Welcome

Welcome to issue number 23 of The 3 Minute Golfer. This FREE, weekly publication is here to help every golfer improve their mental game and their personal wellbeing.

This issue covers the final, and probably the easiest to recognise of the 14 mental styles in golf.

In this issue:

• Matey – Playing in the Fun Zone

• Wellness Tip – The Value of Continuous Learning

• Mental Demons Q+A

• In Person Events - Book The 3 Minute Golfer

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Matey – Playing in the Fun Zone

Have you ever stepped onto the first tee and spotted that golfer with a drink in one hand, club in the other, and a grin that says, “Let’s have some fun”? 

Meet the player with the Matey mental style. They’re the person who welcomes everyone with a hearty laugh, is quick to share a joke, and treats both birdies…and triple bogeys…as a reason to toast life. While their score may not be the finest on the leaderboard, they bring a unique energy that can make even the most stressful round feel like a backyard barbecue. And if they happen to post a decent score, then you’ll find them happily shouting drinks for everyone.

First and foremost, the Matey mind approaches golf as a social event, with a side of sporting challenge. Their goal? Have a good time, with good people…simple as that. They don’t fret over every missed fairway or chunked chip. If anything, they revel in the challenge of not spilling any of their drink in between or during shots. This carefree mindset lowers the pressure that other, more serious mindsets, tend to suffer.

The Matey golfer is rarely on either the low or the high side of the arousal performance curve because their performance is rarely important…it’s all about the fun!

Matey Lessons

It seems you can learn quite a bit from the Matey mindset to help you play consistently better, regardless the level of your golfing prowess.

Chill Out…Not surprisingly, a relaxed, Matey type focus on having fun now can actually help your golf. Research by Smith & Jones (2020), shows that paying non-judgmental attention to the here-and-now lowers stress and can improve performance. So having the Matey type conversations and laughing between shots can function like a mini mind-break…resetting your mental state to chilled.

Be Alert to Playing Well…Sure, our jolly friend claims they don’t care about scoring well, but sometimes, as with all of us, the stars align, and they find themselves flirting with the round of their life. Cue the mental chatter as the game becomes a little more serious. “Don’t mess this up, I’ve never broken 80 (or 90…or 100) before and now’s my best chance.” Suddenly, their laid-back, it’s-all-good vibe becomes overshadowed by the dreaded performance pressure. That’s what playing well can do to any golfer, regardless of their mental style.

Use Humour to Diffuse Anxiety…Here’s the beauty of the Matey mindset…even when they do start to feel nerves, they remind themselves that one hole, or even one triple bogey, never defines their day. They rely on humour to defuse that anxiety and will often crack a joke at their own expense. For them, positivity is the way forward, and missing a putt is just another step on the road to a fun day out.

Be Self-deprecating…Next time your internal dialogue ramps up and you feel your heart racing, adopt some of Matey’s playful, self-deprecating thoughts like, “Well, at least I’m good at my job.” It sounds silly, but light-hearted moments can break the tension and refocus your energy on the shot at hand.

Don’t Be Afraid of Adoption…Whether you’re chasing to be a scratch golfer or just out there for some laughs, adopting a dash of the Matey mentality can go a long way. It’s the place where you can find good social connections and a mind-body balance that is neither too tight nor too loose. So, the next time you see someone setting their beverage down on the tee box, greeting everyone with a smile, and striking up conversations that warm the heart, then think about adopting just a little of the Matey mindset from your very first shot.

See the References Here.