Mind Games (sports psychology) Master Golf's Three Critical Success Factors by Dr. Rick Jensen Ever wonder why a player's golf scores vary so much from one round to another? Players with a scoring average of 72 obviously do not shoot 72 each time they tee it up. Some days they shoot 68, other days 76. These natural fluctuations in performance from day to day are normal and no matter how much one tries, will never be eliminated. Variations in score are controlled by statistical laws which assert that variance around one's average is a naturally occurring phenomenon. One's scoring average is by definition an average of all the scores that naturally fluctuate around a player's average. Unknowingly, players do not understand or accept the day to day fluctuations in their golf scores. Instead, they attempt to explain each and every score. Just sit around the 19th hole for a while and you will hear players attempting to explain away their scores. "I didn't putt very well today." "I had two bad holes, otherwise I would have shot 72." "I hit it close all day and not one putt dropped." One rarely hears a player saying, "What a day &endash; I should never have shot that score &endash; I was so lucky to shoot 72. If every bounce hadn't gone my way, I would have shot at least a 76." The unfortunate truth is this &endash; one's score on any given day is out of his or her control. Obviously, a player's score is likely to be around his/her average, but a player has a 50% chance of shooting above or below his/her scoring average. Thus, is there really a need to explain away those bad scores when often they are simply due to the natural laws of statistical variance? Having a realistic perspective as to how much control one has over their performance on any given day can be a wonderful mental benefit during competition. Although players can not directly dictate their end result score on any given day, they can and should attempt to control certain variables that will influence their final score. I refer to these variables as "critical success factors" in golf. The three critical success factors include: 1. Talent 2. Interference 3. Luck The following formula outlines how the three critical success factors influence one's performance on any given day: GOLF PERFORMANCE = Talent - Interference +/- Luck Talent can be defined as the sum of a player's physical, strategic, and technical golf skills. Although one's golf performance (or final score) on any day cannot be ultimately controlled, one's talent going into a tournament round can be. Fortunately, talent is controlled by the quality of a player's training program. A player's training program may include a range of multidisciplinary areas, including golf instruction, practice, fitness, nutrition, and course management. These areas combine to form a player's golf talent, which accounts for his or her capacity to execute golf specific skills and respond to the physical demands of competition. Interference can be defined as anything that detracts from one's talent while competing on the golf course. Interference can come from external sources, such as course conditions, weather, playing partners, or rate of play. Additionally, interference can come from internal sources, such as fatigue, distractions, emotional disturbance, anxiety, and fear. According to the performance formula above, players benefit the most when their interference score is "zero." Competition challenges a player's ability to manage the sources of interference that arise during a round. Sport psychologists have contributed to the game of golf by helping players develop coping strategies to combat the sources of interference that arise in the game. Luck is defined as the fluctuations in performance due to chance. Luck clearly plays its part in golf. Balls land in divots in the middle of the fairway, they bounce off OB stakes and stay in bounds, and they even miraculously skip across water hazards and come to rest back on land. Any reasonable person would expect that, over time, luck will follow statistical laws of averages. Bad luck and good luck will be shared by all and will balance out over the long haul. The primary rule to keep in mind when considering luck during a round of golf is, "Don't turn bad luck into interference!" When something bad happens merely by chance, recognize that luck does play a part in the game, accept it, and move on. Dwelling unnecessarily on bad luck only opens the door for interference. Remember &endash; players should strive to keep interference at "zero." Luck is the one variable in golf that no one has control over. Players can not lose their marbles over bad luck; instead, they must let the marbles fall where they may. Understanding the influence that the three critical success factors (talent, interference, and luck) have on performance is vital to maintaining a healthy mental perspective in the game of golf. First and foremost, high levels of talent can not be achieved without significant commitments in time and effort. Players should consult their PGA professionals and pursue golf instruction and practice with a passion. Additionally, players should work with fitness professionals to develop and implement an individualized golf specific fitness program that will further enhance their talent capabilities. Unlike talent, which must be developed prior to a competitive round, interference must be monitored and managed during a competitive round. Players must take the time to identify the sources of interference that most affect their games, then design and implement coping strategies to deal with them. Luck is simply that &endash; luck. Remember, when luck appears deal with it. Don't lose your marbles!   Dr. Rick Jensen is President of the Performance Enhancement Center at Polo Trace Country Club and the Director of Sport Psychology at the Academy of Golf, PGA National Resort and Spa. He works extensively with touring pros on the PGA, LPGA, Senior PGA and Nike Tours, and is a frequent speaker at golf clubs nationwide. He can be reached at 561-852-3603.