Home About Us The Instructors Clinics Private Lessons Junior Golf Instructional Tips Oak Marsh Golf Club Phone: 651-730-8886 Fax: 651-730-6711 institute@wpgolf.com Is Golf really 90% Mental? - March 2005 By David La Pour As March comes blowing in and winter grudgingly lets go, we get closer and closer to actually getting out there on the course. In getting ready for the golf season, students sometimes ask me about the mental game. Contrary to popular belief, in my opinion, the mental aspect of golf is not 90% of the game! That is putting way too much pressure on your conscience/subconscious to perform on the course (and it may be a cop-out). I feel that the mental game makes up about 50% of the actual game, with the physical part being just as important. Have you ever moved the ball without hitting it or sank a putt without the right line or speed? It seems to me that the mental and physical parts of the game can either fight each other or work together- it's your choice. By getting them on the same page, you are giving yourself the best chance of success on the course. Below are some brief examples of the two games. Choose your weakness and then work on it. Physical (tangible things)  • Strength, Flexibility, Body type, Age, Weight, Height, Diet  • Grip, Stance and Swing  • Clubs, Equipment, the Golf Course itself  • Behavior Mental (intangible things)  • Expectations  • Pressure and Anxiety  • Anger and Happiness  • Confidence On April 6th at Oak Marsh Golf Club in Oakdale, we will be hosting a seminar called "Course Management and the Mental Game". The guest speaker will be Susan Slack from the Slack & Young Institute of Hypnosis in Minneapolis. Susan will be showing us how to handle our emotions on the golf course, and how to use the power of our mind to play our best possible golf. Sign up on-line under Winter Series or call Oak Marsh at 651-730-8886 to sign up. Good luck with your mental and physical games, and I hope to see you at the club! MORE TIPS Home / Putting / Short Game / Full Swing / Mental / Health / Other "Contrary to popular belief, in my opinion, the mental aspect of golf is not 90% of the game!"