Image from Fairmonde Golf Facebook
I’m struck by the complexity of this quote, “My mental strength was probably my 15th club.” This comes from distinguished Swedish golfer Annika Sörenstam, regarded as one of the female golf greats in history.
In her professional pursuit of golf, Sörenstam had to develop a resilient mental fortitude to face daily expectations and pressure, and to excel over her competition — at her peak, Sörenstam was doing exceptionally well, a star for all to see.
There’s more to it: “I always considered my mind my 15th club. Not only with positive thoughts and vision, but also with course strategy and playing to my strengths. I took great pride in thinking my way around the golf course.”
For the uninitiated, the 15th club is a mental health tool used by golf champions to steel themselves, effectively blocking out negative thoughts, doubts, and fears both during practice and major championships.
Fact is, mental health plays a crucial role in golf, as the sport requires a delicate balance of technical skills, strategic decision-making, and emotional resilience.
Golfers who prioritize their mental well-being and develop robust mental skills are better equipped to handle the pressures and challenges that arise during a round, ultimately enhancing their combined performance, enjoyment, and longevity of the game. Just by talking to other golfers, who’ve had varying years of experience with the game, I’ve discovered some ways in which developing a strong mental game can enhance your golf experience:
Improved Focus and Concentration
Golf psychology demands unwavering focus and concentration, as even a momentary lapse can result in costly mistakes — by honing mental skills such as mindfulness, visualization, and self-talk, golfers can train their minds to stay present and maintain a heightened state of awareness throughout the round.
Emotional Regulation
Golf is rife with emotional ups and downs, so the ability to manage emotions effectively changes your performance. Mental skills training, such as with reading books or attending teaching bootcamps, equip golfers with techniques to control anxiety, frustration, and self-doubt, allowing them to maintain composure and make rational decisions under pressure.
Confidence and Self-Belief
A strong mental game fosters confidence and self-belief, which are essential components of golfing success. Confidence in what you do makes all the difference, helping you even in the face of setbacks or challenging situations. Golfers are better able to approach each shot with conviction and resilience by cultivating and embracing a growth mindset.
Strategic Decision-Making
In a game of strategy, mental skills can enhance a golfer's ability to make sound decisions on the course. Developing analytical and critical thinking skills are important for golfers, to better assess their strengths and weaknesses during a game, and make more informed shot selections or inform course management strategies.
Enjoyment and Passion
Ultimately, golf is meant to be enjoyed, and a strong mental game contributes to a golfer's overall passion and appreciation for the sport — the growth mindset really enables golfers to find greater fulfillment and satisfaction in their pursuit of excellence.
10 Mental Health Reading Recommendations for Golfers
Inspired by mentally-strong golfers, including Fairmonde Golf ambassador, Mayo Hayawaka, I’ve picked up a couple of mental health books to improve my inner golfer. These books offer invaluable insights and practical strategies on the mental game of golf, combining personal experiences of the golfer-authors, research-backed techniques, and inspiring narratives to spur you to unlock your full potential.
1. A Girl's On-course Survival Guide to Golf: Solid Golf Fundamentals — From Tee to Green and In-Between
Image from Amazon
In this engaging and insightful book, we’ll be learning a few fundamentals from Christina Ricci, an avid golfer and instructor. Through easily-understood, practical exercises and real-life examples, she teaches female readers how to cultivate a present-focused mindset and tackles complex aspects of golf.
2. The Mindful Golfer: How to Lower Your Handicap While Raising Your Consciousness
Image from Amazon
Getting into this book by author Stephen Alqtschuler, who combines his expertise in mindfulness and his love for golf to offer a unique approach to improving one's mental game, I understand more about the challenging moments in golf and how to overcome them. This book provides strategies for cultivating awareness through perceived difficulties, letting go of distractions, and embracing the present moment on the course.
“Golf can bring out the best in a human being [...] or the worst. It is a game that gets in your blood, plays with your mind, rattles your nerves, thrills you to no end, provides deep satisfaction and relaxation, and frustrates you to the point of giving up entirely.”
3. The Women's Guide to Golf: A Handbook for Beginners
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The value of a comprehensive guide for golfers is unmatched. Professional golf instructor Kellie Stenzel lays down the basics of golf in her book, which includes clear explanations and easy-to-follow instructions to strengthen your golf foundation.
“Golf is a growing game for women, and many times there is a fear to ask simple questions.”
4. Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game
Image from Amazon
Written by Dr. Joseph Parent, a renowned PGA coach and sports psychologist, "Zen Golf" delves into the principles of Zen Buddhism and their application to the mental game of golf. Caught up in the engaging narratives and practical exercises, I see how necessary it is to cultivate a calm, focused mindset and embrace the challenges of golf – or as we call it, being “in the Zone”.
“Most golfers profess to want to improve their games. When people find out that I coach the mental game, many of them say, “Boy, do I need that. But most aren’t really interested in learning — like upside-down cups.”
5. Every Shot Must Have a Purpose
Image from Penguin Books Australia
I was impressed by this book by Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott, both legendary golf coaches themselves, as they broke down the game of golf to its very basics. Nilsson and Marriott emphasize developing mental toughness alongside physical skills in golf to help achieve phenomenal results on the golf course.
“Don’t waste energy fretting about those things over which you have no control.”
6. The Mental Game of Golf: A Guide to Peak Performance
Image from Amazon
Who knew that a book from almost two decades ago would still be relevant today? In “The Mental Game of Golf,” Patrick Cohn offers a comprehensive guide to mastering the mental aspect of golf. This book covers a range of valuable topics, including goal-setting, visualization, self-talk, and emotional management, providing you with essential tools to achieve your best shot.
“To get the most out of your physical ability you have to be a complete player with a strong desire and motivation to succeed and a commitment to understanding the mental game.”
7. Golf Annika's Way: How I Elevated My Game to Be the Best — and How You Can Too
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Easily my favorite golf icon, Annika Sörenstam offers an intimate peek into professional golfing techniques in her book. I also found it interesting that the book contained actionable steps to develop discipline and a growth mindset, alongside golfing fundamentals like grip and posture, and how that translates to a good swing.
“[...] golf is a never-ending challenge; there’s always one more shot to hit, one more opponent to beat, one more course to think my way around. That’s why I love the game, and I’ll bet that’s why you love it, too.”
8. Fearless Golf: Conquering the Mental Game
Image from Amazon
In this insightful book, Dr. Gio Valiante, a renowned sports psychologist, explores the mental challenges faced by golfers and dishes out some practical strategies for overcoming them to become a brilliant shot. I’m more and more intrigued as I read on about real-life golfing fears and discover the research-backed techniques that transforms this fear into a winning mindset.
“The successful golfers play fearless golf [...] As Tiger Woods has offered, fear may be real, but it is no match for the committed, confident golfer.”
9. The Golfer's Mind: Play to Play Great
Image from Simon & Schuster
A true golf girlie, I’m happy to have found a golf audiobook to keep me company during long commutes — I’m learning something new every time I listen to it. Dr. Bob Rotella, a sports psychologist and avid golfer, offers a unique perspective on the mental game in his audiobook, emphasizing the importance of developing practical strategies for a positive mindset, managing stress, and enjoying the journey of golf.
“The biggest mistake most people make is to respond passively to what happens on the golf course [...] golf is first a game you play within yourself.”
10. Say Yes to Golf with Anyone: A Woman Golfer's Guide to Confidence and Etiquette
Image from Amazon
When you’re a woman golfer, confidence and etiquette goes hand-in-hand with brushing up your mental prowess. In this helpful guide, Tammy J. Laurent shares her tricks to developing confidence in golfing, so you can play with players of different levels with ease. Laurent also provides etiquette strategies for cultivating resilience, managing emotions, and developing an opportunistic mindset, giving a headstart to female golfers who are shy to play in public.
I don’t regret buying these books in the slightest — they offer a wealth of knowledge and practical strategies for golfers like myself, who are constantly seeking to enhance our mental game and unlock our full potential on the course. Shopping for more mental health books for golf is next on my agenda, but first, I’m ready for a supercharged game with my golf buddies.
