In today’s episode, I’ll recap…

• This past week, I played five balls per hole on a par-three short course (seriously),
• Breaking 100 for the second time
• Playing the front nine solo and the back nine with a group of rowdy buddies
• Grinding my way through some less-than-pretty golf
• Keeping golf fun
• Managing self-placed expectations.

Start listening.

P.S. I’m conducting research to better understand how I can provide the content and education you need to shoot more pars than bogeys.

I want to learn more about your challenges, fears, desires, and goals so I can create content that impacts you and your game at a deeper level.

If you currently have a double-digit handicap and are determined to break 90 (or 80), I’d love to ask you a handful of questions over a quick Zoom call.

If you’re open to it, you can schedule at your convenience here.

Key Points:

• Consistent practice and focus on the short game can lead to significant improvement in distance control.
• Having a consistent warm-up routine is essential for preparing mentally and physically for a round of golf.
• Playing with others can create pressure and distractions, but it's important to focus on having fun and staying in the present moment.
• Blow-up holes can be analyzed to identify areas for improvement in course management and decision-making.
• A golf-specific training program that emphasizes mobility, flexibility, and endurance can help improve performance on the course.

Key Quotes:

• "You as well need two variations of your pre-round warmup routine."
• “I did not play well. And I want to unpack some of the learning lessons and the challenges and I'll sprinkle in the wins because there were many wins in there.”
• “I need a backup routine. I need a short routine that allows me to be physically warm and to quickly build the confidence I need to play my best.”
• “I'll be very frank with you my fear I need to overcome is playing with others - there's this pressure I place on myself to be perfect to perform to live up to my potential and the expectations I place on myself”

Subscribe to the More Pars Than Bogeys Newsletter.

This newsletter helps double-digit golfers overcome the emotional and mental hazards of their minds so that they can shoot more pars than bogeys.

Each week, I’ll provide insights, principles, and strategies to help you deter distractions, find your focus, manage your emotions, and cultivate boundless confidence so that you can play to your potential.

Subscribe now.

Are you curious to learn how hypnosis can help you shoot lower scores? Snag my free hypnosis audio recording today to help you play your best round tomorrow.

Download it here.

For all things 1:1 Mental Game Coaching, Group Mental Game Coaching, and Speaking, visit me here: www.golfmindsetcoaching.com.

For feedback, questions, or to take me out for a round of golf, shoot me an email or connect with me on social media:

• Instagram: @paulsaltercoaching
• Twitter: @parsoverbogeys
• LinkedIn: Paul Salter Coaching

Time Stamps:

• 00:00: Introduction and Trending in the Right Direction
• 03:16: Improving Distance Control and Short Game
• 09:35: The Importance of a Consistent Warm-Up Routine
• 13:28: Challenges with Blow-Up Holes
• 16:02: Managing Pressure and Distractions When Playing with Others
• 17:46: Analyzing Blow-Up Holes for Course Management
• 24:46: Creating a Golf-Specific Training Program

Meet Henry Kurusz IV, also known as Bear.

He attended a high school golf powerhouse - the same school Charlie Woods now attends and the one Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman sent their kids to - and despite having two small school offers to play collegiate golf, he decided to walk on Florida State to play. He won the walk-on tournament to make the team.

Unfortunately, an injury derailed his college career, yet it would prove to be minuscule to the lupus diagnosis that almost took the game away from him in 2010 - and again in 2022 when symptoms flared up.

You’ll hear Henry’s inspiring and admirable story, which includes winning thousands of dollars as a long-drive competitor (and competing on ESPN), and returning to the game that is ingrained in who he is despite battling lupus.

You’ll learn how he approaches and manages the mental game of golf, the feedback and coaching he’d offer his younger self - and shares with his two young boys - and what he recommends you do to accelerate your progress toward becoming a scratch golfer.

Get your notepad out and start listening.

P.S. I’m conducting research to better understand how I can provide the content and education you need to shoot more pars than bogeys.

I want to learn more about your challenges, fears, desires, and goals so I can create content that impacts you and your game at a deeper level.

If you currently have a double-digit handicap and are determined to break 90 (or 80), I’d love to ask you a handful of questions over a quick Zoom call.

If you’re open to it, you can schedule at your convenience here.

Key Quotes:

• "It just stemmed from getting away from that mindset, getting the right mindset and playing a little more course management, playing the golf ball and getting it in play."
• "How did you keep your sanity, your clarity? Seeing them love the game and love finding golf balls and hitting golf balls."
• "It's learning a lot about the course management, really learning where your strengths and weaknesses are and trying to play towards that."
• “So there's a blood clot behind my knee. And so in the process of finding out why a relatively healthy 27 year old developed a blood clot, we developed or found out they had lupus. And so just kind of went with it.”

Subscribe to the More Pars Than Bogeys Newsletter.

This newsletter helps double-digit golfers overcome the emotional and mental hazards of their minds so that they can shoot more pars than bogeys.

Each week, I’ll provide insights, principles, and strategies to help you deter distractions, find your focus, manage your emotions, and cultivate boundless confidence so that you can play to your potential.

Subscribe now.

Are you curious to learn how hypnosis can help you shoot lower scores? Snag my free hypnosis audio recording today to help you play your best round tomorrow.

Download it here.

For all things 1:1 Mental Game Coaching, Group Mental Game Coaching, and Speaking, visit me here: www.golfmindsetcoaching.com.

For feedback, questions, or to take me out for a round of golf, shoot me an email or connect with me on social media:

• Instagram: @scratchgolfermindset
• Twitter: @parsoverbogeys
• LinkedIn: Paul Salter Coaching

Time Stamps:

• 00:00: Introduction and Family Life
• 03:22: Discovering Long Drive Competitions
• 06:18: Changing Approach to the Game
• 13:06: Focus on Short Game and Course Management
• 15:06: Transition from College Golf to Long Drive
• 20:27: Golf as a Coping Mechanism for Lupus
• 22:53: Strategies for Managing Challenging Moments
• 24:39: The Joy of Playing Golf with Family
• 29:17: Course Management and Playing to Your Strengths
• 31:10: The Pitfalls of the Distance Obsession
• 35:32: Dealing with Pressure to Please Others
• 41:41: The Value of Playing with Better Players

Welcome to the first installment of the “Journey to Scratch” series of The Scratch Golfer’s Mindset Podcast.

Rather than trying to cram valuable coaching and education alongside updates on my own journey to scratch into a single episode, I believe you’ll get more value if I separate the two entirely.

Each Tuesday, I’ll recap my past week of practice, play, wins, and challenges, as well as detail what I’m working on and how I’m working on overcoming current challenges.

In today’s episode, I’ll recap my first four officially logged rounds (I use the Grint to log my rounds - connect with me: pauljsalter07), discuss my thoughts on mulligans, breakfast balls, and a two-ball scramble (you may disagree with me), as well as update you on what I’m trying to achieve by November 13, 2024…

Start listening.

P.S. I’m conducting research to better understand how I can provide the content and education you need to shoot more pars than bogeys.

I want to learn more about your challenges, fears, desires, and goals so I can create content that impacts you and your game at a deeper level.

If you currently have a double-digit handicap and are determined to break 90 (or 80), I’d love to ask you a handful of questions over a quick Zoom call.

If you’re open to it, you can schedule at your convenience here.

Learn from local teaching pro Chris Ardolina.

Key Quotes:

• "I f%cking broke 100. I was stoked. Shot a 99 the other day."
• "I am living, sleeping, breathing aspects of the mental and emotional game."
• "I swear if I played two balls every hole, I'd shoot a 55 with one of them and a 45 with another."

Subscribe to the More Pars Than Bogeys Newsletter.

This newsletter helps double-digit golfers overcome the emotional and mental hazards of their minds so that they can shoot more pars than bogeys.

Each week, I’ll provide insights, principles, and strategies to help you deter distractions, find your focus, manage your emotions, and cultivate boundless confidence so that you can play to your potential.

Subscribe now.

Are you curious to learn how hypnosis can help you shoot lower scores? Snag my free hypnosis audio recording today to help you play your best round tomorrow.

Download it here.

For all things 1:1 Mental Game Coaching, Group Mental Game Coaching, and Speaking, visit me here: www.golfmindsetcoaching.com.

For feedback, questions, or to take me out for a round of golf, shoot me an email or connect with me on social media:

• Instagram: @scratchgolfermindset
• Twitter: @parsoverbogeys
• LinkedIn: Paul Salter Coaching

Time Stamps:

• 00:00: Introduction to Journey to Scratch
• 07:46: The Importance of Mental and Emotional Work
• 15:46: Using Mulligans and Extra Shots for Practice
• 19:08: Areas of Improvement: Short Game and Wedge Shots