http://timoconnor.ca Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:45:18 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Performance coach Paul Dewland has a way for putting this somewhat ethereal mental game stuff into concrete language. “Remember when you were young and you went into a bar hoping to meet a girl. You didn’t walk through and go, ‘Whoa, stay away from that one, or that one.’ You went after the one that attracted you. “We succeed in golf when we go after those things we want. If you’re focused on fixing a slice or ... ]]> http://timoconnor.ca/golf/golf/instruction/184/the-mind-game-part-ix-going-after-and-getting-what-i-want It’s rather ironic that the problem with Muskoka—from a golf perspective—has become one of its greatest attributes. The rock of Muskoka has long been the region’s signature. The craggy outcroppings are ruggedly beautiful, dramatically shaped, and spackled with pinks and blues. While Muskoka has long been a worldwide tourist region, golf wasn’t a part of the picture, unlike vacation areas such as Northern Michigan or New York state. It was believed the ubiquitous rock made it too ... ]]> http://timoconnor.ca/golf/golf/177/between-rocks-and-forests-in-muskoka-a-great-place-to-be     Today's blog delves into the difficulty--and strangeness--of trying to make changes to one's golf game. Performance coach Paul Dewland says my ego is trying to protect me, swing coach Annie Mallory says hitting shanks shows progress, and friend/professional Tom Jackson says I'm in for a long and bumpy ride. Oh boy.   My expert opinion as an amateur psychologist is that the easy part of making change is deciding to make it. The action part—and sticking ... ]]> http://timoconnor.ca/golf/golf/171/the-mind-game-part-viii-staying-the-course-ain-t-easy   Artist Greg Douglas brilliantly portrays the challenges presented by the Legends at Lionhead. We humans have a habit of giving personalities to objects, places and even weather. On a brutal winter day, someone might say “She’s howling out there.” Planes are usually discussed like women. “She’s a sturdy old bird.”  Hurricanes are always christened with names,male and female. I think we do it so that we can relate better to whatever we’re dealing with, even golf courses. The demanding ... ]]> http://timoconnor.ca/golf/golf/courses-and-travel/155/legends-at-lionhead-one-tough-golf-gal   In addition to Performance Coach Paul Dewland, who is helping me with the mental side of the game, I’ve started taking lessons with Annie Mallory, an instructor with the Core Golf Academy. I’ve known Annie for years through my communications work with Core, and that she’s a great coach, a former contestant on The Big Break, and lots of fun. Now, I have mind and swing coaches.  Golly, I’m building my own entourage. I’ve been called ... ]]> http://timoconnor.ca/golf/golf/playing-the-game/158/the-mind-game-part-vii-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx   Golf performance coach Paul Dewland is coaching me on the mental game. I played in my club championship last weekend at Blue Springs, and it was a disaster. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy after my last blog on playing when you don't have confidence in your swing. The experience told me: I need to keep focused on some of the early things Paul and  I discussed (like witnessing my thoughts rather than being caught up in them), ... ]]> http://timoconnor.ca/golf/golf/playing-the-game/146/the-mind-game-part-vi-balancing-the-mental-game-and-mechanics Golf performance coach Paul Dewland is coaching me on the mental game. My apologies for the delay in posting, but I was camping with the family in glorious Canadian Shield country enjoying big rocks, forests and clear lakes. I intended on writing about the club championship at Blue Springs this upcoming weekend, but I felt compelled to write about trying to play when you don’t have confidence. That should tell you about my chances this ... ]]> http://timoconnor.ca/golf/golf/playing-the-game/130/the-mind-game-part-v-suriviving-when-the-swing-isn-t-working Paul Dewland is coaching me on the mental game, and I’m blogging about it. How 2010! My hope is that golfers will find it a good read, fun and educational. Today’s blog is intended to be more of the latter so that you can learn to keep your head up more often. Ain’t golf weird? A behaviour that I’ve been looking to change on the course, and elsewhere, is my tendency to over-think. I’m a ruminator. ... ]]> http://timoconnor.ca/golf/golf/playing-the-game/124/the-mind-game-part-iv-better-golf-by-keeping-your-head-up-3   Paul Dewland is coaching me on the mental side of the game. For a guru, he's a pretty funny guy. No Birkenstocks! I play most of my golf at Blue Springs GC in Acton, Ontario, just so you know where most of this little experiment is being played out. And our Club Championship is coming up August 7-8. Yes, this could get ugly. I made it through two rounds on the weekend with only one shank. Yes, I ... ]]> http://timoconnor.ca/golf/golf/playing-the-game/97/the-mind-game-part-iii-i-can-change-if-i-have-to   Performance Coach Paul Dewland is coaching me on the mental side of the game, and I'm sharing my little victories and agonies with you through the magic of blogging. Content Rating: Contains violence. I had lopped off its head. Any golfer who has battled the hosel rockets has had the feeling that he could really lose it, but to have it come to this… even I was stunned. I was playing with my parents, Margaret and Dennis, and my ... ]]> http://timoconnor.ca/golf/golf/playing-the-game/88/the-mind-game-part-ii-hosel-rockets-made-me-a-killer