Success during a game of golf most certainly starts—and ends—in the mind. It’s a series of focused steps involving calculated decision-making, measuring, correcting, and overcorrecting. But as with every other sport, the game should bring you joy. Too often, golfers’ furrowed eyebrows and perfect posture give off the impression they’re taking themselves far too seriously. Whether you’re a pro, a driving machine, a hacker (i.e., a mediocre or poor player), a weekend warrior, or someone in between, every round of golf is either lost or won because of the player’s state of mind. Almost all that tension can be eased with the right guidance. Some athletes rely solely on their coaches or a player they aspire to be more like . . . but every golfer has far more support than he or she could ever dream of.
It’s been seven years now that the Golfing Angels have been on my bag as my secret weapon. It wasn’t easy to come to grips that I would be sharing them with the world. I enjoyed walking the course with them under wraps. Understandably, when my book Golfing with the Angels is published, my secret would be revealed and others would be beckoning their assistance.
All that’s needed to get the ball rolling, unleash their wealth of assistance, and solicit the angels’ help is your permission. Whether the request be out loud or silent, it doesn’t matter. Talk to them like you would an old friend. Provide them with your wish list before the round of your aspirations and how they can aid. My call goes something like this…”I give you the freedom to assist me with target lines, reading the greens (more on sink lines and speed spots in other posts), fortuitous bounces, heavenly lies, and fun every roll, revolution and rotation on the journey.” I also ask for good flat lies with fluffy grass under my ball and guidance on club and shot selection. Whatever would make your round more satisfying and enjoyable, ask away. Of course, that is as long as it’s not detrimental to yourself or anyone else. We don’t want to mess with karma now!
That said, it takes an incredible amount of trust and faith. When I first started using their help, I’d be standing over a two foot putt thinking there’s no way it’s going to break that way. Sure enough, it did, and over time my trust increased by leaps and bounds. The angels are able to differentiate variables in the terrain our human selves cannot and they have a wealth of inside information on wind velocity, pollen count, geese contrails, gravitational pull, earth’s rotation, and butterfly effect, just to name a few. They’ll help you whether you believe in them or not.
Once you place the call…they’re on the bag and in your life…and they delight in providing a plenitude of signs of their presence. When you’re open to their true-blue guidance, you’ll experience the most magical round, while expanding your enjoyment of the game. And all that’s required is to be graciously grateful for their guidance. A win-win fore sure!