It can take some time for learning to kick in. We can stuff and fumble about before we really “get it”. This is pretty normal and I’ve certainly had my fair share of ups and down while learning to play better golf.
John “Steady” Stead is a good case in point. I met him first about 6 years ago. He had an interesting story – was a 5 handicapper who had lost his game. Over the journey he had lost the plot and stumbled out to a 15 handicap. He went on the search for improved performance (that’s how he found me) and tried many ways to get his old game back. This can be a difficult time – when we lose our game the temptation is to go looking for it.
This doesn’t normally work so well. My experience is that the “searching” leads to more frustration and annoyance. And this is what I found with Steady.
He was easily distracted and thought too much about his game. While he sort of knew what the problem was (too much thinking and not enough emptiness of approach) he had trouble applying it to his own game.
But he was making progress. A bit like two steps forward and then a step (or two) backwards. There were little milestones (like getting to a 13 handicap) but nothing to write home about. He needed something that pulverised his expectations and proved that he was still capable of remarkable golf.
The following is Steady’s email I received this week. I was thrilled to hear of his amazing round. It highlights what really is possible when we can get out of our own way. If you are serious about your golf you need to read this.
Hi Cameron,
On Sunday (Howlong Golf Club) I played in a stableford event and shot a 1 under 69 (51 stableford points). Currently my handicap is 13. As you know I got down to 5 handicap years ago.The round was beyond remarkable. Imagine having net 56? That’s how remarkable it was.
After 9 holes I turned 2 under with 26 stableford points. Pesky then started to tell me what I could have and dreams of grandeur then started to roll in my head. I quickly stopped this garbage with all my focus being on the process that had got me this far.
You see for far too long I tried to improve my routine or not do it at all. Big Mistake. It’s strange because as humans, especially adults, we try to improve or add to the most simplest or easy concept and mess it up.Anyhow, for the next 9 holes I had bogey birdie, birdie,bogey bogey birdie birdie bogey par. Coming up to the 17th I got extremely nervous. My hands were shaking and I broke out in a cold sweat with a dry mouth. Pesky was at it again talking of birdies etc, but what got me through was the process of my routine.
So I went to my bag, put the club back that I chose, took a sip of water, took a couple of deep breaths, checked the distance, then took my club again and went through my routine. My ball finished next to a massive gum tree. Looked at my options chose my club knocked it to about 20 feet took 2 putts and walked off the green. By then my nerves had gone completely. I had a lip out for birdie on the 18th, wasn’t angry or upset. Just took the tap in.
It takes discipline to stick to your process. It takes guts to walk away from conventional golf merry go round but most of all it takes a lot of courage not to listen to pesky and play golf the way we should. We need to play process golf the way we go about everyday normal things we do.
Changing gears in a car, brushing out teeth,drinking and eating. In a strange way this score hasn’t inflated my ego. In fact it’s a very humbling experience. To know that I can play at this level now, I really look forward to playing my next round and golf into the future
I can’t thank you enough Cameron. You have shown a massive amount of patience with me and the payoff is beyond any of my expectations. Please share this on your website. I look forward to your golf seminar. I will be there to share my experience with others of
like mindedness. See You Tuesday. I’m in for sure.John “Steady” Stead
It’s a fantastic story and it’s great Steady shared this story with everyone. The good news for Steady is that if he sticks to the process he’ll transcend the need to think about his routine at all – he’ll find more meaning and true satisfaction on the golf course. This is the ultimate way to play golf and he’s now closer than ever.
If you’d like to know how Steady has achieved Remarkable golf then check this out.