After years of trying to improve our game it was time to change our approach. We went along to Kitrina Douglas’ workshop tour in the hope of gaining some valuable advice.
After years of trying to improve your game with costly golf lessons and trips to the range, some valuable advice from Kitrina Douglas might be all that you need to change your approach and achieve better results.
As Bobby Jones once said, ‘Golf is a game played mainly on a five-and-a-half inch course.’ Here at Women & Golf magazine we know this very well. Unfortunately implementing this wisdom can prove a little more tricky, but former LET player and sports psychologist Kitrina Douglas luckily knows how to impart invaluable advice.
This year’s Women & Golf workshop series included days at Maxstoke Park GC, West Midlands, Belton Woods GC, Lincs, Lutterworth GC, Leics and Gullane GC, East Lothian. I headed to Leicestershire that began with an anecdote that rang true to many of the ladies from Leicestershire eagerly hoping to improve their game.
A high-handicapper writing herself off after seeing she had been drawn with the club’s young-starlet. ‘’Well that’s me knocked out already,’’ the lady exclaimed.
The tale proceeded with the low-handicapped youngster entering the locker room only to lament at her draw, not in disgust at having to play with the older lady, in contrast complementing her company, but at the huge amount of shots she was to give.
The moral of the tale? We are too quick to talk negatively about ourselves.
Now we had been reminded to focus on our own game, it was time to talk concentration. After all, how many times have you found yourself holding a good medal card in hand, only to find your mind wandering away to other matters and your hopes for a good score quickly drifting away with it.
Seeing as this is our golfing enemy number one we were keen to hear what Kitrina had to say.
After some discussion amongst us as to what was to prove the biggest distraction, the answer was unanimous. Men!!! In addition slow play, playing partners and what we were to have for tea were also high on the list!!
It turns out we’re allowed to zone out and have a good natter, as long as when we reach our ball, our mind is 100% on the shot.
After some much needed sandwiches (and cake!) Kitrina had some little tricks to help us with our focus. The task was to pair up and stare into your partner’s eyes for 40 seconds whilst she endeavoured to see how many times she could make you laugh. Unfortunately the room was soon full of muffled snorts and giggles. It turns out this might take some more practice!
To finish, Kitrina demonstrated some breathing and relaxing techniques for those moments on the course when you start to feel a little tense, be it a putt to win the club championship or merely first tee nerves. The results may not be instantaneous but everybody came out feeling upbeat that their game was soon to be on the up.
Beware the ladies from the golf clubs mentioned above, as they may now prove tricky to beat.
If your club is interested in hosting a workshop in 2017, please email Kitrina Douglas on [email protected]
If you are interested in improving the mental side of your game, click here.
