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Serious golfer? You know you’ve got the talent—but your brain keeps getting in the way. Think Above Par helps you master the mental game of golf, stop overthinking, and quit worrying about what others think on the course so you can play calm, confident, and consistent golf every round.
If you’re a serious golfer who knows you’re leaving shots out on the course, Think Above Par is your go-to podcast for mastering the mental game of golf. Hosted by Kathy Hart —a former Tour player, Top 50 Teacher, and Certified Mental Coach—each episode helps you strengthen your golf mindset, manage pressure, and play calm, confident, and consistent golf.
You’ll discover why you underperform under pressure, how to stop overthinking your swing, and what to do when you’re worried about what others think on the golf course. Whether you struggle with performance anxiety, perfectionism, or negative self-talk, Kathy shares proven mental-game tools to help you unlock your talent, enjoy the game again, and lower your golf scores.
Learn how to think above par—so you can play below par. Subscribe now to your weekly dose of golf mindset coaching and start transforming your golf brain today.
259 Episodes
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What does it really take to see success on and off the course? In this episode, I’m talking with longtime client, Karen Rainey about what helped her go from frustrated to focused, both in golf and life. We break down the exact mindset tools she used, how she defines her wins, and why there's no magic checklist—but a whole lot of power in showing up, doing the reps, and being your own solution. Karen’s journey is full of wisdom, heart, and real-life application. Grab your mental caddy an...
Welcome to Episode 7 — the final episode of The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path series. Today's episode: Stretch Beyond Golf Carl is one of my clients. He's done the work. He's used the tools. He's seen tremendous success on the golf course. But recently, when I asked him what created the most success for him, he sent me a message that stopped me in my tracks. He said: "The biggest thing is that you have one brain and you get to use the tools you give me in all parts of life. Practicing with my aging par...
Welcome to Episode 6 of The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path — the 7-day series on the exact steps my most successful clients took to transform their mental game. Today's episode: Share & Support Karen lives in West Virginia. And she's not the only one in my program from her area — there are quite a few golfers from her community who are members. And here's what happens: they share their wins with each other. They speak the same language. They partner up in tournaments. And when one of them catches he...
Welcome to Episode 5 of The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path — the 7-day series on the exact steps my most successful clients took to transform their mental game. Today's episode: Engage in Reps Judy is 80 years old. She listens to my podcast every night as she falls asleep. (Yes, my nasally Rochester voice is apparently very soothing.) She bought one of my programs — Unleash Your Golf — and listened to it over and over and over again. Then she went out and won one of the biggest tournaments for her age g...
Welcome to Episode 4 of The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path — the 7-day series on the exact steps my most successful clients took to transform their mental game. Today's episode: Control Your Thoughts Becky texted me before a state tournament. She was nervous — more than nervous. She didn't think she belonged there. Everyone else seemed better. So I sent her one thought: "You belong. You're as good as any of those players." She said it a thousand times that day. Over and over. One thought, on repeat. And...
Welcome to Episode 3 of The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path — the 7-day series on the exact steps my most successful clients took to transform their mental game. Today's episode: Clarify Your Wins Janie showed up to one of our coaching calls and shared something powerful. She'd played with a group of golfers who were much younger than her. They were hitting it past her. Scoring lower than her. And she didn't give up on herself. She didn't try to swing harder. She didn't play a game that wasn't hers. She ...
Welcome to Episode 2 of The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path — the 7-day series on the exact steps my most successful clients took to transform their mental game. Today's episode: Use Your Tools Jennifer decided to actually use one of the tools I teach — the CCC tracker (tracking calm, certain, and confident shots). At first, she was at 67% calm, certain, and confident — and shooting mid-80s. As she improved that number to 76%, she was shooting low-80s. Then she hit 92% calm, certain, and confident — and ...
Welcome to a special 7-episode bonus series: The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Path. I interviewed my most successful clients to find out what actually created transformation for them when nothing else worked. Their answers were surprisingly similar — and I've distilled everything into 7 steps you can follow. In Episode 1, I'm sharing Kelly's story. Kelly had tried everything — practiced hard, read all the mental game books, knew all the right answers. But nothing was working. In fact, she was getting worse...
Ever play a great round... until the last few holes slap you in the face? You're not alone—and you're not broken. In this fan-favorite episode, I’m breaking down exactly why golfers fall apart at the finish. From mental fatigue to score-chasing to the dramatic little voice in your head yelling “don’t screw this up,” we’re getting into all of it. You’ll learn how to stay present, manage the pressure, and shut down the mental circus so you can finally finish strong. This is one of the most down...
You’re a high achiever. You’ve got confidence, success, and mental toughness in your career, your home or other sports—and yet golf is messing with your head. Why is that? In this episode, we’re talking about the mental game of golf for high performers who are used to crushing it in life, but feel totally thrown off on the course. If you’ve ever wondered why your work confidence doesn’t transfer to the first tee, or why perfectionism is killing your performance, you’re not alone. Golf challen...
Struggling to “just commit” over the ball during a round of golf? You’re not alone. In this episode, Coach Kathy breaks down the 3 steps to true commitment in golf so you can think clearly, stop overthinking, and actually trust your swing. You’ll learn why commitment is a mental game skill, not a command — and how to get your brain into a calm, certain, confident state before every shot. When you commit to every shot, your golf swing becomes freer, your decisions get better, and your results ...
Ever had a great round going until someone says, “Wow, you’re playing amazing today,” and suddenly… you can’t find the fairway? Yep, this one’s for you. In this episode, I talk about what really happens in your brain when someone mentions your score, your swing, or even the trouble up ahead—and why you can’t seem to shake it once you’ve heard it. I’ll walk you through how to take back control, stop giving other people the keys to your mental game, and stay focused on your shot, not their word...
Are you stuck in your swing thoughts or spiraling over your scorecard? You might just be in a learning stage—and that’s not a problem. In this episode, I break down the 4 stages of learning (for both your swing and your mental game) and how they show up on the course. You'll learn why overthinking happens, how to trust your skills, and when it’s time to stop micromanaging and start letting it fly. This one’s for every golfer who wants to feel freer, calmer, and more in control—without trying ...
Ever wonder what separates golfers who actually take their talent to the course from those who just hope it happens? In this episode, Coach Kathy walks you through the exact mental game SUCCESS Path her clients follow to create real results—lower scores, more confidence, and less frustration on the course. You’ll learn how to stop overthinking, manage pressure, and play calm, certain, and confident golf—every round. Success leaves clues, my friend, and these are the same steps real golfers us...
Join Your Mental Caddy today Ever notice how you stop doing the very thing that helps your golf the most? In this episode, I share a live coaching clip all about CCC golf — Calm, Certain, Confident. When you track how many shots you hit from your best mental state, your scorecard starts to tell the truth: more CCC = lower scores. But here’s the catch — your brain loves to slip back into old habits. That’s why mental game work isn’t one-and-done. It’s a practice, just like your swing. In this ...
Ever felt too scared to sign up for a qualifier or show up for a tournament because you’re afraid of what might happen—or what people might think? This one’s for you. I’m talking about the courage it takes to put yourself out there, the mental drama that comes with it, and why sitting on the sidelines doesn’t keep you safe—it just keeps you stuck. You’ll hear a powerful client story (shoutout to Becky!) and get real talk about fear, belonging, and finding your win, no matter what the scorecar...
Join me in Your Mental Caddy HERE Ever hit a couple off shots to start your round and immediately think, “Ugh, here we go…”? In this episode, I’m calling out the lie that a bad start means a bad round. I’ll show you how to stop letting the first few holes hijack your whole mindset, how to neutralize early mistakes, and why laughing it off (yes—even the coffee spill) might be your new secret weapon. Because one hole doesn’t get to decide your whole day. Continue your mental journey at Your Men...
Join my community Your Mental Caddy HERE Think you’ve “graduated” from working on your mental game? Think again, friend. In this episode, we’re digging into why your brain keeps serving up negative thoughts—even when you thought you had this mindset thing down. You’ll learn why it feels like you're going backwards (you're not), what your brain is really designed to do (hint: not help your golf game), and why this work is a daily practice—just like your swing. No shame, no drama—just real talk...
For your next round, Your Mental Caddy is HERE Do you tense up on par 3s? Feel like you should par them all—or else? You’re not alone. This week, I’m breaking down the real reason you feel pressure on par 3s (hint: it’s not the yardage) and how to shift your mindset so these holes stop messing with your confidence. You’ll learn how to see par 3s as neutral, drop the “I should” drama, and finally play 'em with a clear head and a calm swing. Every shot counts the same—so let’s stop acting like ...
Get your fastest wins at Your Mental Caddy HERE What if I told you your biggest golf wins might not have anything to do with a low score or shiny trophy? In this episode, I’m sharing real stories from my clients—from first-time college players to 80-something gold medalists—and the kind of wins we should be celebrating more. Spoiler: it’s not just about making the cut. It’s about managing your mind, handling pressure, showing up proud, and proving to yourself that you can do hard things. You’...
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Love this! They way negative self talk hurts your game really resonates with me and as I've controlled this, I've seen a big improvement in my game and my enjoyment of the game. in regard to feeling our emotions, I've found Nelly Corda's use of the whoop app interesting. You'd have no idea that she was feeling anxiety until you see her pulse!! Jon Rahm alluded to this lack of change on his face when he thought his ball was OB. Nelly's pulse though!! lol! Mine must get up to 200 🤣🤣