Newsletter 252
G'day Sportsfan,
Paul here, ready to share a story that's been rattling around in my head for a while—something I saw repeatedly during my years as an 'adopted pro' in the Holden Scramble.
For two decades, I'd jump into country teams that won their local event and needed a pro for the regional and national finals. We even made it to the national final twice, finishing fourth in 2018. During that time, I witnessed a common, frustrating scenario: amateur golfers would hit what felt like fantastic shots – a flushed 7-iron, an 8 out of 10 strike right in the middle of the club face. But then, disaster! The ball would end up nowhere near the target, sometimes in the water, leading to a penalty and a blow-up score.
The problem wasn't their swing or ball striking. The huge problem was what they did before the shot. They'd pull out their GPS or rangefinder, see it was, say, 100 metres, grab their 9-iron, hit it perfectly... and then watch in disbelief as a headwind dropped it 20 metres short into the water. They couldn't fathom why! Or, another classic: bombing a driver down a par 4, only to find it in a fairway bunker they'd never usually reach. But on a drier course, with a bit of run and a trailing breeze, that drive suddenly went 40 metres further than normal, straight into trouble.
It was incredibly frustrating to watch. Eventually, I started telling my teams, "If you want to win, you'll do exactly what I ask. I'll pick the club, tell you where to aim, and you just focus on your best technique." I knew that with professional-level reading and planning, their good shots would be much closer to the target more often, and their bad shots wouldn't be nearly as disastrous. They didn't change their skill level, but their scores improved dramatically.
Moral of the story is: Golf isn't a game of consistency, perfect swings, or perfect shots. It's a problem-solving game. The better problem-solvers are the ones who win tournaments, not necessarily the best ball strikers. This was a tough lesson I learned myself before I ever got to a professional tour level.
This is exactly what I teach in my Breaking Bad Golf Programs, especially the 'Nine Shots Lower in Nine Weeks Guaranteed program at Emerald Lakes Golf Course. In this program, I guide my clients to become their own professional-level caddies. This approach helps them start playing much better golf straight away, with a huge reduction in frustration. They score better without necessarily hitting the ball better, and when they do hit a good shot, it doesn't end up in big trouble like it used to. It all comes down to asking the right questions, and once you make that a habit, golf becomes a lot more fun and a lot easier.
If you're ready to incorporate this into your own golf game, then book a time to have a chat about your suitability for this program. The next program starts on July 17th. You can find more details here: www.paulwilliamsongolf.com/9-shots-lower-in-9-weeks. I know that if you commit to it, it will be a life-changing time for your golf game, and you'll continue to get better long after the program finishes.
⛳️ What's On: Upcoming Events & Getaways!
Mark your calendars! We have some exciting events coming up designed to get you playing more golf and improving your skills:
Come & Try Golf Day: Join us on Friday, July 19th, for my popular Come & Try Golf Day. If you're new to the game or have friends keen to give golf a go, this is the perfect relaxed environment to get started! Please encourage any newbies to get in touch for details.
Get Into Golf Program: Following our Come & Try Day, the ultimate 6-week Get Into Golf Program kicks off on Friday, July 26th. This program is designed to comfortably introduce you to the game and help you join us playing regularly in a fantastic and supportive environment.
Play with the Pro Experience: Looking for clarity on your game? Join me for one of my Play with the Pro Experience, held on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday afternoons. These sessions are the perfect opportunity for me to watch you play, identify what's truly causing problems on the course, and give you clarity on what to focus on with your decision-making and practice. If you're feeling stuck and unsure about your game, this is the perfect place to find out what's going on!
End of Year Fun Golf Weekend: Save the date! I'm currently confirming all the details for our annual End of Year Fun Golf Weekend, scheduled for November 28th to 30th. More information on this highly anticipated getaway will be coming your way soon.
Weekly 'Get Better at Golf' Training Sessions: Don't forget, you're always welcome to my ongoing 'Get Better at Golf' training sessions every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. These sessions are a great way to keep progressing your skills and enjoy the game even more!
Dreaming of a golf adventure? There are only five spots left on our incredible Vietnam Golf Tour! Don't miss out – get yourself organised for that unforgettable trip.
Cheers!
Paul
If you're not doing this before every shot, you're never going to score well!
Are you consistently shooting in the 90s, trying hard to get into the 80s but frustrated by those blow-up rounds that push you well over 100? Do you feel like you're missing a clear plan on the course, and your mental game crumbles under pressure? You're not alone.
In this video, I reveal the single most common mistake I see amateur golfers make – a mistake that costs them countless strokes and keeps them from breaking 90 consistently. It's not about your swing; it's about what you don't do before you even address the ball. This oversight leads to crippling indecision, poor club choices, and shots that finish nowhere near your target.
I am trying to grow my YouTube channel so more people can get help in my unique way. I would really appreciate three things that will take you less than 5 minutes.
1 - Click on the link and watch the video (who knows, you may learn something. HAHA!)
2 - Hit the Like button
3 - Leave a comment on what you learnt
Have you ever wondered what a little guidance can do? Sometimes, it's all it takes to unlock incredible results, even in the most challenging formats. We recently had a fantastic example of this in our Saturday Social golf, playing a fun but demanding game of Three Clubs and a Putter.
This game forces imagination and strategic planning, making you think beyond simply grabbing your usual club for a given yardage. It can be uncomfortable, pushing players to use clubs they wouldn't normally, and to hit shots very hard, or very soft, adapting to what's in their bag. As a coach, I see this as a huge positive, as it mirrors the adaptability needed at elite levels of the game.
What was most impressive was seeing those who were initially apprehensive about the game—and unsure about their club choices—not only adapt but excel. For some, the reduced number of decisions made them far more decisive over the ball.
Which brings me to Theo Thomas. In that very game, Theo went out and shot one of the best nine holes of golf he’s ever had around Emerald Lakes! What’s even better is that Theo had turned up to one of my Get Better at Golf training sessions just before that day. He hadn't been to coaching for a while and had fallen into some little habits causing him problems. With just a few small adjustments over that hour and a half session, his game was transformed, and it paid off immediately on the course.
Theo's experience perfectly illustrates the power of targeted guidance. If you're feeling a bit stuck, or unsure what's going on with your game, a little guidance can put you back on track, just like it did for Theo. My Get Better at Golf training sessions are designed to help you identify what's really going on, get clarity on what to focus on with your decision-making on the course, and direct your practice more effectively. It's about turning those frustrating moments into consistent, confident play, improving your scores and making golf more fun.
You can come and join the Get Better at Golf sessions at any time to keep progressing your skills. Here are the details: www.paulwilliamsongolf.com/get-better-at-golf
What a fantastic weekend for our last Saturday Social golf!
We finally had some glorious weather, and it was brilliant to see 18 players turn up and have such a great time out on the course. Even better, so many hung around for dinner afterwards, continuing the camaraderie!
Despite only playing with three clubs and a putter, we saw some incredible golf out there. There were birdies, pars, and many of you scored as well as, if not better than, you normally do! It just goes to show how effective playing with limited choices can be – it's a great game format that helps keep your expectations in check and truly fosters creativity. Learning to do new and different things with clubs you wouldn't normally try helps us become better problem solvers, which is exactly what this game requires.
This weekend, we're thrilled to have my four Get Into Golf graduates joining us for the first time in the Saturday Social! It’s exciting for them and a great reminder for all of us about where we started in this wonderful game. As usual, I know you'll show them a friendly, welcoming day.
For this Saturday, we'll be playing a Scramble or Ambrose event in teams of two, three, or four, depending on numbers. Just a quick reminder that the days are getting shorter, so we need to get away on time and play fast golf to ensure all groups finish in daylight.
I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday!
Here's the booking link:
https://PWGCoachingoptions.as.me/SaturdaySocialGolfDays
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