Fit for Play
Head
Strong
Mental toughness with world-renowned sports
psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella by DAVE POND
Dr. Bob Rotella says a good
mental approach can be the
difference between success and
failure on the course.
AS AN OUTDOOR exercise activity, the majority of Virginia’s
golf courses have been—and remain—open for play
(with social distancing guidelines in place.) However, we
know many area golfers got a late start on their game, ramping up
activity quickly in hopes of springing back into mid-season form.
But golf is more than physical activity—it is one in which even the
best players dedicate time to improving their mental approach to
the sport. That decision, says Dr. Bob Rotella, one of the top sports
psychologists in the world, can be the difference in a successful day
on the links and one which falls short of expectations.
“Great athletes are always training their minds—there’s simply
no other option,” said Rotella, who regularly works with players
across the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tours and is a VSGA member
at both The Club at Glenmore and Farmington Country Club.
“If you’re at the Tour level, players are all pretty similar in skill
level. If you’re looking at the best ball-striker on tour and the worst
ball-striker on tour, there’s about a green’s [greens in regulation]
difference. The competition is so good that once you get to about
12-and-a-half greens, not many players do much better than that.
At that point, it becomes very mental.”
We’d all love to average a dozen greens per round. Although the
chances of that are remote, there is good news: just like the physical
aspects of golf, mental toughness can be developed as well. But no
matter your handicap, everything boils down to preparation, practice
and belief in your self.
“There are people out there who think they were born with
a weak mind, so they choose not to work on it,” Dr. Rotella said.
“Although your mind is not a muscle, it’s a good idea to look at it as
if it is one, because the more you use and develop it, the stronger
it gets.”
CHRIS LANG
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V IRGINIA G OLFER | J ULY/A UGUST 2020
vsga.org