8 Forms of a Champion's Discipline: Part 4

written by Jon Whithaus This is the fourth part in a series of eight posts that describe the many forms of a Champion's Discipline. These eight forms of discipline have no particular order of priority, but each must be present to perform at a championship level. Discipline #4: Positive Thinking Discipline

1. Everything is a choice, you can always look at a situation in a positive manner if you choose to do so.
2. Course conditions and/or weather can always be used as a positive.
3. Never complain...even if you want you want to complain, don't vocalize it. Vocalizing your complaints will negatively effect you and your teammates.
4. Even away from the golf course, be positive about everything. Even negative thoughts about such things as meals, tv shows, movies, homework, etc. can create a bad environment that will soon negatively effect your golf.
5. Be supportive and positive to your teammates, coaches and competitors.
6. Always look at the next hole and the next round as a new opportunity, regardless of the result of the previous hole or round.

8 Forms of a Champion's Discipline: Part 3

written by Jon Whithaus This is the third part in a series of eight posts that describe the many forms of a Champion's Discipline. These eight forms of discipline have no particular order of priority, but each must be present to perform at a championship level. Discipline #3: Competitive Discipline

1. You must recognize that this is competition, not practice.
2. Compete on every shot.
3. Each shot is a small competition against yourself: (a) To choose a good target; (b) To stay narrowly focused on that target; (c) To attack that target; (d) To react with an appropriate post-shot response that sets the tone for the next shot.
4. A round of golf is made up of 18 unrelated competitions. A win is a par or better. A loss is bogey or worse.
5. Each hole is a new opportunity to win regardless of the result of the last hole.
6. At the conclusion of the round, you should have a win-loss record (for example 14-4). As you advance as a player, you should change the definition of a win/loss on all par 5s: a win is a 4 or less; a loss is a 5 or higher.
7. Compete with passion.

8 Forms of a Champion's Discipline: Part 2

written by Jon Whithaus This is the second part in a series of eight posts that describe the many forms of a Champion's Discipline. These eight forms of discipline have no particular order of priority, but each must be present to perform at a championship level. Discipline #2: Target Discipline

1. During practice sessions, work on hitting to different targets that are not flags or greens.
2. During practice rounds, work on picking good targets and memorizing which targets that you will attack during competition.
3. Pick the right target for your game, your current confidence level and the current weather conditions...then attack that target.

8 Forms of a Champion's Discipline: Part 1

written by Jon Whithaus This is the first part in a series of eight posts that describe the many forms of a Champion's Discipline. These eight forms of discipline have no particular order of priority, but each must be present to perform at a championship level. Discipline #1: Preparation Discipline

1. Every time that you practice, you must practice with a purpose. Don't just go through the motions. Find a way to feel like you have gotten better at the end of every practice session.
2. Be early for each practice session so you can be mentally ready when you begin your practice. This habit will reinforce to you, your teammates and your coaches that you are committed to proper preparation.
3. Be ready mentally and physically for each practice session.
4. Prepare with the next course that you will compete on in the front of your mind. Visualize and practice shots that will be used on the next course that you will compete on.