While there might be many “causes" of playing poorly there aren’t many things that derail a game as much as anger does. And not only your game but the games of your playing partners as well. After all, who likes to listen to a whiner? You could be playing quite well and then a playing partner continues to berate each shot he/she hits and cusses all day long.
This is a serious distraction and a completely selfish act on the part of the anger filled player. Does this make sense? Too many players obsess over their inability to perform to their own lofty standards. They get angry and let the world know it. Ok, we all want to play well and the odd outburst, within reason, is acceptable. Yet not at the expense of sanity and the rest of your group!
Anger is insidious. Like a sticky residue it lingers within and infects your entire game and the enjoyment of those around you. Mostly it completely removes joy from your game,that’s for certain. Keep this in mind: it is not the poor shots that ruin your game it’s your “mood" that does!
Follow me here…I can hit a shot 30 yards offline and end up in the pond by the green. This does not at all mean I am going to get angry. I could laugh. I could cry! I could pause and say to myself, “That was interesting." There is no absolute causal relationship between the quality of my shots and my mood. I have to wire that in. Just as anger has been hardwired over time and became a habit.
Break the Chain Reaction
We want to install a new automated behavior in place of anger. We can choose and design the state we want to experience in place of anger and make this the habitual response. Now we are free to really make the changes we need in order to play better. I don’t know anyone who plays their best golf when angry.
Getting upset and giving yourself a stern talking to occasionally is alright, yet constantly fuming shot after shot serves absolutely no valuable purpose. It ruins your game and is likely to affect your playing partners as well.
I had a friend tell me this story: He was on the 17 th hole, a shortish par 3. Playing with a fellow that I know personally and is chronically angry. The type of player that will pick up his ball on a hole that isn’t going well and race to the next tee box while you finish playing the hole.
Well on this hole my buddy holes his tee shot for an ace! Needless to say he was ecstatic and showing his pleasure. Why shouldn’t he? How many aces do you get in life?! Well this other guy is already on the 18 th tee, barely pausing to share this amazing moment and saying “Do you mind keeping it down, I’m trying to play my game." Can you believe that? Here’s a guy who had picked up his ball 3 times during the round not finishing holes, whining about the greens, the bad breaks, etc.. I don’t know what game he was playing but it sure wasn’t golf.
Anger turns one’s attention inward and becomes self centered. It says “No one matters but me and my shots." Meanwhile the friend with the hole in one who was filled with joy now has a memory that has this guy linked to it. So each time he recalls this joyous moment he will remember this guy telling him to keep quiet. Sad isn’t it…
Monitoring your emotions is fundamental to enjoying the game and getting the best out of yourself and your playing partners. Hey, we all have off days. Let it go. Yet if you’re fastened to anger as a way to play the game, doing some specific exercises will do wonders for your state of mind and your game. I have several to help.
Wade Pearse is a Peak Performance Golf Coach. Having spent 8 years researching and applying advanced and easy to use strategies with clients around the world his mental game program improves your game. Download the Free Mental Game E-course from his website.
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