Now is the very best time in golf’s evolution to become the player you've always imaged you could be! You have an infinite amount of information available at your fingertips, club manufactures are bringing out amazing equipment, golf courses are in tip top condition and playing at a new course is more affordable than ever.
I've been speaking to a good friend of mine Adrian Riddell, who's a leading Sports Psychologist and scratch golfer, and we've been debating what exactly separates the best golfers we know from the rest - and one thing that stands out is the amount of different courses the very best play on.
Let me explain, when was the last time in life, not just in golf, did you feel out of your comfort zone? Did you enjoy being there and more importantly did you come through it and learn something? Well the same thing applies to golfers. Take for example club members who pay a lot of money every year to ‘belong’ to one club, so understandably feel obliged to play there week in week out. They stand on every tee knowing what's coming up and very rarely do they change their game plan, meaning playing at the same place all of the time can’t be good for their overall improvement.
An absolute MUST in my opinion is to get out of your comfort zone and play at different courses. This will test your game and highlight your weaknesses. Be it a fear of water, tight tree lined courses, ones with a lot of bunkers on them and so on and so forth. Without finding out your weaknesses how can you ever improve?
Don't take my word for it just look at the Majors, time and time again you see the cream rise to the top because the very best pro’s know what it takes to win and they don’t fear golf courses because they’ve played so many different ones over the years . They don't really have any weaknesses and if they do you can bet your life they work hard to improve them.
So don't get stuck in your ways, get out there, play different courses and open your mind to improving your game.
The Julian Mellor Golf School
based at Stoneleigh Deer Park Golf Club in Warwickshire. Find out more here
PGA Progessional
Positive impact golf coach
www.julianmellorgolfschool.co.uk
Julianmellorpga@icloud.com
