Learn to forgive yourself...
Tuesday January 20, 2009 12:49am

Hello all little Jimmy here, your friendly neighborhood golf pro. 

For those of you I have yet to meet through Greenskeeper one of the biggest problems I have yet to conquer is ... myself.  Why do I say this?  Well sometimes you just have to get out of your own way.  Let me illustrate. 

You hit one bad shot.  You let that self doubt creep into your psyche.  Soon every shot is like that one bad shot.  It could spell disaster for your round and well your feelings for golf, world peace, or what have you.  I am talking a Chernobyl of biblical proportions.  The key is to step outside yourself.  Recenter yourself if you will and have the courage to say, "that wasn't my best but I can do better."  In other words, have the courage to forgive yourself.  It will allow you to clear your mind.  Get past that hurdle and refocus anew.

Easy to say, but hard to actually do.  But when you catch yourself about ready to toss that 5-iron in the rubbish bin take a moment.  Reset/Recenter yourself.  Forgive yourself.  You may just suprise yourself -- in a positive, constructive way.