From 79 tips to break 80 – soon to be released golfing publication. I was going to save this but thought others would find it enjoyable and helpful.

Finding The Zone

I know that I’ve been in The Zone at least once on the golf course. It was the Spring of 1989, and it was my first time playing golf for the year. I was out playing with two good friends of mine that I hadn’t seen for several months. We were playing Tanglewood Golf Course (affectionately known as Tangleweed).

I was playing with my Delta Golden Crown golf clubs. I tell you that as further proof that I was in The Zone, as you will soon see. The golf ball would dwarf the face of these clubs when you addressed it. Oversized clubs hadn’t made their splash in the golf world yet, or maybe I was stubbornly holding onto those Golden Crowns. My equipment was far from ideal. In fact, when I later bought new oversized clubs, I was amazed at the difference in club head size and in the overall length difference between new and old.

I still have the scorecard from Tangleweed. I’ll double check it, but, if memory serves me right, I finished the first nine in 39. I was hitting the ball well off the tee and my iron shots were on the flag all day. Frankly, I couldn’t believe it. I’d hit a seven iron to 10-15 feet and just shrug my shoulders, hoist my golf bag and go to the next shot. I remember parring 17 and crossing the road to play 18. I hit my drive a little left and there was a bush that I had to go under and slightly around to get to the green. I punched it under and rolled it to the front of the green. From there, I two putted for 79.

That was the first time, I’d ever broken 80. How do I know I was in The Zone?

1 – My next best score all summer was around a 96. My average score was probably over 20 strokes higher than that 79.

2 – It took me over a decade to break 80 again.

3 – As I was playing, it was almost as if I was observing myself from a different perspective. Or as if I was a completely different person watching myself play golf. There was no judgment except disbelief. It just was.

4 – I went to the same course again a few weeks later and didn’t come anywhere close to another 79. In fact, I doubt I broke 100.

How did I get in the zone?

1 – I went out with no expectations since it was my first time playing all year. There was no judgment. I didn’t care if I hit a bad shot. I didn’t tie up my self-worth in each shot.

2 – I was out playing with two good friends, and we were just having a good time which further took my mind away from judging my performance as I played.

3 – One of my friends was and still is very musical. He may have got some tune stuck in my mind and I just replayed that tune throughout the whole round. This distracted me from any negative and judgmental thoughts.

4 – I wasn’t pressing until maybe the last approach shot. I just hit the ball and let it be.

You can probably see a common theme arising. On that particular day, I didn’t judge. I just did. And it was.

Factor in the lack of bad habits, as this was my first round of the year, and all the stars aligned for a rare day. Looking back at it, I still can’t believe that I shot a 79. For me to do the same thing today, I would probably have to hit around 63 or 64 for 18 holes. I was lucky to break 100 the rest of the summer.

I may have to round up Stan and Dave again for my first golf outing next year. I’ll happily pay for their rounds and may even throw in a bonus if I do shoot that 63 or 64. Thanks guys!

Looking for more tips on how to break 80 – see my publication, 79 tips to break 80 in golf.

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