MENTAL SPOTLIGHT

Phyche Holes

Keep a steady head during these three vital stretches and the rest of your round will take of itself

I know the most important holes on your golf course. No matter who you are, no matter where you’re playing. True, every golfer will face a flip wedge over water that makes his knees knock, and every course has its impossible par four. But that’s not what it’s talking about. Certain holes present a greater challenge than others, simply be because of where they occur in the round. If you can negotiate these “psyche” holes, your round is fairly secure.

            The first set is holes one, two and three. The opening holes set the tone for the rest of around, the way the opening drive is key to a football game. You’ll often see a team take the opening kickoff, thunder down the field, and punch in a touchdown before their opponents know what hit them. Their enthusiasm and aggressiveness make an impact and set the tone the rest of the day.

            Take the first trio holes as a whole. But it’s not enough to carry you through the rest of the round. How many times have you followed up a birdie on the first with a double-bogey on the second? Think of it this way: You’re not done with the first hole until you putt put on number three. If you par or birdie the first, don’t get complacent; if anything, you must bear down even harder on the second and third.

            The key to the first three holes is the warm-up. Along with loosening the muscles by hitting a few balls and familiarizing yourself with the speed and conditions of the greens, a smart warm-up includes plotting strategy. While hitting balls, mentally map out a plan for attacking the first three holes—and only the first three. When you step on the tee on each, you’ll know exactly what you have to do, which helps focus you concentration.

            The second set of psyche holes is 10,11, and 12. On these three, the challenge is to keep the momentum going from the front nine. In basketball, many games are won or lost in the first five minutes of the second half; One team comes out of the locker room cold, the other team goes on a hot streak, and the cold team never recovers. Ideally, you’d go directly from the ninth green to the 10th green, but many golfers make a stop at the halfway house. That’s not always a good idea. You come off a good front nine, energy and adrenaline are up, and you toss down some junk food. No surprise then that the first three holes on the backside are a mess.

            Making the turn should not be lunch break. A round of golf is an athletic event and you’re in the middle of it. Don’t let down. If you need to use the facilities or get a drink, do so quickly and remain focused. Give yourself a halftime pep talk and formulated your plan for the next three holes. Another suggestion: Eat for success. Water is the true drink of champions, and if there’s fruit available, grad some for energy. Your meal comes after the round.

            The final set of psyche holes is the last three holes. You’ve got to be able to “bring it home.” Certain relief pitchers are “closers,” brought in to shut down the opposition in the last inning or two. In golf, we all have to be closers in the every round we play. Many great scores have turned into mediocre one because the golfer was unable to hold it together down the stretch.

            When you reach number 16 tee, pause for a moment and take a breath. This is two-minute warning, the seventh-inning stretch. What follows separates the men for the boys, the weak heart from those with intestinal fortitude. Keep your spirits high: This is an opportunity to prove yourself. Go for it.

            Seem a bit scary? Your swing keys will carry you through. Let them be your main focus: they are good insurance against disaster. For example, you may be overeager to see a good shot, which leads to coming out of the swing too soon and hitting the killer slice. In this case, set one goal for yourself during each swing: Stay down! Stick with it down the stretch. It’s not important what the swing key is; just make sure it’s one—and only one—one that you remain committed to it until you finish. Accomplish this, and the result will take care of themselves.

This article is from the book “The Complete Golfer: Physical Skill and Mental Toughness” by Dr. Tom Dorsel, the sport psychologist.