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Alex Elias  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) With spring just around the corner, but temperatures still in the 20s in the Northeast, what advice would you give golfers looking to work on their game now?
Rick Hartmann: This is the time to work on your game—not during the summer. The more you practice in the winter, the better off you’ll be. It allows you to focus on the fundamentals rather than the ball flight. By summer, you’re simply maintaining your swing—you can play without breaking it down. Corey Layton: There are very few simulators here in Bridgehampton, New York, but in New York City, they’re everywhere. If you have access to a simulator, now is the perfect time to work on your game. By summer, you want to be ready to play—you don’t want to have to backtrack six months. To what extent is success in golf influenced by one's mindset? Rick Hartmann: Golf is all about mindset—it’s the number one differentiator. The more positive you can be, the better off you are. You can’t expect to make a putt if you’re thinking, “I can’t make this putt.” Our members tend to focus on the positive, and that’s a lesson every golfer can learn. Corey Layton: Mindset has a powerful influence on outcomes. If you’re worrying about the future instead of playing in the present, it can hurt your game. Some of our members pull off unbelievable shots, and that’s a testament to the strength of their mentality—it’s truly unique. While a positive mindset can greatly benefit every golfer, why is it important to distinguish between positivity and unrealistic expectations? Rick Hartmann: As a golfer, you need to know your strengths and weaknesses. If a high handicapper faces a flop shot—downwind, over a bunker, out of the fescue, with the pin cut tight—they might be better off aiming for the center of the green. Playing smart and understanding the risk-reward of each shot leads to better results. Corey Layton: Golfers can sometimes be a bit delusional. Maybe one in a hundred times they’ll pull off a tough shot, but that doesn’t mean it will happen consistently. How can adopting a stronger mindset help golfers make more progress on the range? Rick Hartmann: Amateurs often expect immediate results, but it isn’t that simple. Changing your golf muscles takes time and practice. A swing change requires more than one lesson—it can take an entire season, and golfers need to trust the process. Corey Layton: Are they taking a lesson once a week and playing the other days, or are they truly dedicated to practicing? Practice can’t be like a haircut or a nail appointment—it can’t happen just once a week. You have to practice in between lessons. For many amateurs, it’s hard to hear that a swing change takes time. Realistically, you might get worse before you get better, and it may take months before you see real improvement.
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Alex Elias  Courtesy of Evan Schiller (@evan_schiller_photography) Managing expectations is one of golf’s greatest challenges.
“I believe there’s a common misconception among amateur golfers about what constitutes realistic goals for their game. Too often, amateurs set their sights on the best possible outcome, which isn’t realistic for any player,” said Lucas Spahl, First Assistant Golf Professional at The Creek (Locust Valley, NY) and Assistant Golf Professional at McArthur Golf Club (Hobe Sound, FL). When golfers set unrealistic goals—whether it’s hitting more fairways and greens or posting lower scores—Spahl emphasized the mental strain: “When your goals are too difficult to achieve, it can become incredibly draining.” That mental strain can quickly snowball. “You can lose confidence, get down on yourself, and let negative thoughts take over,” said Spahl. “From personal experience, I’ve had rounds that started poorly, and it’s very difficult to recover or get off the ‘bogey train.’” How to manage expectations: “To reset expectations, amateurs first need a clear understanding of what an average round looks like for them,” said Spahl. “Too often, they focus on the best possible outcome rather than a result that realistically aligns with their handicap. Once they recognize that, they can set achievable goals and tailor their practice to improve more effectively.” |
