GOLF

Before continuing the series on golf mindset and playing perspective, some local high school golf updates.

At the S.C. High School League state championship conducted at Hackler Golf Course on the campus of Coastal Carolina, the following Midlands teams all played well:

- A.C. Flora (3rd)

- Chapin High School (13)

Just reaching the finals is a significant achievement, so congratulations to these teams.

The team format is five players competing and the best four scores are taken for the accumulative score. There is also an individual competition so two locals placed in the top 20. Junior Jacob Fuller of Chapin scored 153 for 36 holes for a tie for 17th, while Nic Poole of A.C. Flora shot 147 which tied for second place.

PGA vs. Regular Joe

One’s golf playing perspective and mindset is paramount to performance.

Since you looked up mindset and perspective, you are tracking and eager so this will likely surprise you when I make this statement. It’s only because I truly want anyone reading this to benefit and learn.

PGA Tour players have lower expectations of performance than the average club golfer.

That’s exactly right.

They do not appear to expect to hit solid on line shots as often as the average golfer. My measure is how the player emotionally acts and reacts to off center, off line shots, poor holes and rounds.

The average player acts more upset over a foul ball than the average tour player. The odd side to this is the average tour player gets more excited and seems happier over a good shot than the average golfer.

Not only does the average golfer get more upset over a missed shot, they tend to stay upset longer. The easiest place to witness attitudinal behavior magnified are club and junior golf competitions.

I played in a captain’s choice event in Lexington, Ky. recently and the players in my group, who play three times a year, were more upset than I over foul balls.

Incidentally, this week’s article is being written in Rupp Arena. I am attending a special program on entrepreneurial business dreams and success.

One Club is the host.

Loving challenges

Another observation that is odd to me is the best players in the world seem to have an easier time keeping golf a game than the average player.

The best players accept that golf can be extremely challenging and no matter how skilled they become, mastery is impossible. So it appears to me that the best players accept that a good shot would be special and an off-center shot could be more likely.

I see great players walk right through squirrelly looking shots frequently.

In closing this week, there is no question the greatest players negotiate turbulent golf better than the rest. This is what Chip Beck once said to me.

“When I hit it in the woods or hit it in the bunker, I know my skills will be challenged,” he said. “This is where I get to test myself. This is also where I can show the world just how great I can be in trouble.”

I challenge you to study acceptance and expectations of performance in preparation for next week.

Golf Camp News

Days are long and weather solid now for extended golf play days.

Plan accordingly and speaking of plans, here are some local upcoming events for junior golfers. If your young child is interested in getting started in golf, there are some great opportunities for them to try golf out this summer in a camp setting.

The Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission will host two golf camps this summer for ages six to 15 and all skill levels. They are each three day camps and will take place on July 16-18 and July 23–25.

For more information, please call (803) 345-6181 or 803-772-3336.

George Bryan Golf Academy will also host two camps this summer. The Junior Golf Camp for ages six to 15 will be June 25-27 and its Pee Wee Camp for ages four to six on July 9-11 from 9-11:00 a.m. Please call

(803) 781-2063 for more information.