Welcome

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

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In this issue:

• Your Golf Mental Style

• Wellness Tip: Explore REAL Wellness

• Mental Demons Q+A

• In Person Events - Book The 3 Minute Golfer

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Your Golf Mental Style

Golf is a funny game, and not just because you keep paying for the privilege of physically chasing a tiny white ball around, while your mind takes a roller coaster ride. But also, because every player has their own way of thinking about the game. 

Every individual is a unique cocktail of personality and motivational traits, shaken and stirred in ways that would make even the most skilled mixologist envious. With so many possible combinations, it's no wonder we are all unique…meaning no two people have the exact same personality profile. 

Some people are very outgoing…extroverts, while others are very shy and retiring introverts. Of course, each trait is on a continuum, with the majority of people falling somewhere towards the middle on a normal curve. Other traits range from the highly anxious to the very calm and relaxed, the emotional to the logical, the fast paced to the slow and systematic, the anything goes to the patient perfectionist and many more.

In fact, researcher Gordon Allport once identified a whopping 4,000 personality traits (yes, you read that right, 4,000!), which Raymond Cattell then whittled down to a more manageable 16 through factor analysis (Cattell, 1943). Later, McCrae and Costa simplified things further with their Big Five personality traits (McCrae & Costa, 1987), and Hans Eysenck decided to keep it really simple with just three dimensions (Eysenck, 1947). Other researchers have built their own lists.

But regardless of how many, all our traits have a significant impact on how we approach the game of golf. Our dominant traits tend to influence our active mental styles…the way we think and play. Some golfers are like gorillas, swinging with brute force and probably subscribing to way too many muscle-building magazines. Others are calm, chess-playing strategists who plan their moves several strokes ahead. And then there are the social butterflies who are there just for the bon ami. But wait, there are more!

Through careful analysis, we have identified 14 distinctly different mental styles striding the fairways. Sure, there might be a few more styles out there, and most people exhibit characteristics from more than one style, but we will stick with 14 for now. 

The 14 Minds of the Golfer

We have given each style a fun, descriptive name that might remind you of yourself and some of your playing partners. Whether it's Smokey, Plotty, or the ever-anxious Nervy, you will undoubtedly recognise these styles on the fairway. And don't be surprised if you see your own mental approach as a creative blend of more than one style…it's perfectly normal for different traits to emerge depending on the situation.

The real challenge is to identify your most dominant style because that’s the one you will quickly revert to under pressure. So, the next time you’re on the course, take a moment to reflect on your mental style and get started on building a better understanding of your unique golfing persona.

Below is a short synopsis for each style. Over coming weeks, we will explore all 14 mental styles in much more depth. Providing style specific tips that will help you play consistently better golf.

Smokey – loves to hit the ball hard and long. Often very assertive and competitive in most situations but can be prone to errors caused by a healthy dose of over confidence.

 Plotty – a more strategic player who likes to plot their way around a course. Generally, has good concentration but can be over analytical and prone to mental fuzz.

Arty – a more creative personality that enjoys the challenge of crafting shots. Sometimes making the easiest of shots look difficult and the most difficult of shots look easy. 

 Nerdy – has a highly analytical brain that seeks deep analysis and mathematically precise solutions from their strategies, equipment and swing.

 Nervy – lives with a heavy dose of innate (genetic) anxiety. Can be easily over-aroused and find it hard to relax in any situation, let alone standing over a golf ball. But they love the challenge.

Fiery – can be aggressive and easily upset. Throwing clubs and swearing are some of Fiery’s more identifiable behaviours. But they are often quick to forget their errors and move on fast.

Yippy – like Nervy they also feel anxiety, but their anxiety is more situationally specific, like when putting. Often perfectionist personalities, their fear of failure can produce some tense shots.

Sleepy – slow to move and make decisions, they are careful and precise in planning their shots but can take forever to make a swing. Hard to distract, they often have limited situational awareness about their slow play.

Dreamy – unlike Sleepy, the Dreamy style is easily distracted and often loses concentration. It’s not unusual for them to make the same poor decision over and over. On the plus side, they suffer minimal stress and anxiety.

Itchy – often overly competitive and always taking risks. Playing one miraculous shot motivates more risk taking, even though their statistical chances of success become more limited the more risks they take.

Looky – lives with a touch of nervous energy that produces a need for instant results and gratification…wanting to see the ball flying before it’s even hit is part of their focus on outcomes rather than the process.

Rushy – has somewhere to be, so plays every shot quickly. Their brain moves fast, and they often like to finish their shot before it has started. Can be prone to the simplest of unforced errors.

Grumpy – never happy with any shot, and quick to let everyone know. They enjoy getting out on the course and venting their frustrations, with their life in general and their golf game in particular.

Matey – always playing with a drink in one hand. Shooting a good score is not their main aim but if they do happen to have a good round then they are quick to shout the bar.