Think Above Par | Your Mental Caddy for Golf Mindset & Performance

Ever feel like you should be able to stay focused for all 18 holes? Yeah… good luck with that. In this episode, I’m giving you permission to stop trying to focus for four straight hours like some kind of highly caffeinated golf robot. Your brain is supposed to wander. It’s human. It’s normal. It may even start thinking about dinner, the beverage cart, or why Betty won’t stop talking right before y...

Ever feel like it takes three, four, or even five holes before you finally feel like yourself on the golf course? In this episode of Think Above Par, I'm talking about one of the most common challenges golfers face—getting into the rhythm of a round. Whether you're dealing with first tee nerves, tournament anxiety, or just feeling out of sync early in your round, I'll show you why i...

What if your next breakthrough on the golf course isn’t happening during your round—but after it? In this episode, I’m sharing an excerpt from a live coaching session inside Your Mental Caddie where we talk about one of the most overlooked skills in golf: learning from your rounds instead of simply reacting to them. Most golfers either celebrate a good round or try to forget a bad one. But both ap...

Do you feel like you're always getting the bad breaks on the golf course? The tree kick that goes out of bounds. The putt that lips out. The weather that seems to turn against you at exactly the wrong moment. In this episode, Kathy explores why so many golfers feel unlucky—and why the reality may be very different. You'll learn how your brain naturally pays more attention to negative eve...

Ever feel like you finally figured golf out... and then the game gets hard again? In this episode, I explain why that's completely normal. Golf isn't a problem to solve—it's a practice. Just when you think you've arrived, the game will invite you into a new level of growth, discomfort, and learning. You'll learn why setbacks don't mean you've gone backwards, how...

Ever notice how some golfers seem to be playing in fast-forward while others move like they're on a Sunday stroll? In this episode, I'm sharing a simple analogy that can help you understand your mental game in a whole new way: your personal speed limit. Some golfers speed up under pressure. Others slow down and get stuck overthinking. Neither is wrong—but when you get pushed outside your...

Have you ever noticed how quickly the energy in your foursome can affect your golf game? One frustrated player, one bad hole, one negative mood—and suddenly everybody’s struggling. In this episode, Kathy breaks down the connection between energy, emotions, and golf performance. You’ll learn how to recognize when your mental state is hurting your game, how to reset your energy during a round, and w...

Most golfers think they lose shots because of their swing. But if your swing was working on the range… chances are it’s not your swing costing you strokes on the course. It’s what happens in a handful of very specific mental moments during the round. In this episode, Kathy walks through 5 moments where golfers commonly lose control of their minds — and their scorecards: ⛳ The first tee ⛳ After t...

What if golfers could get mental game help right before they tee off… without having to read a book, hire a coach, or admit they’re “in their head”? 😏 In this episode, I’m sharing the new project I’m ridiculously excited about: Mental Game Monday QR tips at golf clubs. Weekly bite-sized mental game insights golfers can scan right at the course — before the first tee nerves, after the blow-up hole...

You’ve probably heard this advice before:  “Just stay positive.”  “Don’t think so much.”  “Confidence comes from playing well.” Sounds right… but it’s not. In this episode, I’m breaking down the three biggest lies golf taught you about the mental game—and why they might actually be making your game worse. We’re talking about why forced positivity feels fake, why you can’t stop thinking (and should...

Ever stripe it on the range… and then completely lose it on the first tee? Yeah. We’re talking about that golfer today. In this episode, I’m breaking down why your golf swing isn’t the problem—even when it really feels like it is. The truth? The range and the golf course are two totally different mental environments, and your brain responds to each one whether you like it or not. We’re diving into...

Ever feel like you’ve already lost before you even tee off? You see who’s in the field… you watch their swings on the range… and suddenly your brain goes straight to: “I’ve got no shot.” In this episode, we’re breaking down what actually happens when you feel outmatched on the golf course—and why that thinking is what’s really hurting your game. You’ll learn how to:  Stop comparing yourself to bet...

Let’s talk about the real reason you might be holding back on the golf course—and it’s probably not what you think. After watching Rory McIlroy at the Masters, I had to break this down because what he shared about heartbreak? That’s not just about elite golf. That’s about every golfer . In this episode, we’re getting into the truth about the mental game of golf —and why your fear of disappointment...

What does winning golf really look like? In this episode, I’m breaking down the mindset of Maria Jose Marin after her win at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur—and giving you real, on-course examples of how she handled pressure, nerves, and her own thoughts. Because here’s the truth: she didn’t win by playing perfect golf. She won by managing this : Feeling nervous—and not making it mean anythin...

Ever feel like you’re actually getting worse after working on your golf game? You take a lesson, spend time on the range, really try to improve… and then your scores go up—and your brain goes straight to, “What is wrong with me?” Yeah. We’re fixing that today. In this episode, I’m breaking down what I call the Aerated Green Effect —and why expecting great results while you’re changing your swing i...

Ever make the turn, realize you’re playing well… and suddenly everything feels tighter? Welcome to your back nine brain. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what happens when you go from playing freely to trying not to mess it up—and why that shift is what actually costs you the round. We’re talking about: Why your brain goes into “protect the score” mode The sneaky difference between “I’ve...

Got a tournament coming up and your brain is already spiraling? You’re not broken—your brain is just trying to protect you. In this episode, I’ll show you what’s actually happening when nerves kick in and give you a simple 5-step process to calm your mind, quiet the noise, and show up ready to play. Because it’s not about getting rid of nerves…  It’s about not letting them run the show. If you’ve...

Ever feel like your brain turns against you on the golf course? One minute you’re standing over the ball… and the next your brain is yelling: Don’t hit it in the water. Don’t mess this up. Everyone’s watching. In this episode, I’m sharing a funny story about my husband assembling a bike rack without reading the instructions—and how golfers do the exact same thing with their brains. Here’s the trut...

Most of the fear you feel on the golf course doesn’t come from your swing. It comes from the questions you’re asking yourself. In this episode, I’m breaking down the sneaky “I don’t know” questions that spike anxiety, tighten your body, and send your brain into full-on threat mode. “Am I going to shoot under par?”  “What are they thinking about me?”  “Am I about to blow this round?” Your brain hat...

You’re putting in the reps. You’re taking lessons. You’re grinding on the range. So why does your tournament play still fall apart? In this episode, I’m breaking down why more practice alone won’t fix your performance under pressure — and why tournament golf exposes something completely different than your swing. Practice builds skill. But mental reps build belief. If you’re striping it on the ran...

What makes someone enjoyable to play golf with? In this episode, we’re talking about golf etiquette, emotional maturity, and the real reason people want (or don’t want) to be paired with you. It’s not your handicap. It’s not your swing. It’s not your score. It’s your energy. Golf is four hours of emotional exposure. And whether you realize it or not, how you show up on the course affects your play...

Ever play with someone who uses the rules like a weapon?  Yeah… this episode is for that situation. Today we’re talking about mean girl energy on the golf course—rule enforcers who come in hot, loud, and intimidating (sometimes while being totally wrong). I break down why this behavior messes with your head, how it pulls you out of your game, and what’s actually going on with the person doing the...

Ever played a great shot, walked up to tap it in, and watched the wind roll your ball 30 feet away? 😤 Yeah… we’re talking that kind of day. In this episode, I’m breaking down how wind messes with your mind—and what to do about it. You’ll learn why your brain freaks out in unpredictable conditions, how to stop arguing with reality, and what to focus on instead so you can stay calm, swing freely, a...

You’ve got a caddy for your clubs—now it’s time to get one for your brain. In this episode, I’m introducing the Mental Caddy App , a new tool I created to help you track, train, and trust your golf mind like never before. We’re talking: – Pre-round prep to clear your head – Post-round reflections that actually help – A reality check for your expectations – Your Mental Golf Index (yep, like a handi...

If you're skipping or rushing your pre-shot routine, you're leaving shots (and sanity) on the table. In this episode, I’m breaking down how your pre-shot routine does way more than get you set up—it builds your swing’s foundation and gives your brain something steady to lean on when pressure hits. You'll learn how to use it to create consistency, calm your nerves, and play with more...