There’s a stark difference between being interested in improving your golf game and being committed to improving it.

Unfortunately, many say they’re committed, yet they’re merely interested.

In today’s episode, you’ll learn the difference between being interested in shooting lower scores versus being committed to shooting lower scores, as well as five specific areas you can bring commitment to so that you can begin shooting more pars than bogeys.

Start listening.

P.S. Curious about how hypnosis can help you shoot more pars than bogeys? Learn more about what hypnosis is and is not, how it works, and how it can help you get unstuck from the proverbial bunker of poor performance.

Learn more here.

Key Points:

• Commitment is essential for improving your golf game and achieving your goals.
• Detach your self-worth from your golf score to avoid negative emotions and maintain healthy relationships.
• Being committed means taking action and following through, not just being interested.
• Choose one approach for swing technique and stick to it, avoiding distractions and conflicting advice.
• Create a pre-round course management strategy to make informed decisions and shoot the lowest score possible.
• Trust your instincts in club selection and commit to your chosen swing execution.
• Develop a practice routine that aligns with your goals and prioritize consistent effort and improvement.

Key Quotes:

• "Your ability to manage your emotions and keep them in check to not allow them to the driver seat of your decisions in daily life, you need to strengthen that skill."
• "Committed can be defined as feeling dedication and loyalty to a cause, activity or job. You are wholeheartedly dedicated. You are all in."
• "When you're committed, you do what you know you need to do, even when you don't feel like 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.

Join our free and growing community of serious golfers striving to shoot more pars than bogeys.

More Pars Than Bogeys Facebook Group.

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: The Power of Commitment
• 02:19: Emotional Resilience and Mental Toughness
• 06:34: Being Committed vs. Being Interested
• 11:10: Committing to One Approach for Swing Technique
• 14:47: Commitment to Pre-Round Course Management
• 17:01: Trusting Your Instincts in Club Selection
• 19:53: Developing a Practice Routine for Goal Achievement

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

Whether you’re trying to gain proficiency in the golf swing or speaking another language, there are four distinct stages you’ll progress through as you ascend from beginner to master.

The challenge most face, however, is the overwhelming amount of frustration and impatience they experience early on, which dissuades them from putting in the right type of work necessary to hone that skill.

In today’s episode, I’ll introduce you to the Conscious Competence Model of Adult Learning, which describes your progression when acquiring new skills or knowledge. I’ll help you understand your emotional and mental state in each phase and the hurdles you’ll face before reaching the highly desirable level of unconscious competence.

I’ll detail this framework through the lens of golf and offer solutions and strategies to expedite your learning so you can play better golf.

Start listening.

P.S. Curious about how hypnosis can help you shoot more pars than bogeys? Learn more about what hypnosis is and is not, how it works, and how it can help you get unstuck from the proverbial bunker of poor performance.

Learn more here.

Key Quotes:

• “There’s a limit to how much your conscious mind can think about and process at a given time.”
• “This is valuable because when you have this awareness as to where you are in your learning journey, you can better set expectations and better prioritize time, energy, effort, emotion, and finances to help prioritize what matters most to get you to the next stage in that journey.”
• “If you can keep your head down, remain emotionally resilient and focused on the process, not the outcome or the results, you can make leaps and bounds of progress above and beyond your peers in record time, simply because you've remained committed, open-minded, and mentally tough to weather the expected and unexpected challenges that come with trying to tackle this long list of what you do not yet know.”
• “The biggest hurdle you now face is turning off the thinking mind and allowing yourself to fall into that state of intuition, allowing your unconscious mind to take over.”

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.

Join our free and growing community of serious golfers striving to shoot more pars than bogeys.

More Pars Than Bogeys Facebook Group.

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 Mention of Hypnotherapy in Golf
• 02:47 Paul Salter's Journey and Breaking 100
• 06:03 Understanding the Conscious Competence Learning Model
• 10:42 The Challenge of Conscious Competence
• 24:24 The Role of Mindset Coaching and Hypnotherapy
• 26:34 Conclusion and Call to Action

Meet Matt Stilwell, a Mindset Coach and host of the Positive Golf Mindset Podcast, who helps people from all walks of life understand and overcome their biggest challenges.

Matt, an avid golfer, works specifically with golfers who struggle with adapting the growth mindset, default positivity, and emotional resiliency needed to play their best golf.

In today’s episode, Matt shares insights into cultivating a positive mindset to shoot lower scores. He offers tangible tactics to help you defuse your default negativity and shares the common challenges his golfers face - and solutions to overcome them.

Start listening.

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.

Key Quotes:

• "Golf is a beautiful mirror of who you are as an individual."
• "It's amazing how effortless it feels when I stop thinking and I just surrender."
• "By allowing them to perceive the act of surrender as a choice, they still feel they're in control."
• "If you can turn that thinking round earlier in the round and you can realize it earlier in the round, if you've been nasty to yourself on the second, the quicker you can trigger that, ah, that's what Matt was talking to me about."

More About Matt Stilwell

Matt is a Mindset and ICF accredited Intuitive Coach who helps people from all walks of life understand and overcome their biggest challenges. He helps his clients identify obstacles and co-create a plan to unlock their full potential.

Matt works with businesses to help develop high-performing teams, individuals on a 1-2-1 life transformational basis, and golfers who want to build a better mental game. To help you create a positive golf mindset, you can check out Matt's podcast right here, The Positive Golf Mindset, where he demonstrates the powerful life lessons to be found on the golf course and vice versa.

Visit Matt’s website here.

• Instagram - @mattstilwellcoaching
• Tik Tok - @mattstilwellcoaching

Join our free and growing community of serious golfers striving to shoot more pars than bogeys.

More Pars Than Bogeys Facebook Group.

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: @paulsaltercoach
• LinkedIn: Paul Salter Coaching

The expectation each time you step on the course is to play your best and shoot more pars than bogeys, right?

Expecting to play your best is the goal; however, your best differs day-to-day based on numerous variables.

A critical mistake I see many golfers make is setting rigid expectations that are incongruent and unrealistic with reality.

The result?

It’s a miserable experience of frustration, anger, envy, and poor performance.

In today’s episode, I’ll help you understand how a large space between expectation and reality may hold you back from shooting lower scores. I’ll offer tangible examples to help you clarify a more appropriate, fluid expectation and how to close the gap so you can play better golf.

Start listening.

P.S. I’m getting great feedback on this recent issue of the More Pars Than Bogeys Newsletter, which digs into cultivating the emotional resiliency necessary to shoot more pars than bogeys.

Check it out here.

Key Quotes:

• "It's the space between expectation and reality that is responsible for you remaining stuck in a downward spiral of negative self-talk."
• “Golf is not a game of perfect.”
• “Your false expectations are keeping you stuck in a state of anger, frustration, and envy.”

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.

Join our free and growing community of serious golfers striving to shoot more pars than bogeys.

More Pars Than Bogeys Facebook Group.

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: @paulsaltercoach
• LinkedIn: Paul Salter Coaching

Time Stamps:

• 00:00 Introduction and Newsletter Announcement
• 01:29 Golf as a Mirror of Life
• 04:54 Personal Golf Experience and Setting Expectations
• 08:25 The Gap Between Expectations and Reality
• 14:14 Consistency in Practice and Play
• 21:48 Narrowing the Gap: Staying Motivated and Focused
• 22:40 Conclusion and Call to Action

Meet Bryan Taylor - founder of Leaderboards of America, handicap golfer, multi-tournament winner, and someone who truly strives to reach his potential - while lifting up those around him - every single day.

Bryan didn’t start playing golf until the age of 30 - seriously! And since, he’s been on a path of greatness, including having won multiple tournaments and accumulating some wickedly low scores along the way.

In today’s conversation, we go inside the mind of Bryan to learn his take on the important of practice - and how to practice right - as well as how he implements a pre-round and pre-shot routine.

Bryan’s relationship toward improvement and dedication to learning about himself through the game of golf is nothing short of incredible.

Start listening.

***

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.

***

Key Quotes:

• “Recognize that there is always room for improvement in golf and strive to constantly get better.”
• “Find ways to make practice more efficient and effective, such as visualizing shots and creating a practice course in your mind.”
• “Quality practice is more important than quantity. Focus on specific areas of improvement and be conscious of your practice.”
• “Reflect on your rounds and focus on the positives. Give yourself credit for the good shots and learn from the mistakes.”
• “Take time to emotionally offload after a round and be present with your family and loved ones.”

Leaderboards of America (LBA) is a leader in innovative and effective visual marketing solutions with a focus on point-of presence sponsorships at golf venues.

Years of extensive experience in the creation and construction of leaderboards and leaderboard sponsorships allows LBA to develop, design and deliver unique and impactful branding solutions that deliver real results for all types of businesses and organizations.

Join our free and growing community of serious golfers chasing scratch:

The (Aspiring) Scratch Golfer’s Society.

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: @paulsaltercoach
• LinkedIn: Paul Salter Coaching

Time Stamps:

• 00:00 Introduction and Golf Journey
• 08:30 The Power of Quality Practice
• 15:47 Maintaining a Balanced Mindset
• 25:46 Reflecting on Rounds and Believing in Your Ability
• 30:06 Constantly Striving for Improvement