How would you like to think, feel, and act like a champion golfer? That’s part of the training that goes into the Elite Golfer Training Programs conducted by the MST Golf Academy. All of the girls in the Sime Darby LPGA Development Program and all of the juniors in the MGA National Under 14 Team training programs have taken an extensive mental and emotional skills assessment conducted by Golfpsych Inc. in the United States. Once they are provided with the results of the assessment, the coaches can prescribe mental and emotional drills and exercises to help the student to achieve the same level of mental and emotional skills that are employed by champion golfers.

Golfpsych Inc. was founded by leading sports psychologist Dr. Deborah Graham and Jon Stabler. They have successfully identified the eight crucial personality traits that separate true champions from the rest. They have worked extensively and tested many of the major championship winners on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, and PGA Senior Tour. One of their most recent and successful clients is Yani Tseng.

The eight traits include: 

1. FOCUS is the ability to stay 100% involved in the shot from the start of the pre-shot routine to the completion of the shot. Golfers must have a solid pre-shot routine that includes the ability to make good choices, visualize the shot, and feel the shot before it ever happens. Champion golfers are able to block out distraction, stay positive, and commit to the shot that they have chosen. They are also able to maintain focus in the pursuit of their goals.

2. ABSTRACT THINKING is the golfer’s ability to analytically reason, problem-solve, and adapt intellectually. Good Abstract thinkers are generally a fast learner who can process complex information rapidly. Concrete thinkers on the other hand, tend to be slower and more deliberate learners, processing information more simply and directly. Sometimes they are oblivious to the many techniques that are available to improve their play.

3. EMOTIONAL STABILITY is the above average ability to stay emotionally uninvolved with the results during a round of golf. Emotionally stable players do not panic if they have a bad shot or hole, nor do they get overly excited if they have a lead in a tournament. They are much more involved in the process of making a great shot rather than being affected by the outcome.

4. DOMINANCE is the golfer’s basic competitiveness, assertiveness, and aggressiveness during a round of golf. Champion golfers know when to take risks without being stupid. Submissive golfers are unwilling to take risk and therefore do not give themselves enough scoring opportunities.

5. TOUGHMINDEDNESS is the skill or ability to accept and prepare for challenges over which you have little or no control such as gamesmanship, poor playing conditions, or slow play. It also includes the ability to detach emotionally from outside variables such as spectators, cameras, expectations, and unrelated problems tied to business, family, or friends. Tough-minded golfers are somewhat selfish in their approach to competition as they place priority on their own needs and concerns while competing.

6. SELF-CONFIDENCE comes in 2 parts. Personal confidence and Performance confidence. Personal confidence is a basic measure of self worth. A truly confident person believes in himself and loves himself. He can easily handle compliments as well as criticism. Performance confidence relates to learned skills involving a strong belief in your ability to play golf at a high level. On a rare day when you have good performance confidence in all areas of your game, you will be amazed at the simplicity of the game. Unfortunately, performance confidence is fragile and impossible to retain in all areas of the game on a long term basis.

7. SELF-SUFFICIECY is the ability to be very good at making many difficult decisions, even under pressure. Champion golfers prefer to make their own decisions and are less dependent on caddies, coaches, parents, psychologists, etc. They are willing to listen to the advice of others but ultimately, they will trust their own decisions. Self Sufficient golfers are also self motivated to practice and achieve their goals. Their primary motivating factor is the fire that burns within and not the goals that have been set for them by others.

8. OPTIMUM AROUSAL is the ability to control muscle tension, physiological states related to heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, brain waves, and breathing; and psychological states related to anxiety, worry, dread, excitement or fear. Champion golfers are able to control arousal levels in all conditions and situations. They know when it’s time to calm down and when it’s time to get excited. And, they know how to do it.

Although our Elite Players have been tested, a good coach will be able to make many of the same assessments as the test. This usually takes just a few lessons and some time on the course with a student. Playing lessons are an important part of coaching as it gives the coach a more specific insight as to what the student is thinking and feeling on the golf course. Technical training is important but the mental and emotional training has to be a consideration for the Elite Player.

*Mr. Dean Hartman is the Director of Golf Instruction at prestigious Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club Golf Academy. He is a PGA of American Class A Member and a PGTAA Master Instructor.