Episode #112: The Simple Gratitude Trick to Play Better and Have More Fun

Your attitude is everything on the golf course (and in life). So many players have a bad attitude on the links and wonder why they don’t score like they want. To play better golf and set yourself up for a better mental game, change your attitude to gratitude. 

Being grateful is something you control and can have a massive impact on your game. Here’s what Harvard Health said about the power of gratitude: 

“In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”

Gratitude equals happiness. If you’re happier on the golf course, you won’t get as frustrated or emotional, enjoy good shots more, feel better during and after the round, have the mental strength to deal with bad shots, and create better relationships. This comes from simply being grateful. 

Think about it like this…

You’re lucky enough to have money to own golf clubs and pay for green fees. You’re healthy enough to be able to swing a golf club at high speeds, repeatedly. And you’re fortunate enough to live in a place where golf courses are widely available for you to play. Some people don’t have these things in life but want them deeply. You do, so appreciate them immediately. 

I know so many golfers who play golf like it’s a job they hate and have zero fun. Even though they have no aspirations of playing golf for a living, they make each shot and each round seem like it is life or death. 

Playing with so much stress and pressure usually makes your performance worse. Anytime you expect too much from your game or want to shoot a certain number, it almost never happens. 

Instead of trying to force good golf and make each shot seem like your life is on the line, change your perspective. 

Play golf with an attitude of gratitude.