routine Consistently - PERIOD: Your pre-shot routine is designed to quiet the mental noise and provide a reliable, automatic process for every shot. Stick to your routine to keep your mind free of distractions, allowing you to play on autopilot and focus solely on the task at hand.

Set an Intention for Every Round: Before every round, set an intention and revisit it throughout. For example, you might focus on staying calm or being present in every moment. This helps you stay focused on what matters most to you during your round.

Focus on What You Can Control: You can’t control the course conditions, the weather, or your playing partners, but you can control your effort, attitude, and pre- and post-shot routines. Freeing yourself from the things you can’t change allows you to direct your energy toward what you can influence.

Avoid the Trap of Expectation: The gap between your expectations and reality often invites frustration. Instead, embrace the round for what it is - another opportunity to improve and enjoy the game.

Check In with Yourself Regularly: Throughout the round, take the time to check in with yourself. Are you holding on to tension? Are you distracted by frustration? These quick mental check-ins help you stay grounded and focused.

Invite Ease, Gratitude, and Joy: While some emotions drain your energy, others - like gratitude, ease, and joy - can recharge you. Make a conscious effort to invite these emotions into your round, and you’ll find yourself playing more freely and enjoying the game, your company, and the day itself.

As a Golf Hypnotherapist, I use hypnosis to unlearn and upgrade outdated, habitual ways of feeling, thinking, and behaving that are holding you back from your potential.

Click here to schedule a free Mental Game Strategy session 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, choose at least one strategy I shared for playing more freely and put it into action next round. 

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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