Welcome

Welcome to issue number 51 of The 3 Minute Golfer. This FREE, weekly publication is here to help every golfer improve their mental game and their personal wellbeing. 

The 51^st issue brings us to one week away from our one-year anniversary edition of the newsletter. After issue 52, we will be moving from weekly to monthly editions.

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In this issue:

• The Fun Factor

• Wellness Tip – The Giggle Prescription

• Mental Demons Q+A

• In Person Events - Book The 3 Minute Golfer

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The Fun Factor

Do you enjoy your golf? Are you having fun?

If you are, then your chances of performing well are getting better every day.

Fun is defined as a psychological state characterised by positive affective experiences…enjoyment, pleasure, amusement, and engagement that often arise during activities that are intrinsically motivating, socially rewarding, or enjoyable in themselves. In the research context, fun can occur in many forms, including in high-energy laughter situations and in calm enjoyable experiences like relaxed pleasure. (PMC)

Fun in golf shows up when you feel challenged but not overwhelmed, focused yet relaxed, and intrinsically motivated…enjoying the process as much as the score. More specifically, fun often comes from the interplay of skill outcomes and social connection…the gentle pain of a good bogey shared with a best friend, the absurdity of yet another lost ball, or the freedom from life’s emails, while temporarily chasing a tiny white sphere at sunrise. (Psychology Today)

Fun Matters…While few studies directly measure the relationship between fun and golf scores, sport psychology research shows strong links between engagement, playfulness, and humour, and performance outcomes. It seems fun boosts engagement, with a recent study across multiple sports showing that deliberately designing fun elements into training increased engagement, which in turn enhanced performance outcomes. (ScienceDirect) For golfers, this means practice that feels playful…laughing off shanks, inventing silly challenges with friends, and creating mini games on the range are more likely to keep you engaged and improve your skills faster.

Fun Thoughts…Other research suggests that positive emotions, having fun, and humour help athletes stay focused in the moment, counter negative thoughts like fear or frustration, and maintain motivation under pressure. These effects help create mental conditions similar to those of a flow state. (Psychology Today) For golfers, staying mentally light can reduce overthinking, negate tension, and build social cohesion.

Fun Assets…In golf fun isn’t a distraction, it’s a performance asset. It increases engagement, keeps you coming back to practice, and frames your mental state for better focus, resilience, and enjoyment. So next time you’re three-putting the 18th, embrace the absurdity because laughing might just be part of what makes you a better golfer. 

Fun Techniques…Having fun does not mean ignoring technique. Fun is just the psychological lubricant that keeps you relaxed, focused, and learning. (Psychology Today) A playful mindset helps you stay committed longer, which is key to improvement. (PMC)

See the References Here.