Golfing Gold - Where the Secret Lies Is Not Always Obvious
Now there's an ambiguous title if ever I saw one!
I'll leave you to ponder its double meaning....the secret that is.
Late September and for most players, professional and amateur alike, the golfing seasons are winding down. Regional PGA events in the UK have concluded, amateurs are clearing a little space in the corner of the shed to place their clubs and bringing out their special 'hibernation blankets' to keep their clubs safe through the darker evenings. OR the special blanket has long been discarded as they launch the clubs into a corner....quality clubs my arse. Waste of time again this season!!
Another season winding down and the golfing gold you promised yourself back in the spring, nowhere to be found. The road to the promised land seems to permanently be plagued with road works.....maybe next year comes the call from your onboard agent...yeah, like you believe a word he says. Same old message year after year- a lot of effort, no gold.
Next season can be different though and I'd invite you to only consider changing one thing. Get a map which shows you exactly where the golfing gold lies and as the title hints at, it's not in an obvious place. And with any invitation, you can decline it if you want.
The road to golfing gold is varied, requires you to explore sharp inclines which you will climb quickly followed by longer stretches of flat, almost barren landscapes, separating one peak from another. And that second peak will be scaled equally quickly when you get to it. (That assumes you do get to peak 2 of course!)
So, does the golfing gold I've hinted at lie at the top of that second peak, do you merely have to hone your climbing skills and on the peak all will become clear? Is that the secret to golfing paradise?
Well, that depends on where you're looking for gold or who's directing you. Not one week goes by when there isn't an 'expert' somewhere telling you of the next 'quick fix', the next big 'killer move' that will provide all the answers you crave and you too will indeed, be blessed with much gold.
Oh, but hang on a minute.....SILLY ME!
The very same players who are buying up these magazines, jumping from tip to tip (promises to be quick remember!) are indeed the same ones who get to the end of September disillusioned with their entire game. For some the nights getting darker sooner comes as a relief, at least you don't have to put yourself through that ordeal again until the spring. And then you can start the whole process all over again next year. Check out my list:
- Pretend to forget all about your game
- Tell anyone who will listen, you're listing the clubs on eBay and that's it
- Secretly smuggle in magazines or covertly watch podcasts online when the coast is clear, don't want people to know you're still obsessed
- Engage in meaningless activities through the winter in an attempt to convince yourself you do indeed have found a brand new hobby.....no more golf for me!
- Get Christmas out of the way, disappointed no one bought you any golfing bits and pieces this year.
- Have a sneaky swing of your trusted 9 iron under cover of darkness whilst pretending to clear out the garage
- Secretly get ready for the Spring time, renew your magazine subscription that you cancelled back in October, amass you 'quick fix' info and plot the new season.....you're back!
- Tentatively look at local gym membership programmes, do some quick sums to work out if you could afford a 'better' set of irons. After all, it's worth it because this year will be different because you're approach will be different!!
FINAL NOTE- Repeat the above for the duration of 2011, 2012,2013 and so on...you get the idea!
And why do I write such a list? Because week in week out at this time of year, that's exactly the process a huge number of players go through. Of course, that's not you, you wouldn't adopt such an approach would you....you know the way to golfing gold.
But just for the purpose of this article, I'll just explain what I mean when I say the secret to sustained progress lies in a less than obvious place.
If the pathway to golfing gold is made up of peaks and plateaus, I'd like to offer you the concept that the real secret to progress does indeed lie along the plateau and has little to do with scaling the lofty peaks.....but I guess you know that right? (don't adopt slightly patronising tone of voice Andy, remember these readers are expert trekkers)
As with all my articles, it's just my take on things. I'd always urge you to adopt a 'suck it and see' mentality and use what's useful, disregard the rest.
So, peaks and plateaus.
With any new skill, when we first engage, progress shows up really quickly and if you imagine a graph in front of you, represents a steep incline because progress is quick. You reach that first peak and time to celebrate, yes, I've cracked golf!; Time to think about handicap reductions, golfing trophies and bragging rites down at the local club.
But in terms of the geographical nature of peaks, a series of peaks tend to be separated by areas of lower lying land, plateaus. And so the next part of your trek to golfing gold takes shape. Before long you realise that next peak seems a little way off and steps along the plateau seem to be uneventful, it all looks the same and certainly isn't as much fun as the top of that last peak. The view was far better too, now your game looks ordinary again.
So, you come to a crossroads, left or right the plateau stretches off as far as the eye can see with just a couple of small signs to guide you.'This way to the next peak' etched on one.(REQUIRES A LONGER WALK) 'This way to previous peak' on the other(A SMALL STEP REQUIRED)
And this for me is exactly where the secret lies to golfing progress-the choices you make at this crossroads. It's not about the day in the sun whilst standing on the top of the peak, it's the decision you take and commitment you make to staying on the plateau long enough until you reach the next peak.
Because here's the thing- Progress along the plateau 'appears' to be slow, not much is going on and the plateau all looks the same. And due to its rocky nature, you stumble a few times and can even find yourself looking back, searching for that sign promising a quick route back to that previous peak. It's about this time when doubt shows itself and you're looking back, that a travelling magazine salesman catches your eye. It's your lucky day, why travel to the next peak for the gold when here's a guy selling it within the pages of the guide.
You buy his 'quick fix' but there's a hidden catch. The quick fix does in fact work and for the short term, you do indeed make progress he promised and before long you're climbing a peak again
....and the catch, it's the same peak you climbed previously!
Not only have you covered the same ground again but you've lost ground on the version of you that should have stayed walking the plateau....does that make sense?
Many studies are now surfacing eluding to mastery and how to master anything entails 10 years or 10,000 hours of deep and deliberate practice. You'll have a view on that I'm sure.
My take on that is that for those 10 years, 10,000 hours, a huge majority of those hours take place whilst walking along the plateau, steps where not much 'appears' to be happening, no progress is visible and stumbling/doubt seem only to be one step away. For me, this is a hugely important stage in building golfing gold in your game. All the skills you've gained whilst climbing the previous peak become installed at a deeper level along the plateau stage and on the surface progress may seem slow whilst this evolves.
Having the vision, trust and commitment to stay on the path along the plateau is where the true gold exists. The lie is the 'quick fix' culture and instruction which promises you the next piece of free gold, just sign your game away here on the dotted line and forever bounce back and forth around that first peak. That's exactly why at the end of each season you feel the effects of a game going nowhere, repeating the same steps over and over and the golfing gold remains out of each. And I get where you are- It's tough to take when you're working so hard on your game and you've very little to show for your effort......except a small bag of fools gold masquerading as the 'quick fix expert'.
And so to my conclusion.
If you've reached late September and the scenario I've painted is you, it's not the end of the road. Amassing gold is still a real possibility for you from here on in.
But it requires you to adopt this next belief.
Quick fixes DO NOT LAST long enough to make up for the lost ground that transpires from leaving the plateau. The next 'killer move' DOESN'T WORK long enough to make up for that lost ground either. The gold doesn't lie at the end of a peak stage, there is no promised land.
The gold is the plateau....the stage where learning is installed and the building blocks to mastering any skill....and because mastery is never ending...there's always another plateau to walk beyond the next peak.
Too much information in the modern game is aimed at peaks, very little at plateaus and that in a nutshell, is a lie that the secret doesn't own up to.
Set out your vision for your game but do so by embracing the days in the spotlight when the peaks are scaled, hand in hand with the idea that the real gold is picked up as you pass, step by step, along the plateau.
Thank you for your time. This article represents a time in my coaching career where there's not a huge amount of change showing up on the outside but I know that's because the skills I've attained over the previous 6 months are installing at a deeper level. And that dear reader...is pure gold!
We all make choices. There's nothing wrong with chasing quick fixes and if you seek short term success which makes it worthwhile, then that's great for you. But do so in the knowledge that the gold that is mastery, will forever remain elusive. Choose well.
Stay well, enjoy your individual journey
I'll leave you to ponder its double meaning....the secret that is.
Late September and for most players, professional and amateur alike, the golfing seasons are winding down. Regional PGA events in the UK have concluded, amateurs are clearing a little space in the corner of the shed to place their clubs and bringing out their special 'hibernation blankets' to keep their clubs safe through the darker evenings. OR the special blanket has long been discarded as they launch the clubs into a corner....quality clubs my arse. Waste of time again this season!!
Another season winding down and the golfing gold you promised yourself back in the spring, nowhere to be found. The road to the promised land seems to permanently be plagued with road works.....maybe next year comes the call from your onboard agent...yeah, like you believe a word he says. Same old message year after year- a lot of effort, no gold.
Next season can be different though and I'd invite you to only consider changing one thing. Get a map which shows you exactly where the golfing gold lies and as the title hints at, it's not in an obvious place. And with any invitation, you can decline it if you want.
The road to golfing gold is varied, requires you to explore sharp inclines which you will climb quickly followed by longer stretches of flat, almost barren landscapes, separating one peak from another. And that second peak will be scaled equally quickly when you get to it. (That assumes you do get to peak 2 of course!)
So, does the golfing gold I've hinted at lie at the top of that second peak, do you merely have to hone your climbing skills and on the peak all will become clear? Is that the secret to golfing paradise?
Well, that depends on where you're looking for gold or who's directing you. Not one week goes by when there isn't an 'expert' somewhere telling you of the next 'quick fix', the next big 'killer move' that will provide all the answers you crave and you too will indeed, be blessed with much gold.
Oh, but hang on a minute.....SILLY ME!
The very same players who are buying up these magazines, jumping from tip to tip (promises to be quick remember!) are indeed the same ones who get to the end of September disillusioned with their entire game. For some the nights getting darker sooner comes as a relief, at least you don't have to put yourself through that ordeal again until the spring. And then you can start the whole process all over again next year. Check out my list:
- Pretend to forget all about your game
- Tell anyone who will listen, you're listing the clubs on eBay and that's it
- Secretly smuggle in magazines or covertly watch podcasts online when the coast is clear, don't want people to know you're still obsessed
- Engage in meaningless activities through the winter in an attempt to convince yourself you do indeed have found a brand new hobby.....no more golf for me!
- Get Christmas out of the way, disappointed no one bought you any golfing bits and pieces this year.
- Have a sneaky swing of your trusted 9 iron under cover of darkness whilst pretending to clear out the garage
- Secretly get ready for the Spring time, renew your magazine subscription that you cancelled back in October, amass you 'quick fix' info and plot the new season.....you're back!
- Tentatively look at local gym membership programmes, do some quick sums to work out if you could afford a 'better' set of irons. After all, it's worth it because this year will be different because you're approach will be different!!
FINAL NOTE- Repeat the above for the duration of 2011, 2012,2013 and so on...you get the idea!
And why do I write such a list? Because week in week out at this time of year, that's exactly the process a huge number of players go through. Of course, that's not you, you wouldn't adopt such an approach would you....you know the way to golfing gold.
But just for the purpose of this article, I'll just explain what I mean when I say the secret to sustained progress lies in a less than obvious place.
If the pathway to golfing gold is made up of peaks and plateaus, I'd like to offer you the concept that the real secret to progress does indeed lie along the plateau and has little to do with scaling the lofty peaks.....but I guess you know that right? (don't adopt slightly patronising tone of voice Andy, remember these readers are expert trekkers)
As with all my articles, it's just my take on things. I'd always urge you to adopt a 'suck it and see' mentality and use what's useful, disregard the rest.
So, peaks and plateaus.
With any new skill, when we first engage, progress shows up really quickly and if you imagine a graph in front of you, represents a steep incline because progress is quick. You reach that first peak and time to celebrate, yes, I've cracked golf!; Time to think about handicap reductions, golfing trophies and bragging rites down at the local club.
But in terms of the geographical nature of peaks, a series of peaks tend to be separated by areas of lower lying land, plateaus. And so the next part of your trek to golfing gold takes shape. Before long you realise that next peak seems a little way off and steps along the plateau seem to be uneventful, it all looks the same and certainly isn't as much fun as the top of that last peak. The view was far better too, now your game looks ordinary again.
So, you come to a crossroads, left or right the plateau stretches off as far as the eye can see with just a couple of small signs to guide you.'This way to the next peak' etched on one.(REQUIRES A LONGER WALK) 'This way to previous peak' on the other(A SMALL STEP REQUIRED)
And this for me is exactly where the secret lies to golfing progress-the choices you make at this crossroads. It's not about the day in the sun whilst standing on the top of the peak, it's the decision you take and commitment you make to staying on the plateau long enough until you reach the next peak.
Because here's the thing- Progress along the plateau 'appears' to be slow, not much is going on and the plateau all looks the same. And due to its rocky nature, you stumble a few times and can even find yourself looking back, searching for that sign promising a quick route back to that previous peak. It's about this time when doubt shows itself and you're looking back, that a travelling magazine salesman catches your eye. It's your lucky day, why travel to the next peak for the gold when here's a guy selling it within the pages of the guide.
You buy his 'quick fix' but there's a hidden catch. The quick fix does in fact work and for the short term, you do indeed make progress he promised and before long you're climbing a peak again
....and the catch, it's the same peak you climbed previously!
Not only have you covered the same ground again but you've lost ground on the version of you that should have stayed walking the plateau....does that make sense?
Many studies are now surfacing eluding to mastery and how to master anything entails 10 years or 10,000 hours of deep and deliberate practice. You'll have a view on that I'm sure.
My take on that is that for those 10 years, 10,000 hours, a huge majority of those hours take place whilst walking along the plateau, steps where not much 'appears' to be happening, no progress is visible and stumbling/doubt seem only to be one step away. For me, this is a hugely important stage in building golfing gold in your game. All the skills you've gained whilst climbing the previous peak become installed at a deeper level along the plateau stage and on the surface progress may seem slow whilst this evolves.
Having the vision, trust and commitment to stay on the path along the plateau is where the true gold exists. The lie is the 'quick fix' culture and instruction which promises you the next piece of free gold, just sign your game away here on the dotted line and forever bounce back and forth around that first peak. That's exactly why at the end of each season you feel the effects of a game going nowhere, repeating the same steps over and over and the golfing gold remains out of each. And I get where you are- It's tough to take when you're working so hard on your game and you've very little to show for your effort......except a small bag of fools gold masquerading as the 'quick fix expert'.
And so to my conclusion.
If you've reached late September and the scenario I've painted is you, it's not the end of the road. Amassing gold is still a real possibility for you from here on in.
But it requires you to adopt this next belief.
Quick fixes DO NOT LAST long enough to make up for the lost ground that transpires from leaving the plateau. The next 'killer move' DOESN'T WORK long enough to make up for that lost ground either. The gold doesn't lie at the end of a peak stage, there is no promised land.
The gold is the plateau....the stage where learning is installed and the building blocks to mastering any skill....and because mastery is never ending...there's always another plateau to walk beyond the next peak.
Too much information in the modern game is aimed at peaks, very little at plateaus and that in a nutshell, is a lie that the secret doesn't own up to.
Set out your vision for your game but do so by embracing the days in the spotlight when the peaks are scaled, hand in hand with the idea that the real gold is picked up as you pass, step by step, along the plateau.
Thank you for your time. This article represents a time in my coaching career where there's not a huge amount of change showing up on the outside but I know that's because the skills I've attained over the previous 6 months are installing at a deeper level. And that dear reader...is pure gold!
We all make choices. There's nothing wrong with chasing quick fixes and if you seek short term success which makes it worthwhile, then that's great for you. But do so in the knowledge that the gold that is mastery, will forever remain elusive. Choose well.
Stay well, enjoy your individual journey
If you have been wondering whether mental coaching could benefit
your golf game, visit the link included for your FREE INNER GAME REPORT.
Andy Morrison is a golf mindset specialist working with a range of
players, from elite to beginner. Visit http://www.progolfmindcoach.co.uk
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Morrison
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