1. Key Information for
Aspiring High Performance Golfers
Information in this presentation is a collaborative effort between the USJGA and
originators of the “The Road to Excellence” program.
Bill Madonna, PGA Master Teaching Professional

2. The Road to Becoming a World Class Competitor
Years of Preparation 10
International Level of PerformanceA schematic
illustration of the
general form of the
relationship between
attained performance
as a function of the
number of years of
serious preparation.
The international level
of performance is
indicated by the
dashed line.
-Courtesy of “The
Road to Excellence”
THE RESEARCH IS VERY CLEAR AND CONCLUSIVE. IT SUGGESTS
THAT IT TAKES AT LEAST TEN YEARS OR 10,000 HOURS OF INTENSE
INVOLVEMENT OF DELIBERATE PRACTICE TO ATTAIN
INTERNATIONAL LEVELS OF EXPERT PERFORMANCE.
Developing Expertise

3. The relationship
between a given
level of
competition and
the number of
active individuals
at that level.
-Courtesy of “The
Road to
Excellence”
Level of Performance
District
Level
Club
Level
National
Level
International
Level World
Class Level
The Road to Becoming a World Class Competitor
Developing Expertise
(cont.)

4. Performance Equation

6. How many events should a player enter?
A - Too few events
Not sufficient stress.
Expect less than optimal performance.
B - Ideal practice/competitive event ratio
Competitor is prepared and rested for competition.
Has opportunity to build skill.
Golfer appropriately psyched to perform optimally.
C - Too many events
Too much stress.
Skill decay.
Burnout.
Expect less than optimal performance.
Irritable and lackadaisical.
Event Scheduling

7. “Being managed means following
directions. Self-management
means finding them.”
- Dr. John Marshall
Self-Management

8. The Self-Management Process
Self-Managers
• Determine their own goals,
objectives, and expectations.
• Figure out what they need to do:
•Behavior or activity
•Strategy
•Game plan
• Make a commitment to the
behavior or activity.
• Keep the commitment.
Self-Management
(cont.)

9. Self-Managers
• Give themselves credit for keeping the
commitment.
• Evaluate their performance of the activity.
• Evaluate the results.
• Seek resources for self-improvement and
development.
• Evaluate the overall process, over a period of
time, to decide whether to continue it, adjust it,
or discontinue it.
Self-Management
(cont.)

10. Athletes who perform below their potential
tend to repeat the same habits and
strategies and expect a different result.
1x1x1x1x1 = 1
Self-Management
(cont.)

11. Champions use strong self–
management skills to improve, thereby
gaining an “edge” over their
competition.
1.1 x1.1 x1x1 x1.1 x1.1
= Enhanced Performance
1.1’s are root work strategies to
become a bigger tree.
Self-Management
(cont.)

12. Self-Management
(cont.)

13. The Concept and
Practical Application
Periodization

14. How Should You Practice?
• Your practice should be fun and effective. It should reflect
your personality.
• Arrive at your practice session with a specific plan and
performance goal.
• “Play” fun practice games such as Worst Ball Scramble on
the course, Par 18, or the 54 Shot Challenge.
Effective Practice Strategies

15. • Train on the course whenever possible. There is no
better place to practice or simulate conditions than
actually being on the golf course.
• You should measure performance and create
“pressure” as much as possible. For example, commit
yourself to practicing green side sand shots until you
hole five shots, or practice putting with one ball on the
practice green with a friend for a friendly wager, etc.
• Focus your energy 90% on your strengths. Keep them
strong. Build them to an even higher level.
Effective Practice Strategies
(cont.)

16. • Identify opportunities for improvement (weaknesses). Be
committed to improving each of these skills over time until
they become strengths.
• Practice your short game twice as much as your long game.
Use the Short Game Exam for motivation.
• Practice “playing golf.” Follow your routine, react to the target
and imagine how the shot would turn out on the course.
• Make your training as realistic and as simulated to golf
as possible.
• Keep a written journal of your practice activities.
Effective Practice Strategies
(cont.)

17. Effective Practice Strategies
(cont.)

18. Effective Practice Strategies
(cont.)

19. Why does “traditional training” fail to optimize playing performance?
- Dr. Bob Christina
Traditional Training – “Ball Beating”
Transfer Training – “Practice the way you play. Play the way you practice.”
Traditional vs. Transfer Training

20. Traditional Training
• Is not “deliberate practice.”
• Players are not generally engaged mentally.
• Does not encourage players to learn to perform golf skills in a playing context.
• Encourages players to depend on their coaches.
• Does not encourage practice of pre–shot routine.
•Golf skills taught and practiced in ways and under conditions that are largely different than those
during play.
• Does not simulate competitive pressure involved in play.
• Hit balls repeatedly the same distance with the same club.
• Stroke putts repeatedly from the same distance.
• Hit all shots from good lies.
• Makes it relatively easy to perform on the practice range.
• Promotes a false sense of confidence.
• Is not generally focused on reacting to targets.
Traditional vs. Transfer Training
(cont.)

21. Transfer Training
• Encourages the learning of golf skills in a playing context.
• Encourages players to think as they should when they play.
• Encourages players to analyze and correct their own performance.
• Less frequent feedback, instruction, and coaching.
• Encourages players to practice as they must play.
• Hit balls successively with different clubs to simulate play.
• Hit balls different distances with the same club to simulate play.
• Practice pre–shot routine/mental routine when hitting shots and putts.
• Golf skills are taught and practiced in ways and under simulated playing conditions.
• Resulting effect is that shots are more difficult to perform on the practice range than they
are during Traditional Training.
• This training tends to promote a realistic sense of confidence.
Traditional vs. Transfer Training
(cont.)

22. Mental Game
1. GOOD FOCUS
Good mental routine for each shot. Open
focus between shots. Not distracted.
2. ABSTRACT THINKING
Thoughts are on course management and
relevant variables only. Doesn’t over-think or
over-analyze.
3. EMOTIONALLY STABLE
Little reaction to poor shots and bad breaks
or to good shots and good breaks.
4. DOMINANT
Moderately aggressive. Takes smart risks.
Challenges course.

23. Mental Game
(cont.)
5. TOUGH-MINDED
Self-reliant. Indifferent to others. Overcomes adversity.
Unaffected by conditions.
6. CONFIDENT
Secure, self-satisfied, and guilt-free. Sees self as winner.
7. SELF-SUFFICIENT
Very decisive and prefers own decisions.
Resists peer pressure.
8. OPTIMUM AROUSAL
Aware of and controls level of tension to enhance
performance.
On 1-10 scale: 4 for putting, 6 for driving.

24. Short Game
(cont.)

25. Short Game, (cont.)

26. What Most Great Players Know
• Be your own best friend. Always be kind to yourself.
• Believe in yourself. If you don’t, who will?
• “Love” every shot that you hit. There’s no such thing as a bad
shot.
• The mind controls everything in golf. Learn how to use it - that’s
where your swing “lives”.
• Do your best to never get mad on the course. What can you do
better in golf when you’re mad versus when you are composed?

27. • Find “one” coach whom you trust and believe in. Stick with them
and don’t go for advice from teacher to teacher. That leads to
confusion.
• There are no quick fixes in golf. All great players have earned it.
• You win with your attitude, practice and preparation, not by
worrying and expecting.
• Many players are impressive ball hitters; however, the finest
players are the best inside 50 yards.
• Listen to the sounds of your best shots. Fall in love with that
sound.
What Most Great Players Know
(cont.)