Artful golf requires the ability to tap into athleticism through imaginative and creative play. Unfortunately, golf quite naturally elicits the opposite response, causing most of us to over-analyze, think too much, and try to hard.

We all have natural creative and athletic ability. In fact, I believe that in every golfer there is a great, creative player just waiting to be set free. In my experience, the key contributor to stifling this natural ability to play golf is a busy mind rooted in self-doubt, causing stress which leads to a tense body.

A quiet mind is essential for intuitive and creative play. A relaxed body is necessary for the maximize use of natural and trained skills. By learning to quiet your mind and relaxing your body, you can take your game to the next level and beyond.

According to W. Timothy Gallwey in The Inner Game of Golf, "there is a state of mind more conducive to excellence. The true professional in every field performs from a base of solid faith in his potential to act successfully, and to learn to do what he hasn't yet achieved. He keeps his goals high, without letting himself become so emotionally attached to them that he fears failure. His sense of his own value is independent of external results. He doesn't listen to self-doubt, nor does he perform by rote. He dances to the tune of his intuitions... Inner golf can be an expression of skill for the sake of excellence. It can be art."

Golf can be art, when the mind is quiet and free from self-doubt. When I truly succeed in letting go of my thoughts of doubt and fear, a relaxed concentration takes over, where I'm open to my intuition and free to play.

Labels: Books, Disciplines, Doubt, Intuition, The Inner Game of Golf, Timothy Gallwey