Common Characteristics of Good Golfers

There is no questioning that great champion golfers of our time all share common traits that separate them from their competitors.  Many of the times it is not exclusively physical ability but rather mental strength that propels them to victory in the heat of battle.  Tiger Woods is a perfect example.  Besides being more talented than any other golfer of his time, he still maintained a serious edge of the field just because he was unshakable and had the strongest mental game golf had ever seen.  With that being said, I want to cover common non-physical traits all good golfers possess so that maybe you could too.

Mental Toughness

As mentioned before, having a strong mental game is greatly important.  Many championships could have ended differently if the players in contention were more mentally prepared.  Physical talent and ability will only get you so far and to be a complete golfer you need to have mental strength.  Being mentally tough on the course helps greatly.  It starts with not letting prior bad shots and blunders affect the rest of your round. 

Forgetting mistakes quickly is a must.  You cannot let those previous missteps hold you back. Once they happen, then they happen and believe me, they will happen so when they do there is nothing you can do about it but let it go.  Short term memory is key.  One bad shot should not send your round into a downward spiral.  I have seen this happen plenty of times to plenty of players I have played with throughout the years.  Mistakes happen to everybody. Shake it off, let it be and go play golf in confidence the way you know how.  
 

Confidence

Great players and champions all have a strong confidence in their abilities.  They know that is reason they are where they are and believe they can always win if they’re in a position to do so. They sort of have a swagger to them.  You can tell what they intend to do and it offers them an advantage on the field.  When you are coming down the 18^th with a one shot lead, you may have a “go-to shot” (high cut, low draw, etc.) and enough confidence to execute and close out the round with success. Without confidence, you are already behind.  And behind is no place of a champion. 
 

Work Ethic

Finally, all good golfers have a desire to get better.  A never ending quest to become the best they can possibly be.  Realizing hard work is the key to success, they will not settle for good enough.  They want to be the best.  So should you. Have a drive to get better each and every day you lace up the spikes.  Each day is another opportunity to build on your game and improve. Make the most of your time as developing a solid work ethic is critical on and off of the golf course as you go through life.  Go out and get better.  There is nothing holding you back.

 

Becoming a good golfer is more than owning the perfect swing.  There is more to it. In no other sport is there as much time to think about your game as during a round of golf.  That is where the problems arise if you are not mentally tough.  Positive thoughts boost confidence.  A good attitude can take you long way.  So please develop one, for the sake of your game and your playing competitors.

Start 2015 the Right Way

With the weather warming up and the snow melting, a new golf season is upon us and with that comes new expectations.  Whether you're a 30 handicap or a club champion, every golfer wants to get off to the right start in 2015.  In this post, I hope to offer some useful tips to shake the rust early and begin to make this season your best one yet. So let's get started.

Get a Feel

First, start regaining a feel for all the clubs throughout your bag especially the scoring clubs like your short irons, wedges, and of course the putter.  Take some time to stroke some putts and hit some chips before you head to the tee in excitement.  This careful preparation will give you more confidence when you need to actually perform which in turn can save you some shots early on in the year.

Strike It Right

Making good solid contact is critical in any success on the golf course and I believe it is equally, if not more important early in the season as ever. With conditions and weather that isn't the greatest, it is crucial to make solid contact.  Courses tend to play longer with the rain and wind that comes early on.

My advice would to see a PGA professional and set up a lesson or use it as a tune-up for the season.  This way you get a feel for the correct way the contact should be.  Too many times players head out there without touching a club and end up chunking and shanking easy shots left and right. Nothing is worse for your confidence as a golfer than the bad case of the shanks.  Without good, crisp contact, you'll end up with some sore hands and likely, a score well over par. That doesn't sound like too much fun to me.

Have A Plan

Another significant thing to remember is to always set goals.  Prior to the season is a perfect time to set specific goals for yourself.  Recall areas of your game that need improvement and dedicate time to make a real effort to get better in those areas as the season goes on to reach the goals. 

As for the goals themselves, they can be seasonal goals or ones of individual rounds because it is crucial to always have something to aim for and motivate yourself throughout the year.  When you make goals, make sure they are very detailed and specific.  This way you know exactly what you are shooting for and how you need to accomplish them.  Do not stop until you achieve the them.

Stay Positive

If things don't come easy out of the gates this season, you should remember not to get down on yourself or your game.  Golf, as you know, can be very challenging at times to the point where you question why you are even playing the game in the first place.  Take some time off  (couple days) if you're not up to your expectations as sometimes a break from the game really is the best medicine.


Taking these thoughts into consideration will help to get the year get started smoothly.  It is always good to prepare well in anything you do and golf should be no exception.  Please don't hesitate to leave a comment about any goals you've set and acheived.  I would love to hear back.