This is such a great topic as we all get distracted by something or someone when we go to play golf.  Some distractions are necessary and in our control while other are totally out of our control.

I was listening to Peter Kessler interview Dr. Bob Rotella on XM Sirius Radio and thought this was a perfect topic to discuss with all of you.  Dr. Bob says that the one thing in your control on the golf course that will help keep you focused on the game itself is to leave the cell phone in the car.

I understand that some of you may need that cell phone as you are on call with your business, your patients or your family.   But the majority of us can leave that phone away from the lesson tee and golf course.  If you can’t, then you probably should not be playing golf.

The two best golf stories I have are all about distractions and how that made me actually play better.  I was running a tournament here locally and also playing in the tournament.  This was the first time we ever let golf carts off the cart paths and go anywhere they wanted to go, just not on the greens.  We I was so distracted by the carts going everywhere that I had six birdies, the most ever in my golf career.

The second story was when I was playing on the LPGA Futures Tour in North Carolina.  I was in 4th place going into the last day and woke up sick.  I did not feel better until making the turn.  By the end of the day I was in 1st place in a playoff and lost on the first hole.

So distractions can be good for your game.

There are those distractions that are swing thought driven and others that are just noise.  I want to help you keep unnecessary distractions out of your golf game.  The distractions that are unnecessary are those out of your control.

Things that are out of your control:
• Playing with people you don’t know
• Playing with people that are better than you (you can control this if you do the inviting
• Weather
• Having people try and help you with your game on the range or on the golf course
• Noise from other people, cars, others cell phones, etc.

Things in your control:
• The time you tee off
• Your playing partners
• Where you play
• Leaving your cell phone in the car
• The time you arrive to the golf course to play or practice
• Practice time
• What you think about during your swing

I have a personal motto when it comes to playing golf.  

I play where I want, when I want and with whom I want. 

This I can control.  Everything else is just noise and distractions.

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