It’s that time of year when we start reflecting on what could have been! As we all know, one of the biggest words in golf is ‘if’. If only I hadn’t gone out of bounds, if I’d got out of the bunker first time, I would have parred that hole, if only I hadn’t missed that short putt… Sound familiar?
Golf can be such a frustrating game, but we have to manage our expectations, and it’s fair to say that many of us, myself included, are deluded when it comes to the reality of what we can actually achieve on the golf course!
This article by PGA Professional Emma Booth had me chuckling, as she describes how a golfer’s delusional mindset can be really damaging. It’s true. A delusion, she points out, is essentially a false belief held despite clear evidence to the contrary. And the wider the gap between our ego and the scorecard, the less happy we are going to be.
Emma begins with how we completely misunderstand consistency. We have no right to get upset if we don’t drive the ball straight and hit every approach shot to within a flagstick. Emma reminds us to give our heads a wobble! Even the pros, the best golfers on the planet, miss the green a third of the time. True consistency isn’t perfection; it’s just a tighter range of misses. If we play infrequently, why are we holding ourselves to a tour standard?
Another thing is that we all have that one brilliant shot that we remember and believe that is our standard, but think again. Our scores are built on averages, tendencies, and patterns, which means we often make terrible decisions on the course, like going for a hero shot or taking too little club. I know I’ve been guilty of confusing my best drive with my average carry!
Also, we often practice what feels good, not what needs fixing. I go to the range with a few clubs to keep my swing going, when I should be at the short game area practicing my bunker shots. As Emma says, “You can’t improve a weakness you refuse to admit exists.” That’s a quote for the fridge! Unrealistic expectations are just self-imposed resentments. So, I’m going to ditch my delusions in 2026 and hopefully that will lead me to a happy place on the golf course!
As I’m in reflection mood, I’ve also been thinking about this year’s golf stories. For me, one of the biggest women’s stories has to be England’s Lottie Woad. What an incredible year she’s had, winning the KPMG Irish Open as an amateur and then clinching the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open - the first tournament she played after turning pro. I’m excited to see what she produces in 2026, especially in a Solheim Cup year.
This is my last chip and chat of 2025, so all that’s left for me to say is merry Christmas and wishing you a very happy New Year. Here’s to our best golf yet!
By Alison Root, Women's Editor Golf Monthly.
