Monday, January 8, 2007

Dance to the Tune of Your Intuition

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.

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Visit: San Luis Obispo Golf Guide

Posted at 8:17 AM :

Golf as Art

When you disappear, Golf as Art shows up. The resulting void is where all the important discoveries, personal development, satisfaction, joy and fulfillment take place.
–Fred Shoemaker, Extraordinary Golf

Swing motion at its highest level is the uninterrupted flow of natural rhythm from within.
–Tom Woods, True Golf

Your enemy is expectation. Your ally is detachment. The game isn't the process, the game is the dream.
–Kris Barkway, The Magician's Way

A great golf shot is a thing of beauty. Repeating it is an art.
–Mark Guadagnoli, Practice to Win

Golf is performance art and there's no right and wrong in art. You're free to play however you want.
–Grayden Provis, Golf = Life

Artful Milestones

  • Mar 05 - Started playing (1 rd/week)
  • Jun 05 - Broke 80 (21st round)
  • Nov 05 - Increased play (2 rds/week)
  • Jan 06 - Under 10 Index (54th round)
  • Jan 06 - 10 GIR (62nd round)
  • Mar 06 - Less than 30 Putts (75th round)
  • Aug 06 - First Eagle (124th round)
  • Aug 06 - 5 Birdies (138th round)
  • Sep 06 - Broke 76 (146th round)
  • Oct 06 - First ACE (161st round)
  • Oct 06 - Under 5 Index (166th round)
  • Oct 06 - 13 Fairways (169th round)
  • Dec 06 - Broke 72 (184th round)
  • Dec 06 - 70's Streak (9/10 rounds)
  • Feb 07 - Under 4 Index (219th round)
  • Feb 07 - 15 GIR (219th round)
  • Oct 07 - 24 Putts (298th round)
  • Jan 08 - 70's Streak (12 rounds)
  • Jan 08 - Second ACE (332nd round)
  • Apr 08 - Par from Tips (370th round)
  • May 08 - Under 3 Index (382nd round)
  • Aug 08 - 50th Course (420th round)
  • Nov 08 - Broke 70 (460th round)
  • Dec 08 - 16 GIR (472nd round)
  • May 09 - 60th Course (510th round)
  • May 09 - 7 Birdies (511th round)
  • May 09 - Broke 70 (511th round)
  • May 09 - Under Par Streak (2 rounds)
  • May 09 - Under 80 Streak (13 rounds)
  • May 09 - Broke 70 (520th round)
  • May 09 - Under 2 Index (520th round)
  • Jun 09 - 70th Course (538th round)
  • Aug 09 - Third ACE (556th round)
  • Aug 09 - Broke 70 (559th round)
  • Jul 10 - 100 Holes at Even-Par (670th round)

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