Why Golf F#@ks With Your Brain

Ever wonder why you feel calm on the range but like you’re fighting for survival on the course? In this episode, we break down how golf hijacks your brain—from fight-or-flight reactions and perfectionism to obsessing over what everyone thinks.Learn why golf feels so personal, why your nervous system goes haywire, and how to stop letting it mess with your head.If you’re tired of finishing 18 holes feeling exhausted and frustrated, this one’s for you.Tired of Underperforming? I'll walk you through the skills. Join me in YourMentalCaddy.comMastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-CoachingMastering Your Golf Brain - The WorkbookMental Golf Journal - A Range for Your BrainAre all available at KathyHartWood.com/bookPrivate coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here: Email Kathy at [email protected]: KathyHartWood.com

Ever hit one bad shot and watched it hijack the next three holes? You're not alone—and you're not broken.In this episode, I break down why it's not the bad shot that kills your round... it's what your brain does with it. We’ll talk emotional residue (yes, that’s a thing), your personal “green light” golf state, and how to stop swinging from frustration, shame, or pressure.Plus, I’ll give you a 60-second shot clock tool that'll help you move on, regroup, and get back to playing like the golfer you know you are. No more three-hole tantrums. Let’s go.Your Mental Caddy - In your pocket every week, every round OPENS June 26Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-CoachingMastering Your Golf Brain - The WorkbookMental Golf Journal - A Range for Your BrainAre all available at KathyHartWood.com/bookPrivate coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here: Email Kathy at [email protected]: KathyHartWood.com

You don’t have to be calm to play good golf—you just have to stop spiraling. In this episode, we’re talking about the emotional detour most golfers need but rarely take: neutral.Forget forcing positivity or faking chill. That doesn’t work (and your brain knows it). Instead, I’ll show you how to recognize when you're in a mental spin, and how to shift into neutral—a place that’s steady, honest, and totally playable.This is the mindset move that keeps your round (and your head) from going off the rails.New to the podcast? Grab a curated list of the 7 episodes that will instantly improve your mental game: ➡ HereMastering Your Golf Brain - The WorkbookMental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain 👇🏻Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/bookPrivate coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here: Email Kathy at [email protected]: KathyHartWood.com

What’s your brain up to between shots?If your answer is “uhhh… spiraling?”—you’re not alone.In this episode of Think Above Par, Coach Kathy walks you through the 5 most common (and completely normal) things golfers do mentally after a less-than-stellar shot—and why most of them aren’t helping you hit the next one any better.From chasing swing squirrels 🐿️ to mentally roasting yourself like it’s open mic night, you’ll learn how to interrupt the noise and give your brain a better job between shots.🎧 Listen now—and find out what your brain’s really doing while you’re walking to your ball.👉 Don’t have time to binge the full podcast library? No worries—I’ve pulled together 7 quick-hit episodes to help you clean up your golf brain and start seeing results. Download the list here: Unleash Your Golf self-paced program is available at:  https://www.unleashyourgolf.comMastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-CoachingMastering Your Golf Brain - The WorkbookMental Golf Journal - A Range for Your BrainAre all available at KathyHartWood.com/bookPrivate coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here: Email Kathy at [email protected]: KathyHartWood.com

Are you working your tail off and still not seeing it on the scorecard? Welcome to the club—and also, let’s fix that perspective. In this episode, we break down the difference between progress and growth in your golf game (and yes, it matters).Kathy dives into why your brain’s obsession with numbers might be blinding you to all the ways you’re actually leveling up—mentally, emotionally, physically, and on-course. From handling Betty and Bob with more grace to catching your own brain spirals mid-swing, this is the kind of progress that doesn’t always show up in a lower handicap—but changes everything.If you’ve ever felt discouraged, burnt out, or like “what’s the point?”—this one’s for you.Connect with Kathy...Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-CoachingMastering Your Golf Brain - The WorkbookMental Golf Journal - A Range for Your BrainAre all available at KathyHartWood.com/bookPrivate coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here: Email Kathy at [email protected]: KathyHartWood.com

Ever feel that pit in your stomach when you get paired with golfers who have a lower handicap than you? Yep—welcome to the comparison trap. In this episode, we dive into what really happens when you measure your worth against someone else’s number on paper. Spoiler: It’s not helping your game.I’m sharing a relatable client story, a size-six-at-a-party analogy (you’ll get it), and the mindset shift you need to stop letting other people’s handicaps hijack your confidence. Whether you're playing with a scratch golfer or someone still figuring out which end of the tee goes in the ground, this episode will help you stay present, show up proud, and play YOUR best golf—no matter who’s in your group.Connect with Kathy...Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-CoachingMastering Your Golf Brain - The WorkbookMental Golf Journal - A Range for Your BrainAre all available at KathyHartWood.com/bookPrivate coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here: Email Kathy at [email protected]: KathyHartWood.com

You know the feeling—you’re standing over a “hard” shot and your brain goes, “Ugh, I hate this.” Suddenly, you’re gripping the club like it wronged you and praying for a miracle flop.In this episode, we’re calling out the real troublemaker: that little word hard.I’ll show you how labeling shots as “hard” instantly triggers your brain into tension and doubt—and what to say instead to stay calm, clear, and in control. We’ll talk about why “hard” is usually code for “I don’t know how to get it close,” and how to shift your focus from looking good to playing smart.Plus, I’ll walk you through a few short-game mindset tools (and club choices!) that’ll help you stop trying to be fancy and start saving strokes.Inside:The hidden power of how you talk to yourselfWhen your brain freaks out—and how to stop itWhy simpler shots lead to lower scoresThis one’s for anyone who’s ever chunked it, bladed it, or second-guessed their whole short game.Let’s stop calling it hard. Let’s start calling it manageable.Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-CoachingMastering Your Golf Brain - The WorkbookMental Golf Journal - A Range for Your BrainAre all available at KathyHartWood.com/bookPrivate coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here: Email Kathy at [email protected]: KathyHartWood.com

Real talk time. Your phone might be the biggest threat to your golf game. Not your swing. Not your putting. That little dopamine machine in your pocket.In this episode, I break down why picking up your phone during a round—especially in a tournament—is silently wrecking your focus, raising your stress, and pulling you out of your zone. I share a wild story about a client who got a “congrats” text before he even finished his round... and what happened next.We’ll talk about the psychology behind your scroll urges, the science of distractions (yep, it takes 23 minutes to refocus), and how to break the habit without judgment. Plus, what to do instead when you're tempted to check.Let’s protect your mental game like it's part of your equipment.Leave the phone in your bag. Unleash Your Golf self-paced program is available at:  https://www.unleashyourgolf.comMastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-CoachingMastering Your Golf Brain - The WorkbookMental Golf Journal - A Range for Your BrainAre all available at KathyHartWood.com/bookPrivate coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here: Email Kathy at [email protected]: KathyHartWood.com

Ever stand over a shot thinking, “Is it a 7-iron or an 8?” and then proceed to steer it down the fairway like you’re driving a minivan full of toddlers? Yeah. This one’s for you.In this episode, we’re talking about golf decisions—how your lack of commitment is wrecking your confidence, and why the real issue isn’t club choice, it’s self-trust. I break down the “caddy vs. player” mindset, the hidden cost of indecision, and how learning to make fast, firm decisions (on and off the course) can shift your whole game.Because guess what? Confidence doesn’t come before the decision—it comes after you have your own back no matter how it turns out.Hit play. Then go commit to something already.Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-CoachingMastering Your Golf Brain - The WorkbookMental Golf Journal - A Range for Your BrainAre all available at KathyHartWood.com/bookPrivate coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here: Email Kathy at [email protected]: KathyHartWood.comUnleash Your Golf self-paced program is available at:  https://www.unleashyourgolf.com

Let’s talk golf emotions. Not the deep life stuff (although we touch on that too), but the short list of feelings that show up when you're standing over a shot, or watching a putt lip out... again.In this episode, I’m breaking down the difference between emotions that are useful vs. just loud, why excitement can sabotage your swing, and how identifying your top 3 go-to golf emotions can completely shift your game. Spoiler: disappointment isn’t the problem. Taking your next shot from disappointment is.If you want more calm, confidence, and consistency out there, this one’s for you.Unleash Your Golf self-paced program is available at:  https://www.unleashyourgolf.comMastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-CoachingMastering Your Golf Brain - The WorkbookMental Golf Journal - A Range for Your BrainAre all available at KathyHartWood.com/bookPrivate coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here: Email Kathy at [email protected]: KathyHartWood.com