American Golfer: When did you start playing golf?
Paul Dewland: I started very young, I’m not even sure how old I was to be honest. At first, I would just go to the driving range with my dad and eventually graduated to the course.
 |
| Paul Dewland |
PD: I’ll try to keep this simple, but to do so I have to exclude quite a few details. I often use the example of the difference between walking on a wooden plank on the ground versus the same one suspended 50 feet up. It’s easy and effortless on the ground, but things change in the air. Similarly, golfers often experience various changes in their “state” when they get to the course, impacting their ability to play to their potential. Mental coaching helps people develop the ability to maintain the best possible “performance state” so that they can access their skills in pressure situations. With that said, part of this work is also about learning how to coexist with the nerves, fear and pressure that can arise in unfamiliar and important situations.
AG: How did you become a mental performance coach?
PD: It was a pretty organic process and a long story, but in general I transitioned from a corporate job to starting my own executive performance coaching/consulting business and then into golf. The principles of performance apply in all areas of life, so the transition to golf wasn’t as big a leap as it may seem.
AG: How is the mind of a golfer different than other athletes?
PD: The difference is more in the situation that golfers encounter. The majority of the time a golfer spends on the course has nothing to do with golf, which gives players a lot of time to think. This can be problematic if the player doesn’t understand how to use that time to their benefit.
AG: What’s your favorite thing about being a mental performance coach?
PD: By far, the people I get to work with. I’m around the top players and coaches every day and the vast majority of them are passionate about getting better. It’s very satisfying to watch people work hard and get rewarded with improvement in their skills and results.
AG: Conversely, what’s your least favorite thing?
PD: Administrative work, but not many professions are immune to that.
AG: What’s the most common mental issue amateur golfers take to the course?
PD: Placing too much attention on things they don’t directly control, and not enough on what they do control. That applies to life in general as well.
AG: Any self-help tips you can offer an amateur golfer?
PD: Learn how to breathe effectively and keep your eyes on the horizon between shots. It helps you stay more calm and quiet.
AG: Charles Barkley has a well-chronicled case of “swing yips.” What would you do to help him?
PD: I couldn’t really comment until I did some investigation, because each individual case is different and there are often several factors at play. I’ve had some really good success in that area, so I would love to have a chance to help him get through that!
AG: What’s your “dream foursome” (living or dead, golfer or non-golfer)?
PD: I would include my Dad, but I still get to play with him. So I will say Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus because they are the best the game has ever seen mentally, and Bruce Springsteen, (a non-golfer) just because he’s super cool.
Learn more about Paul at www.pauldewland.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment