66. Many people are conditioned into looking for the reasons why it can’t be done. They spend more time focused on their faults than on what is actually required to make things happen

Are great golfers born great or are they made? The argument strays into the world of philosophical reasoning. The proponents of "Divine intervention" make a good argument for their case as do the "Nurture" brigade. As with most elevated thinking though, it all ends in a sigh,...... and no definite conclusion.

Graphic of God touching life into Adam

Which side of the fence do I stand when the issue is raised on the golfing scene? Whilst I accept that there may well be something special added at birth from above, I am firmly of the opinion that it is possible to create a great player or even a superstar, from a clean slate. I am not saying it has been done but that does not mean it is not possible. I should mention however that my opinion is based on more than just optimism. Over the years, I have seen people from active sporting backgrounds pick up a golf club and struggle in even making the start of a good swing, let alone hit the ball. On the other hand, people from sedentary, non- sporting backgrounds and desk bound occupations have taken to the game like ducks to water. 

All we need is a blueprint of what makes successful players what they are and nowadays we know more about the science of physical training and psychological profiles of top performers than ever before. The information is available to us and within the profile of a successful golfer, the majority of the vital elements are in the mental side of the equation..

In other sports, physique plays a huge part. We know it is extremely unlikely that someone who is 5ft 2in will ever become a high jump champion or a runner with low twitch fibres in their muscles ever win the Olympic 100 meters. But physical qualities do not directly play such an important part in the golfing equation. A well toned physique may have certain benefits but it is not a necessity for the demands of hitting a ball. You only need look at the likes of Craig Stadler, John Daly and our own Colin Montgomerie to see this fact. Someone with a six pack will never play good golf if the mental muscle is not also developed. Mental muscle is the place where legends are created.

Many people are conditioned into looking at the reasons why it can’t be done. They spend more time focused on their faults than on what is required. They are trying not to swing too fast or too much on the inside or stay on the right foot too much in the downswing. They see a good player and go along with the widely held belief that “He is blessed with a natural ability.” As we know pessimists are right 100 % of the time and they will use the “divine intervention” argument as a reason for not even trying and even giving up. Pessimism is a form of laziness to my way of thinking. The American performance specialist, Tony Robbins, once said “ There are no such things as lazy people, just folks with dissempowering goals.”

As I previously mentioned, we need the blueprint for success and it is available to anyone who cares to seek it out along with one other vital ingredient, the desire to go out and do it. There was some famous ancient Greek who once said, “Give me a lever big enough and I can shift the world.”

For lever, read incentive or desire. Again some are born with it but don’t forget, others have also developed it.