Please note: We’re currently transferring our original golf coaching videos to YouTube. The lessons listed below will become available as they’re uploaded. All coaching is free to watch, with no registration required.
Golf isn’t just about how well you swing the club. What happens between shots, how you react to mistakes and the decisions you make during a round can have just as much influence on your score.
We’ve probably all had rounds where one bad shot leads to another.
You hit a poor drive, get frustrated, try to make up for it with your next shot and suddenly a hole that was going reasonably well has turned into a disaster.
And sometimes that frustration follows you onto the next tee.
In this free coaching course, PGA Professional Richard Lawless looks at the mental side of playing golf and how you can develop a more consistent approach to the situations you face on the course.
The lessons cover dealing with nerves, managing expectations, staying focused, using positive language and body language, and avoiding the temptation to think too far ahead.
Rich also looks at how your playing partners, previous experiences and even things happening away from the golf course can influence the way you play.
There are 14 coaching videos, each covering a different aspect of managing your thoughts and decisions during a round.
The aim isn’t to suggest that you should always be positive or that you’ll never get frustrated again.
It’s to help you recognise some of the situations that affect your golf and explore different ways of responding to them.
You can work through the lessons in order or return to individual subjects whenever there’s something you’d like to work on.
Dealing With Mind Games
Golf can become complicated when you start thinking too much about what might go wrong.
Rich looks at some of the mental challenges golfers face and how your thoughts can influence the way you approach a shot.
Overcoming First Tee Nerves
Even experienced golfers can feel nervous standing on the first tee, particularly in a competition.
Rich discusses first-tee nerves and ways to approach that opening shot without allowing the occasion to take over.
Using Positive Language
The things you say to yourself during a round can influence how you respond to good and bad shots.
Rich explores how using more constructive language can help you approach the next shot with a clearer mind.
Using Positive Body Language
How you carry yourself on the course can reflect your confidence and attitude.
Rich looks at body language and how becoming more aware of it can influence your approach to the game.
Leaving Work Behind
Sometimes the biggest distraction on the golf course has nothing to do with golf.
Rich discusses the importance of leaving everyday worries behind and giving yourself the opportunity to concentrate on the round.
A Game Of Two Halves
An 18-hole round can change considerably between the front nine and back nine.
Rich looks at approaching different stages of a round without allowing earlier results to dictate what happens next.
Avoid Thinking Ahead
It’s easy to start calculating your score, thinking about the closing holes or imagining what might happen if you finish well.
Rich discusses the importance of concentrating on the shot you’re playing rather than getting ahead of yourself.
Try Reframing
Sometimes the way you look at a situation can make it feel more difficult than it needs to be.
Rich explores how changing your perspective can help you respond differently to challenging situations on the course.
Staying Hydrated
Concentration and physical comfort can be affected by how well you look after yourself during a round.
Rich discusses hydration as part of maintaining your focus and readiness throughout the game.
Playing Easy Holes
Some holes look straightforward on the scorecard, but that doesn’t mean they always produce easy scores.
Rich looks at how expectations can influence your decisions when playing holes you feel you should score well on.
Using Your Memory
Previous experiences can influence how you approach a golf shot, particularly when you’ve struggled on the same hole before.
Rich explores how your memories can affect your thinking and how you might use past experiences more constructively.
Playing The Same Course
Playing your home course regularly brings familiarity, but it can also create expectations and habits.
Rich looks at how to maintain your concentration when playing somewhere you know particularly well.
Managing Expectations
Expecting too much from your golf can make an otherwise enjoyable round frustrating.
Rich discusses managing expectations and approaching your game with a more realistic understanding of what you’re capable of producing.
Managing Playing Partners
The people you’re playing with can influence the atmosphere and pace of your round.
Rich looks at managing your own approach when playing with different personalities and avoiding unnecessary distractions.
Making the Most of Your Mental Game
You don’t need to remember every piece of advice or try to change the way you think about golf overnight.
The important thing is to recognise the situations that affect your own game and find approaches that help you respond more consistently.
Some days you’ll manage your thoughts and decisions better than others.
And occasionally you’ll know exactly what you should do, then go ahead and do the opposite anyway.
That’s golf.
Use these lessons as a reference and return to them whenever the mental side of your game needs a little attention.