Sports & Recreation
Golf Guide-11
We have all heard of the term “motivation.” Its uses and effects in sports have been bandied about for years. But just exactly what is motivation? Motivation is characterized as an impulse, emotion, or desire that moves one to action. It is an intangible factor you can’t directly put a finger on, nor can it be measured.
Yet there is no doubting the effect it has on performance. Without that effect, many of the great individual and team sports accomplishments which have occurred over the years probably would never have taken place.
Case in point — the 11 consecutive PGA tournament wins by Byron Nelson. It is difficult to imagine the degree of motivation, incentive and inspiration he must have experienced during this string of victories. This accomplishment is unprecedented in golf. It has never come close to being duplicated, and is not likely to occur anytime soon.
But what about motivation as it applies to the recreational or amateur golfer? If you are a once-or twice-a-week golfer, is motivation a factor in your game? Absolutely. This motivation can occur in several forms, ranging from self-motivation to motivation stemming from an outside stimulus.
Let’s look at an example of each, starting with self-motivation. You have a close friend with whom you frequently golf. It is your utmost desire to beat him, but lately this hasn’t been happening. How can you turn this situation around in your favor? You have several options available. You can start increasing your practice time to lessen your weaknesses. Or you might take some lessons and let a professional instructor help you improve. What you do is going to be determined by how driven you are to end the drought you are experiencing with your friend.
An example of an outside motivational stimulus might be the following: You have been looking forward to playing in the club championship. The day of the tournament turns out to be a real downer for you. Following the play, the results are posted, along with the prizes to be awarded. Because of the bad day you had, your name is nowhere to be found on the list. Several of your golfing buddies have asked you what happened, to which you respond, “I blew it!” To see that this doesn’t happen again, you have the same options available to you as before.
These are only two of many such examples which can illustrate how motivation can be used in particular situations. Motivation will always play an important part in what happens in your game. It is for you to decide just how to put its effect to use.
Golf Guide-11
We have all heard of the term “motivation.” Its uses and effects in sports have been bandied about for years. But just exactly what is motivation? Motivation is characterized as an impulse, emotion, or desire that moves one to action. It is an intangible factor you can’t directly put a finger on, nor can it be measured.
Yet there is no doubting the effect it has on performance. Without that effect, many of the great individual and team sports accomplishments which have occurred over the years probably would never have taken place.
Case in point — the 11 consecutive PGA tournament wins by Byron Nelson. It is difficult to imagine the degree of motivation, incentive and inspiration he must have experienced during this string of victories. This accomplishment is unprecedented in golf. It has never come close to being duplicated, and is not likely to occur anytime soon.
But what about motivation as it applies to the recreational or amateur golfer? If you are a once-or twice-a-week golfer, is motivation a factor in your game? Absolutely. This motivation can occur in several forms, ranging from self-motivation to motivation stemming from an outside stimulus.
Let’s look at an example of each, starting with self-motivation. You have a close friend with whom you frequently golf. It is your utmost desire to beat him, but lately this hasn’t been happening. How can you turn this situation around in your favor? You have several options available. You can start increasing your practice time to lessen your weaknesses. Or you might take some lessons and let a professional instructor help you improve. What you do is going to be determined by how driven you are to end the drought you are experiencing with your friend.
An example of an outside motivational stimulus might be the following: You have been looking forward to playing in the club championship. The day of the tournament turns out to be a real downer for you. Following the play, the results are posted, along with the prizes to be awarded. Because of the bad day you had, your name is nowhere to be found on the list. Several of your golfing buddies have asked you what happened, to which you respond, “I blew it!” To see that this doesn’t happen again, you have the same options available to you as before.
These are only two of many such examples which can illustrate how motivation can be used in particular situations. Motivation will always play an important part in what happens in your game. It is for you to decide just how to put its effect to use.
If you want to improve your game, Bob Gates may be contacted at (708) 425-8637.
About the Author:
Bob Gates is a golf instructor at
Stony Creek Golf Course and Driving Range
in Oak Lawn, Illinois.
Bob Gates is a golf instructor at
Stony Creek Golf Course and Driving Range
in Oak Lawn, Illinois.