If you ever wondered, why golf feels so mental, I talk about it on this podcast. In Episode 1, I talk about what your brain is doing on the golf course. But, in this podcast I take it a bit deeper. I talk about the two parts of your mindset on the golf course. One part deals with what you do over a shot and after a shot. The other portion deals with what is waiting for you on 18 when you are finished with your round. If you feel like there is another layer to the mental part of golf, you want to...
Sep 21, 2022•13 min•Ep. 87
Have your ever said "My head was going to explode" or "I can't take it anymore"? How about "This course is impossible" or "There is no way I can score here." These are subtle and sometimes not so subtle ways we create golf drama for ourselves on the course. If you have a tendency to use colorful language and lots of adjectives to describe your golf, the course or the people you play with, this episode is for you. I shed the light on some seemingly harmless sayings and how they dramatically affec...
Sep 14, 2022•13 min•Ep. 86
How do you really know if you are playing to your potential? For that matter, how do you even know what your potential is? By definition, potential is "showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future." And while I think that serves as a great goal - striving for something you are capable of in the future. Is it possible to play to your potential right now...with what you have...while you work toward what you want to achieve? I think there is and I dive into it this podcast...
Sep 07, 2022•17 min•Ep. 85
Success in your career or other sports can play a role in how you show up at the golf course. It plays a role in what you expect of yourself and what you think others expect of you. In this episode, I name 4 ways we identify ourselves relative to golf and how it can affect your game and golf experience. Learn more at KathyHartWood.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Join the NEXT Workshop Here Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain -...
Aug 31, 2022•16 min•Ep. 84
If you know you get in your own way on the golf course, this episode will help you pinpoint where to start the work on unleashing your game. I have categorized it to 6 main golf personality traits. And because how we do one thing, we do everything, these traits will likely be found in areas of your life off the course. You may discover that you relate to several traits...this is common. But as we solve for one...we solve for others. If you want to learn how to tackle anyone of these traits, I en...
Aug 24, 2022•19 min•Ep. 83
Do you feel as if other people perform better under pressure than you? When there is a clutch putt or shot to be made, it can seem like certain players handle those moments with a sense of determination and focus while others struggle or "choke". If you feel like you choke under pressure on the golf course, this podcast is for you. I put my spin on choking and what differentiates a player who excels under pressure versus one who crumbles. I share three steps to start performing better under pres...
Aug 17, 2022•21 min•Ep. 82
Do you think that being hard on yourself is a useful tactic to create results? Maybe you punish yourself with extra practice sessions or you berate yourself with a strong verbal kick in the a@@. In this podcast, I help you discover if being tough on yourself is giving you the best results possible. Then I share a new way of looking at being hard on yourself and how you can shift it slightly to create faster and bigger results! Find ways to work with Kathy at KathyHartWood.com Continue your menta...
Aug 10, 2022•15 min•Ep. 81
This is an interview by Jesse Perryman from the Flaghuntersgolfpod. He invited me to his podcast and we talked about so much valuable content about what thinking above par is all about that I wanted to repost it here. Jesse is an enthusiastic lover of the game of golf and asked powerful questions relative to the what it takes to manage your brain around the game. It is an awesome summation of what this podcast is all about. If you want any help with your personal mental management reach out to K...
Aug 03, 2022•56 min•Ep. 80
If you have ever tried to not have negative thoughts or tried to be more positive but struggled to gain any traction, I explain why in this podcast. Negative thinking leads to negative results but sometimes we can't seem to prevent those thoughts from surfacing and affecting our performance. I clear up three points about negative thoughts and offer a plan of action that will help you quiet the chatter and create better results for yourself on the course, If you want to work on the mental piece o...
Jul 27, 2022•10 min•Ep. 79
if you tell yourself that you want to shoot a certain score...or NOT shoot a certain score, this episode is for you. I share with you how to shift your mindset to something more useful. One of the hardest things you can do is try to NOT shoot a number. For example, you might want to NOT shoot higher than 80. In this episode, I share some insight on why you want to shift this thinking and what the objective and focus ideally should be during a round. Reach out to KathyHartWood.com for more inform...
Jul 20, 2022•12 min•Ep. 78
Most of our fears on the golf course are not about being eaten by a tiger or bitten by a spider or mugged by a scary dude. ( and yes being bitten by an alligator can definitely be a thing in parts of the US). What we usually have fear of is: fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, fear of rejection, fear of disappointment. These aren't going to cause us physical harm. They cause us emotional or social pain and our brain perceives it the same as if you were encountering a pre-historic hyena. In t...
Jul 13, 2022•11 min•Ep. 77
I often talk that playing golf calm, certain and confident allows your best swings to show up. You are able to think clearly and swing freely. I do not suggest that you SHOULDN'T experience any negative emotions. That isn't a realistic goal. They are going to happen. So what do you do when they occur? I explain that to you in this podcast. I share my golf house analogy and offer some ideas to help you get back to a calmer place before your next swing. Want to work with Kathy? Go to KathyHartWood...
Jul 06, 2022•11 min•Ep. 76
Let's talk golf emotions. Often golfers think that they shouldn't experience certain emotions on the golf course. There is a thought that golf should even be emotionless. We can define certain emotions as good or bad or even deny they exist. When we do this we make managing them more challenging. In this episode I talk about which emotions are preferred on the golf course and what happens when we experience other emotions like anger, frustration, stress, anxiety or disappointment. This is the fi...
Jun 29, 2022•14 min•Ep. 75
Playing in a scramble, best ball, alternate shots, or one of the seemingly endless options of team golf can mess with your golf brain. We run into different pressure and fears in team golf more than we do in individual play. In this episode, I talk about the different thoughts you have to manage, the emotions you encounter and the way it ALL affects your ability to make your best swings. This is an ideal opportunity to naturally shame ourselves and put a huge dent into our confidence. I share wi...
Jun 22, 2022•18 min•Ep. 74
Playing by the rules is an integral part of the game. The USGA talks about it in Rule 1. It includes playing within the spirit of the game. One of those is calling out the rules on yourself. Many golfers, however, use the rules against themselves and their playing partners and it interferes with your game and your mindset on the course. In this episode, I share my opinion in a way to think about the rules so that you can find more certainty and confidence when you play. Learn the basic rules: US...
Jun 15, 2022•12 min•Ep. 73
Setting and taking care of your personal boundaries on the golf course is critical for your success and ability to stay focused. It is about what you are willing to tolerate and where you speak up for yourself. It could be golf etiquette, rules, values, or personal nuances like chewing gum, talking, playing music. In this podcast, I define what a boundary is and the two main reason we avoid making them. I also share more details about two types of boundaries - personal and golf. It is important ...
Jun 08, 2022•16 min•Ep. 72
If you have a big tournament coming up this season, and you are already feeling the anxiety and the pressure to play well, then this podcast is going to help. I show you how to play with more calm and certainty in those tournaments that really matter. I share two simple steps that will make a huge impact on your performance on tournament day. If you want to learn more about how to Master Your Golf Brain, head to MasterYourGolfBrain.com or go to KathyHartWood.com Continue your mental journey at Y...
Jun 01, 2022•9 min•Ep. 71
If you want to change and grow, your success is directly related to how coachable and self-coachable you are. Being not-coachable means you are unwilling to look at your results from a curious and open mindset. It might mean you think you are right and any other way is wrong. In this episode, I share three traits of a coachable person along with powerful questions to ask yourself along the way. You also have to be willing to be uncomfortable in order to change. If you want to level up, change yo...
May 25, 2022•11 min•Ep. 70
Golf is one of the few sports where drinking alcohol is acceptable and even encouraged. This is not a problem unless you are using alcohol for the wrong reasons. If you are looking to level up your game, play more consistently, or improve your mental game, it is worth looking at why you are drinking. In this episode, I share with you 3 reasons why you may be drinking on the course to help shed some light on opportunities for you to grow, on and off the course. This episode is directed toward the...
May 18, 2022•14 min•Ep. 69
If you have a bad day on the golf course and then run to the range to fix your swing. you might be wasting valuable time. It is key to know and be aware of when you have a mechanical issue and when you don't. In this episode, I discuss the 4 different circumstances where we incorrectly assume that we have swing issues that need be fixed. So before you run to the range or sign up for a lesson or buy new equipment, listen to this episode. Learn more about working with Kathy at KathyHartWood.com Co...
May 11, 2022•14 min•Ep. 68
Playing your best comes down to your ability to manage your thoughts and emotions on the golf course. Some emotions are harder to deal with than others and shame is one of them. Shame is a heavy emotion that shows up in your golf game in sneaky and seemingly innocent ways. It is challenging to process in a round of golf therefore it is best practices to minimize or avoid it all together. In this podcast, I talk about how to spot shame, the impact of shame on your golf game and the best way to mo...
May 04, 2022•13 min•Ep. 67
A golf goal for the season helps motivate you to practice and go to the course and play but there are good golf goals and there are better golf goals. In this episode, I share with you how to decide if your goal is going to set you up for a successful season. I discuss the three types of goals you could pick from and then explain why some are better than others. If you have a goal for the 2022 season, check in on this episode and learn some of the steps to move you closer to achieving them. Conn...
Apr 27, 2022•12 min•Ep. 66
What if the number of swing thoughts you had was directly correlated to your level of competency? We can often think about or swing too much on certain shots but less on others. It is true that the more swing thoughts you have the more challenging it is to have a fluid effortless swing. But maybe there is a reason behind all of that. We can appreciate the challenge of simplifying our swing thoughts a bit more when we understand the 4 stages of learning. In this podcast, I explain the 4 stages re...
Apr 20, 2022•16 min•Ep. 65
The Masters rarely disappoints for golf watching fans. This year was no exception. It was a tournament full of emotions and great mental lessons. In this episode, I highlight 4 players, Tiger, Cameron, Rory and Scottie. I share with you some valuable lessons that you can relate to and use to help you play and feel better on the course. Interested in learning to level up your mental challenges, learn more at KathyHartWood.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Join the NEXT Wo...
Apr 13, 2022•12 min•Ep. 64
It's Masters Week and I invited my brother Dudley Hart back on the podcast to share his perspective with playing in 5 Masters. He shares his experience showing up for his first Masters with our Dad. What it was like to hit the first tee shot. We talk about his nemesis holes at Augusta, the galleries, the par three as well as his picks for this years tournament. Enjoy the podcast and enjoy Masters Week. Learn more about Kathy at KathyHartWood.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy ...
Apr 07, 2022•26 min
Your best golf depends on the quality of 4 relationships around the game. Relationships are just thoughts that you have in your mind about a person or a thing. The words that you say create your feelings which affects how you swing or show up on the course. It is worth taking a few minutes and checking in on each of these relationships. See if the thoughts you have are useful for your performance or if they are keeping you from playing your best golf and enjoying the game. Learn more at KathyHar...
Apr 06, 2022•14 min•Ep. 63
Not all courses are beautifully designed, immaculately manicured, or perfectly maintained. The weather is not always your ideal temperature and wind. The more you play courses outside of your own, you eventually come to realize this. It is easy, however, to play a course you do not like and turn it into a bad round and unenjoyable day. In this podcast, I share with you how to make the most of a "bad" course by shifting your attitude. I offer you a few ways to take it as an opportunity to become ...
Mar 30, 2022•17 min•Ep. 62
This episode is to offer my perspective, as a former college athlete, on women's sport today. I am not making a stand against anything. I am making a stand FOR over 200,000 women who play college sports. I talk about whether we are encouraging or discouraging women from playing sport. I share with you how challenging it is to manage your brain in college and that I want to facilitate women in sport to find resources to help them balance life, sport, family, school, and friends. If I can help any...
Mar 23, 2022•18 min•Ep. 61
This is the second part of my interview with my brother Dudley Hart. In this episode we talk about: what I learned caddying for him at the Greensboro Open, how important Dudley thinks a pre-shot routine is how to create belief in yourself versus cockiness what Dudley says to himself over the golf ball the power of focus and how to tap into it why a plan is critical for improvement how he sets up practice for the team at Florida We also share a couple funny family and golf stories. This is full o...
Mar 16, 2022•32 min•Ep. 60
In this episode, I talk with my brother, Dudley Hart, PGA Tour Player, Champions Tour Player and assistant coach for University of Florida about the mental game of golf. You will learn how to keep expectations in check and how long a typical swing change takes. Dudley shares the simple mental advice he used when he first got on tour to help him keep his card and the hardest change he ever made while playing for a living. This episode is full of powerful takeaways and it is part 1 of 2 episodes. ...
Mar 09, 2022•28 min•Ep. 59
