DR. TRAVIS FOX, PhD, DCH
Inspirational & Spiritual Speaker, Author, Psychologist, Hypnotherapist.
REACHING THE WORLD, ONE MIND AT A TIME™
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- Executive Producer, producer & Managing Partner, at MindFox Productions, LLCEntertainment | Greater Los Angeles Area, USSummaryDr. Fox has been featured on many television programs from ABC’s “One Life to Live,” Talk Soup, The Nashville Network, Resorts Networks, The Golf Channel and most recently with the first golf show in Public Broadcasting Television’s history. Additionally, Dr. Fox also has been heard monthly & weekly on "The DewSweepers" and "Speaking of Golf" radio programs.
In 2007, Dr. Fox returned to his roots on television by creating a team, to tell the stories of real impact. MindFox Productions, LLC, which is an award winning fully, forged production company and team dedicated to producing television, web series, documentaries and feature films seeks to go beyond "getting outside the box" by seeing from the beginning "There is no box!"
MindFox Productions, LLC has been producing worldwide productions like the
"The Fab Four - The Ultimate Tribute" (PBS 2012)
“People’s Choice Telly Award Winner - Ethan Bortnick and his Musical Time Machine – 2010,
Michael Londra’s – Beyond Celtic” 2011
“The Back 9 Golf Network” Q2 of 2012 -
"Get Psyched"
"Golf Wars"
MindFox Productions, LLC is in an exclusive joint venture with the online digital monthly magazine “Where is the Cool?” and Full Color Games, LLC.
MindFox Productions, LLC is currently producing two additional PBS specials this coming year 2012.
MindFox Productions, LLC has two reality shows in development and a full length feature film being produced or co-produced in 2012.
MindFox Productions, LLC is co-founded by Dr. Fox and he is responsible for Executive Producing, Producing, Directing, contracts, marketing, implementing productions and cross collateralizing properties for the MindFox Productions, LLC team.
MindFox Productions, LLC is currently seeking collaboration with television and film professionals, as well as, adding part-time and full-time team members.Specialties: Executive Producer, Producer, Director and Managing Partner of MindFox Productions, LLC and Where is the Cool, LLCExperience- Jan 2011 - PresentManaging Partner and Publisher / Where is the Cool, LLCMen's online magazine with over 40k Tumblr subscribers and 1,500,000 views a month and growing, Where is the Cool is the defining edge on the 12 major topics that all men and women aspire when living the life of "Cool." Top name brand identification, marketing, reach, apps, events and more, Where is the Cool, is leading the way with 2D and 3D integration for the time sensitive reader, while still fulfilling the advertising needs of brands, media, gear, auto, travel and much more! NEW -- Where is the Cool? online store launching March 2012 Purchase all the new cool gear, fashion, travel and more, with EXCLUSIVE brands and offers! To your cool, www.WhereistheCool.com
- Jun 2009 - PresentExecutive Producer, Producer, Director and Managing Partner / MindFox Productions, LLCExecutive producing television programming, PBS specials, reality series, feature films and documentaries (Environmental and Special Needs Children),Web TV , Cell platforms and international relationships for distribution. Oversee all operations of the each production, casting, post and advertising/sponsorship placement, to ensure each production is uniquely positioned to reach intended audiences, message and ROI/ROE. Each project goes beyond "Thinking outside the box" to realize that "There is no box!"
- Nov 1989 - Nov 2009Co-Owner / Travis Fox, Inc
Education-
2000 - 2003American Pacific University
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1988 - 1990Arizona State University
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1984 - 1988Apple Valley High School
Additional Information-
Websites:
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Interests:Golf, Landscaping,Personal Development and Martial Arts
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- New documentary on environmental sustainability and Eco-recycling, has been signed by MindFox Productions, LLC to co-produce for fall 2012.
- Say hello to my NEW little segment on radio http://t.co/H28w9mv9 http://t.co/cjVzFZ9l
- Ok Kids, the blog is coming back up this week! I have been taping and editing a new tv show and today we wrap it... http://t.co/ztOm9cs6
- In Pre-Production for next week's production and capture of the "The Fab Four - The Ultimate Beatles Tribute" for rele…http://t.co/SnlxTK2b
- Another year has gone by! Wow birthdays do get faster as you get older. Thank you everyone for the great wishes!! Freedom in Spirit DrT
- @PowerWomenMag Lets explore what we can do together via our digital blog and magazine "Where is the Cool" Dr. Fox Publisher.Nov 15, 11 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Heading to Hawaii for annual birthday adventure will post pictures on FB page and blog from there!Nov 15, 11 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @DaveZinczenko hi Dave just joined and like your work! Dr. FoxNov 15, 11 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
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- Start your week off right, read and join in, the next posting from Dr. Travis Fox - The Mind Blog. http://t.co/zcklNH0S
- The first posting and video are up from our article in http://t.co/MyU2UIwp magazine for those who missed it... http://t.co/dxxuhFCM
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- Where is the Cool? | a lifestyle magazine for men. http://t.co/PxkB7ucB Now this is how clothes should be ironed!
- Calling all golf sites, products and instructors, we are seeking sites to create a cross promotion network. Email here with a link to your …
- SUBSCRIBERS ONLY ALERT-- We are releasing 10 Sets of my learning hypnosis 101! Each set has 10 DVDs each an hour... http://t.co/3HOB1HCQ
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- From Istanbul 2011, 2012 spring we are going back. We want to bring this workshop to USA, who's ready? http://t.co/WnQ8LpTh
- Beyond Celtic is on touring now! Check http://t.co/6DOG8ht3 for tour dates, broadcast dates, behind the scenes and mor…http://t.co/lAxJ7Q3m
- @whereisthecool is growing digital magazine with true style, check it out!Oct 06, 11 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
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- Nov 02, 11During yesterday's experience with one of my coaches, while chasing dream #7, we played some golf together and were discussing how we were going to chase the dream, plans need to be laid out and more over "What" are we doing this for. All good things.
As the time progressed, it occured to me I was working far harder the he was. It was not for a lack of talent as we are both very seasoned at golf, it was not due to physical conditioning again, we are both in good shape (especially for his age ha!) so what was it? He was not dealing with mental issues, that apparently, I was.
When we started discussing it, I had a flashback from when I was 11. (Yes, that was a while ago, shut up! ;) ) I flashed back to asking my Father for some "Balata Balls" to play in a tournament. For those of you who do not know golf, Balata Balls back then were the best balls on the market, all tournament professionals played them. There was just one draw back, if you miss hit any shot the ball would be cut and ultimately ruined. Thus, you could go through a sleeve (3) of balls per round or more. However, they were so soft, that you could spin and work the ball, thus creating more opportunities to score and perhaps win the competition. It would be compared to a mountain bike's tires. If you place those skinny racing tires on a mountain bike, like Lance Armstrong uses, you probably will blow a few tires. Yet if you place the normal mountain bike tires on the bike you may blow a tire or two but you will get a lot further with the proper equipment.
As I was flashing back, during this round to the "Balata Balls" it occurred to me, I have a subconscious program (a voice in my head) that says "I have to work twice as hard, in order to get the same results." This voice had not showed up, to my knowledge in some years (you do the math! lol) only now on the course when i needed my mindset to be in attack mode, to score well. Rather I was in the mode of "working" at the game, instead of playing it and was getting my butt kicked! I had found out that due to my Father's "Frugalness" (ha he was cheap, I'll say it) he placed a program in me saying you will just have to work hard, with less. While, all the other boys had nice shiney new clubs and Balata Balls I was playing clubs I had to build myself and "DT" balls (very hard and rarely cut, but hard to control and of course cheaper) and feeling "Less than." (Children are masters at "Teasing" and making you feel "Less than" or separate)
Needless to say, i have been working and changing that mindset all night and have done so. Today look at yourself, your partner or your children and are you subconsciously telling them "you are not worthy of a Balata Ball?" I am not saying spoil them but if you can and it is only couple of bucks, which is more important; saving the couple of bucks now or spending thousands of hours and time on therapy later when they have to work out (hopefully they do) their self worth issues?
I am lucky enough to have the skills to change that mindset instantly but it took 20 years to master the "mental" game that I now coach on. So you could say it was my Karma with my Father, yes that could be true, however aren't your parents supposed to help you become well balanced adults? Afterall, Dad is the one who got me into golf, only to then handcuff my play by then not supporting my success? That my friends is a mixed message and children will unknownly take the strongest message they recieve and make it a "life long program." For if mom/dad say it is so it must be, as they take care of me is the logic they arrive at.
Hug those around you, tell them they are worthy of their dreams, support them all in you can in all ways, even if it just means letting them know they are worthy of "Balata Balls" if even you can't afford them, telling them you BELIEVE is worth more than anything.
Until next time, I am Still chasing Dream #7, thanks for reading.
Dr.Fox
We have "Self-esteem" and "Success Attitude" programs for download written and recorded by me (Dr. Fox) at www.DrTravisFox.com (Hey for couple of bucks you can program their subconscious for success, straight A's or attitude, what's that worth!) - Nov 01, 11I know most of you know about dreams, no not the ones you have a night, although they could be interesting too. Rather, I am taking about the ones that you always wanted to chase, experience and tell stories about; true adventure with all its ups and downs.
Well I too have them and I am chasing one of my top 10 dreams of all time. I will not completely disclose the totally and scope of this particular dream, however I am inviting anyone and everyone to join in and watch, moreover inspire you, to chase at least one of your own.
I will provide updates here on the blog that will show, my thoughts, remedies, ups and downs chasing this dream over the next six months, win or lose, pass or fail, this is an all out assault on those who say, "your too old," "your time as past" or my personal favorite "You got grow up sometime!" (says who?)
Today is day 1, really day 3, but day 1 of reporting. I have changed my diet and am on a strict 1600 calorie a day intake. This one tastes good, by the way and it is keeping my body in a highly tuned state of attention. (We will need that later!)
Started P90X, the greatest exercise program ever invented and am also doing mediation and/0r Tai Chi daily for some of the mental aspects. ( Those will be need later too!)
I have asked two friends of mine, coaches in their own rights to assist me in chasing dream #7 and today I meet with both of them separately. I will let you know who they are once and if they give me permission, as it is their choice on that, not mine. (Even coaches need coaches, including me!)
What is your dream #7 of your top #10? Reply to this post with you dream #7 and let's help ALL of us chase our own dreams, while assisting in others chasing theirs!
Dr.Fox
PS> You can check out my weekly series on www.Whereisthecool.com and for downloading "Hypno-Help" programs for chasing your dream go to www.DrTravisFox.com - Oct 30, 11If you have lived on this planet for any amount of time, you have already awoken with the feeling that life is passing you by. That feeling, that life is out of control, and no matter how hard you try to change, fight and ignore this feeling, it keeps coming back.Even if some can find momentary relief, this feeling tends to linger in the shadows. Like the grim reaper it chases you through life draining you of energy, distracting you until you feel as if the whole world knows your secrets and is using them against you.Now, if you are ready to leave all of this behind, your mind probably is racing with questions or random thoughts and your body is feeling a mixture of emotions. Where did this all come from? You did not read this article to think about pain struggle and strife. You are here for a solution; you are here to finally live your life as fully, richly and deeply as possible, right? The steps I will lay out will change your life and lead you on the path you have been searching for, the path to being a “HyPerformance PersonTM”Let’s agree for the sake of this article that you are made up of three components; mind, body and spirit.Breaking this down, the mind has two separate components; Conscious and Unconscious. The body is everything else inside the human coil you call “you” and the Spirit, well, let’s leave that one for a little later.Starting with the conscious mind, there are a few things that you need to know about.1. The conscious mind holds only one thought per second.2. The conscious mind can only keep track of 7 or 8 pieces of information before it loses control.3. Pipeline for the “ego” and the drawing board for the “imprisonment” the ego seeks to have over you, your mind and your life.Focus now on number two for a second, think about how many things you can keep in the forefront of your mind at the same time before you start forgetting what you are trying to remember.Do you come home every day and put your car keys in the same place? This is done so that the next time you need them you don’t take up headspace trying to remember where you placed them.One day you are in a rush trying to get out the door and you discover those keys are mysteriously not where you usually place them. You search frantically for several minuets before returning to the spot that they “always” are, and somehow they are there. The truth is they were always there. The limited power of your forgetful conscious mind and the ego that loves to create havoc in your life and head is why you did not see them.In order to prevent this we must shape our basic thoughts so they come from an automated place, not unlike a computer, which has many “automated programs” running in background even when the computer is sleeping. So too, should it be with us.So what is a “HyPerformance PersonTM”? This is someone who operates at a financial and emotional level with comfort and ease, someone who just has that Midas touch. This is a person who moves from the deepest and purest part of themselves, their spirit. The spirit is the place in you that knows “Peace Beyond UnderstandingTM.” That special feeling that allows those days when everything just flows without your effort, when you just exist. If you seek to release yourself, you need only do one thing; explore you.Here is this month’s “Psyche-scriptionTM” for starting to become a “HyPerformance PersonTM,”1. Take 10 minutes a day, (yes really just 10 minutes) and sit motionless. Start to discipline your body via your mind.2. During that 10 minutes, think about what you really want, no matter how big or how small. Allow your imagination to create the feeling, the look, the shape and/or the experience of what you want.3. Write down what you want on a 3x5 card before you go to sleep at night. This allows the cementing of your day-work and night-work to focus your mind on what you really want.By allowing yourself to place thought-energy into what you really want even for short periods of time daily it clears your mind of the clutter. Just watch, it will start to show up in “Coincidence,” “Déjà vu” or other things you normally dismiss.Remember, “It is never too late to become the person you always thought and felt you could beSM.” May your life forever be changing and may you become the greatest of explorers, until next month…Freedom,Dr. Travis Fox, DCH, PhD“Where’s the Cool’s “Head” CoachTM”
For additional "Tips" on this CLICK HERE for Video by Dr. Fox
http://www.drtravisfox.com/#527/vimeo - Oct 28, 11Most of you have probably seen, or at least heard of the recent Hollywood movie, “Limitless,” what you probably haven’t really heard much about is how does one become “Limitless” in their own lives? This post we thought we would do just that.First what cause “limits” in a person and why would anyone, in their right mind, place limits on themselves?As to the “causes” of limits it really boils down to two major veins:1. The conscious mind and its ability, or inability pending your point of view, to “Filter” our external worlds and creates a perception about our environment.2. The subconscious mind, when simply bombarded with the same conscious thought energy creates a limit, or belief, based on the conscious mind’s perception and shazamm, you have limiting belief structure before you know it!Then you ask, “Why would anyone limit themselves?” It happens everyday and some limitations are so subtle, most don’t know the limits are there until it is too late and a really block or habit has occurred in their lives.Here are some of the reasons most often people allow and keep limitations in their world.1. The limitation creates a “definable” world around them – Control.2. Keeps one from having to “risk” themselves – Fear of failure or success!3. Helps one from “growing” or having to “change” – Control and/or Fear4. Allows one to become the “Critic” of others, while not having to get in the “Game”. - Risk, control, fear.These are just a few of the “reasons” that we allow limits and limitations into our worlds. Perhaps you have noticed, that you may have more than one “reason” above and probably by now, you have even thought of a few more “originals” on your own! If you are like most, you probably intended on being a limitless person and like most, if you could “take a pill” not unlike the Hollywood hit “Limitless” you would do it today, wouldn’t you.However, until that “magic pill” is invented we are going to have to just remove our own limitations and get free of our own devices.Here are some great coaching questions, that I have found have ignited those ready to become limitless people and evolve into something more.1. What do you really, really want?When you read this, you will come up will an array of responses, however, narrow it down to just one item, thing, dream or event that you truly want to experience. Then ask yourself, “What am I afraid of in going after _____?” Sit for a moment and see what comes up from your subconscious; think you will be surprised!2. What one thing, would you be willing to do right now, that would massively shift your life towards, what you really, really want?Most of us, really don’t know what we want and once we identify it, we tend to “think” about it so much we forget, what it was that made us really want “it!” We tend to bog ourselves down in so much detail that we overwhelm ourselves and ultimately talk ourselves out of it and go back the “normal” everyday life. By the way, this is also what keeps us up and night “Thinking” about what we really want and why are not getting it!3. How much time per day, per week and per month would you be willing to devote to your dreams and becoming a limitless person?Stop for moment and notice how much time is wasted, which by the way is a limitation (excuse), watching TV, laying around, playing computer games or just online etc., imagine what you life could be like, if you took just an hour a day and devoted to writing that book, getting that new online business, going out to the beach for a walk with your lover, go out to a social event or whatever it is that takes one step a day, week or month towards what you really, really want and within a short period of time you will have what you want. What is equally more important, you will have learned how to identify your limits, deal with them and remove them to get on with you life and live your limitless dreams!Until next posting,Freedom in SpiritDr. Travis FoxP.S. – Here is a tip, write your answers to the above coaching questions and then put it down for twenty-four hours. Then come back and ready it and ask yourself again, while viewing your previous answers and notice if you still “feel” the same way about them. If not, then it is not what you really, really want do it again!Email: DrFox@MindFoxProductions.comWebsite: www.DrTravisFox.com
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Posts
- Aug 30, 11
This workshop is the one of the most popular workshops we host! You will experience true HypnoHelp Relaxation (TM), as your subconscious mind is re-programmed to better your self-confidence, self-esteem and self-image. This workshop will help you deal with what you eat, when you eat and how much you eat. You will be receiving suggestions to drink more water and to choose your foods wisely.
The most beneficial part of the programming is the dumping of the emotional baggage that is tied in with your weight. Emotional baggage such as anger, guilt, shame, resentment, fear, anxiety and much more will be dealt with, allowing you to let go of all the “emotional” weight that you have been carrying. This in turn will allow your body to let go of your physical weight. Everything in our lives starts with what is going on inside our minds. By reprogramming your subconscious mind with new belief structures, you enable yourself to change your external world including your weight.
Over 10,000 participants and counting have come to this truly powerful, life changing workshop. Weight is personal, thus it takes a Personal Weight Workshop to make the changes from inside out, in order to have the outside reflect what you could be from the inside.
- Aug 30, 11
Dr. Travis Fox’s “Get Psyched – Inviting Sales” has been presented for major corporations such as T-Mobile, Conoco, Washington State Bank and Saban Entertainment and is not just another “Technical” based sales seminar for the tools to sell. Rather it leads your company and sales team to the most exciting and powerful tool companies rarely use but desperately want, “Transfer of Enthusiasm” and to gain that with all your clients and buyers!
Word of mouth is the best and most creditable sales tool any company can employ. To have thousands, if not millions, of “others” selling your products and/or brand is truly worth millions to all companies in today’s market. Through Dr. Travis Fox’s “Get Psyched – Inviting Sales Training” your team will experience, learn and implement in real world situations, the 7 most powerful, psychologically proven methods to “Transfer Enthusiasm” to clients and buyers about your products and brand. Which all leads to increased sales lead closed, referrals and “Inviting Sales” from others, by word of mouth and their “Transferring of Enthusiasm” about your company and products!
Training is presented in half day or full day presentations.
- Aug 30, 11
What makes a “Brand?” Moreover, what makes the world recognize and become brand loyal?
Dr. Travis Fox takes you through the psychological depths to truly unfold the human buying mind and dynamically translates that knowledge to you and your team for immediate implementation. What would it be like for your company and teams to be armed with the knowledge of creating, sticky brand awareness and call to action from your loyal buyers via a systematically structured word chains to deliver emotional, invitational and activate your brand buyers, about you and your products? If you can imagine that, then Dr. Fox’s entertainment experiential will have you “Getting Psyched” as you “Discover or Rediscover your Brand(s)!”
Workshop is presented in half day and full day presentations.
- Aug 30, 11
There are 7 major areas of the mind’s functions in relationship to life, emotions, experience and imagination; Through Dr. Fox’s “Magic 7” seminar, participants will truly learn the ancient art of subconscious connections that all humans instinctively do, only now, companies, sales teams, customer service reps or human resource personnel can learn the 7 topics, along with key words and phrases, to ignite clients to deeper communication, brand loyalty and word of mouth sales. This lends to increased sales leads and closures and customer service teams to greater connectivity all in 90 minutes!
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HyPERFORMANCE™ RELAXATION SERIES
- AUDIO SERIESOver 1,000,000 people hypnotized and with time tested and trained experience, Dr. Travis Fox, PhD constructs, records and delivers Hypno-therapy Help to those who want to change, modify, or enhance their lives in many ways.
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GET PSYCHED™ GOLF: THE SECRETS TO LOWER GOLF SCORES
- THE BOOK
Get Psyched: Secrets to Lower Golf Scores is Dr. Travis W. Fox's sequel and follow up to his successful infomercial/retail of Beat the Bogey Man. For all those who want to ascend to the "HyPerformance" level of the sport of golf, this Book is for you! This Book goes beyond standard Sports Psychology to truly explain the anatomical happenings in the golfer's mind, explained by a professional golfer and now top professional "Head Coach" on the PGA and LPGA Tours. In 9 chapters, you will learn the 7 limiting reasons why golfers tend to become negative, even when they don't want to, and why golf sets your mind up to be confused from the moment you pick up a club! Readers will get a deeper understanding of how to create "Autocoding" in their mindset to place their mind in an "Automated" mindset, which is commonly called "The Zone!" Finally, putting it altogether so that golfers have a step-by-step methodology to create the mindset they want before, during and on the range in a real world, tour tested system.Author Bio:Dr. Travis W. Fox, DCH, PhD, is an Author, Motivational Speaker, Presenter, Personal & Professional Trainer, and Workshop Facilitator with Doctorates in Psychology and Clinical Hypnotherapy, and the Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Managing Partner, and Co-Founder of MindFox Productions, LLC, and Where Is The Cool?, LLC.Praise For... :"Any player who wants to reach the next level in this game must learn to master the mental side. Dr. Travis Fox's methods will help you get there." ~ Mark Lye (18 year PGA TOUR Player and Golf Channel Analyst)"Dr. Fox has helped me understand my mind and has also helped my game tremendously." ~ Cliff Kresge (PGA Tour Player and Top 100 Money Leaders 2008)"Dr. Fox's 'HyPerformance Relaxation' mental tools are nothing less than revolutionary; especially for those golfers whose swing is less than picture perfect." ~ Peter Kessler (Host of "Making the Turn", XM Channel 146)"Dr. Fox taught me how to coexist with fear, embrace challenges and seize opportunities that were out of reach before." ~ Chris Stroud (PGA TOUR 2006 to 2009)"Travis and his method are beyond revolutionary!" ~ Mathias Gronberg (PGA Tour School Winner 2003 and PGA Tour Player)"As the Coach of 'Speaking of Golf', Dr. Fox brings valuable insight about life and golf on a practical, quantum and spiritual level." ~ Tom Horan (Host of internationally syndicated radio show "Speaking of Golf")"Dr. Travis Fox is simply a world class Coach and Mentor" ~ Joey Lamielle (NationWide Tour Player)Additional Players: Jose Maria Olazabal, Bernhard Langer, Jay Williamson, Garret Willis, Jin Park, Amy Hung and In Bee Park, have worked with and/or endorsed Dr. Fox's methodologies.SAMPLE CHAPTER - INTRODUCTIONThere I was coming up on what seemed like an easy par five. I had been waiting for this hole to come up, so that I could have a legitimate shot at making an eagle. Stepping up on to the tee, I felt a sense of confidence about this hole. I recalled that my round had been pretty boring up until now. My senses were alert and I feel ready to go under par. I saw the shot in my mind.
The hole was a relatively short par five with total yardage being around five hundred. There were a few bunkers off the tee on either side of the fairway. They were within my landing zone and therefore definitely a factor. The green was gently sloping toward me with a small creek just in front it. Three beautiful, deep bunkers surrounded the green left, right and rear. These would still allow me to get up and down should worse come to worse.
My drive came off the club with a perfect, sweet spot sound. You know the sound that your ball makes when it hits the perfect “center” of your club? It vibrates all the way up the club with a resounding feeling of effortless power. As my eyes came up after my swing I saw a drive that was rising up to an apex allowing the ball to land and run an additional twenty yards. Its flight was as though it read my mind on exactly where I wanted it to go. Tracking perfectly, it gave me the opportunity to hold my finish and pose for my playing partners. As I planned, when it landed it rolled about twenty more yards, leaving me a middle iron to the green for the possible eagle.
I continued feeling good about this drive as I walked up to the fairway thinking that the eagle was just an easy shot away. I happen to think about making the putt that would put me two under and finish the round under par. All was on track for me to easily make this shot. As I stepped up to the second shot my feeling of excitement was growing knowing that reaching the green was within my grasp.
I had a shot of roughly two hundred yards and my weapon of choice was a five iron. I hit the shot that made me think “Hey I should be doing this for a living!” It landed right in the center of the green about twenty feet from the hole. I felt so good about this hole; the eagle was all but mine. I continued my walk of “victory” towards the green, when out of nowhere a thought came through my mind that said “don’t three-putt this green.” WHAT?! Where did that come from, who was the crazy person who placed that thought in my mind? I started to think about what it would be like if I did three-putt and my feelings of confidence shifted to one that said “just get it in the cup, please!” My rhythm was now out of whack; I went from totally confident to defending and protecting my birdie, against the "three-putt".
I arrived at the green, took a deep breath and got my head back onto making the eagle putt. I had this strange feeling that I was doomed no matter what I did; "three putting" is looming over me. I went through what seemed like my due diligence and stepped up to the putt and a thought went through my mind – “lag it up there and make sure you at least get a birdie.” How is that for a positive attitude? My hands were tight; my breathing was … what breathing? I was holding my breath! I broke out into a mild sweat from the war going on in my mind between going for it and playing it safe and abandoning my original game plan. As I went to line up the putt, I knelt from behind and worked on reading the break. Strangely, all that was going through my mind was “Don’t leave this short, this is for an eagle.” As if on cue, the other side of my mind spat out, “Yes, however this is a downhill, fast putt so make sure you lag it, so you don’t run it by ten feet”. Wow, I was way out of my game plan now. I decided to just hit an easy putt and hope for the best. Of course, this was not the way to play this hole, much less golf, yet right then my head was swirling with so many thoughts preventing me from getting “laser like” focused on making the shot. (I like to call this mindset “survival golf,” but more on that later). I addressed the putt, making sure that all my “fundamentals” were correct. Feet parallel to the target line, square the putter head to the ball, light grip pressure, and finally, shoulders to make the stroke happen.
I slowly pushed the putter away from the ball to what seemed like the proper length backstroke, when a thought of doubt crept into my mind saying “that is not far enough, accelerate through to make sure it gets there.” The putter was now hurling toward the ball with a pace that I knew deep, down inside was going to be too much, yet I could not stop myself from continuing to move toward the ball. As the putter connected with ball, like a battering ram hitting a door, I felt the ball leave the clubface; it was now set on a course of action that I could not control. The ball came off the face like a shot fired from a gun, on track, just at a breakneck pace. My mind now yelled at me saying “THAT’S TOO FAST!” My partners all had a look of pain on their face just knowing this was not going to come out good. And they were right.
The ball tracked well toward the hole, yet due to the pace it could not hold the original break that I had read when I was lining it up. It continued to roll and roll until it sailed by the hole with a passing glance of “I’ll see you soon.” Rolling some fifteen feet past the hole, my mind now said to me “Nice putt” with an air of sarcasm in its tone.
By then I was seriously concerned about being able to save my birdie, thanks to the wonderful first putt I just completed. I had run it so far by that it was still my turn; I was still the farthest away from hole! One of my partners makes some smart comment which only instilled confidence as I smiled, trying to ignore their laughter. Yet on the inside, my anger was rising up and I was thinking “oh yeah, we will see who’s laughing when I ram this birdie putt home!” Now, not only was I struggling with my own thoughts, but I was allowing my partners to play head games with me too. As I slowly paced around this fifteen foot putt for birdie, I thought to myself “hey you have made a million of these, just stroke it and it will go in.” I felt as though this new-found mindset put me back on track and the rough ride was finally over.
I proceeded to line up the putt, going through my routine of parallel feet, square putter, light grip pressure, and remembered that shoulders make the stroke.
I looked one last time at the hole, and felt like all was well. I was but a few moments away from a birdie when out the blue my mind blurted out “Don’t leave it short!” What! How could my mind say such a thing at a time like this? I backed off from the putt and wiped my eyes from the sweat that was now noticeably dripping into them. I knelt and lined up the putt, again going through my routine. I repeated to myself, over and over like a broken record, “Don’t leave it short and give it a good run.” Ready to make the stroke, I pushed back the putter to its transition point, where my mind quickly shifted to “Don’t ram it like you did the last one.” Strangely, I agreed with this one and made what seems like a “whiff” of a putt towards the ball. The ball came off the club like it had tar stuck to it. It tracked well, however it just didn’t seem to have enough pace on it to make it back up the hill. I yelled out “GET THERE!!” as if it was going to make the ball roll further. The ball came to rest a good three feet short of the hole. I was really disappointed.
Mumbling to myself as I walked up to hit what was my third putt on this green, I think “Well there goes this round and my chances to break par.” At this point my mind added salt to the wound and said “I told you not to leave it short.” Like it knew I was going to do that all along, yet it was the one who set me up for it. All I wanted to do was yell out loud at myself, but decided that probably wouldn’t look too good to my partners. Nor would it help my self esteem, which at this time had all but left the building and the course too! So, I hung my head in shame and addressed my third putt with no thought of lining it up or going through any sort of routine. I slapped the putt. A putt which never had a chance since my left heel was in the air and my weight was solidly on my right foot. I watched as it tracked toward the left side of the cup. I held my breath realizing that I may have just made a really stupid mistake and hoping desperately that it would catch the edge of the cup and drop in. This was not to be. The ball must have had some sort of communication with my masochistic mind and become my sadistic tormentor, because it did catch the left edge of the cup, only to ride the edge of it and end up a foot away on the right side. I have now four putted this green.
This putt being a relatively short distance and since it was for a bogey, I tapped it in with a long pause thinking “What just happened?” I was so sure that I would walk away from this hole with an eagle, or in a worst case scenario a birdie, not a bogey. I needed to figure out how this happened, why my mind was willing to allow me to fail like this. Most importantly who was this “Bogey Man” that crept into my game and ultimately into my mind? How did he get here and where does he go when he leaves?
The situation described above happens on every golf course, everyday of the week. How can this “Bogey Man TM” be everywhere all at once from sun up to sun down?
“Get Psyched…Secrets to Lower Golf Scores TM” seeks to explain this and correct it for golfers; how our mind works for us and against us with respect to golf, as well as life in general. What techniques can we use to allow us to have control of this “Bogey Man” on and off the course? What has research shown us about our minds, and how to apply that knowledge to our game? Why is traditional psychology not enough these days to make us play better? How do we engage our subconscious minds allowing us to play better golf, while being able to make adjustments on the course without losing our score, our swing or our minds?
Nearly every golfer wants to enjoy playing golf, not just survive it. A significant number even want to go to the next level in their playing, without having to beat a thousand balls a day, take lessons from some pro that can barely remember your name, or spend a fortune to lose one stroke off your game. There are also golfers who know that golf is a mental game, yet cannot figure out how to play that mental game, because they were never shown the rules. This is the book that will allow you to see your self-defeating habits, overcome your negative self talk, deal with your conscious and subconscious minds, keep your natural rhythm before, during and after the round, and most importantly help you direct your mind and body to improve three to five strokes in your game in the next thirty days without any physical practice. If you are afraid of the “Bogey Man TM”, hang on and let’s free your mind so the swing and score can follow.
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ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT
