Playing on a public golf course can terrify anyone looking to pick up the hobby. Seeing a hole 400 yards away as elderly folks are eyeballing you is enough to make anyone nervous. But knowing how to overcome the fear of the golf course will help you enjoy yourself instead of resenting the game.
Everyone Has Had Their First Swing
Remember, as you step up to the tee box, there’s a litany of people behind you waiting to dig their tee in the ground as well. Everybody that’s anxiously waiting on you also had their first tee shot. There’s no reason for them to get upset or judge when the odds are their first swing was less than stellar. As much as you’d like to pipe it down in the middle of the fairway, don’t let the peanut gallery affect you.
Visualize Success
Taking a few moments to see oneself succeeding may seem silly, but it can help you relax. This is effective because it encourages you to think about the positive results you anticipate rather than the bad ones.
Visualize yourself making an excellent swing, striking the ball squarely, and seeing it sail gracefully through the air before gently touching down.
The beautiful thing about this approach is that you can take it as far as you want. You may plan your whole day in your mind, down to the last detail of how you and your friends will celebrate a great first experience.
Add Pep to your Step
Playing on the golf course can be a long, tedious process. It’s nothing like playing on a game console or a high-tech golf simulator that you can complete in an hour. Playing 18 holes—particularly when it’s your first time— could take five to six hours.
While you might see professional players take a few practice swings and take two minutes to line up a putt, you’re not competing for a major championship. The faster you play, the less time you’ll have to dwell on things. Get into position, take your swing, and be on your way.
Get Excited
The symptoms of feeling excited and nervous can overlap, and you can use this to your benefit in the course. If you can shift your focus from nervousness to enthusiasm, you may be able to channel your nerves into something productive.
Many competitive athletes, even at the Olympic level, use this strategy. Athletes in high-intensity sports, however, may use their nervousness to their advantage by using adrenaline to fuel their performance.
You, as a golfer, need to take a somewhat alternate approach. After all, in comparison to a sprinter, who must move as quickly as possible, your sport calls for more deliberate attention and exact motions. But looking forward to playing the night prior will not leave you questioning yourself.
Learning to overcome the fear of the golf course allows you to shelve the self-doubt and enjoy the game for what it is. By starting golf at a young age, you’ll be far ahead of the curve and more than ready for those company golf outings when you’re in the middle of your fruitful career.