Claim OwnershipThink Above Par | Mental Golf & Mindset
Subscribed: 49Played: 1,804
Subscribe
© 2025 Think Above Par | Mental Golf & Mindset
Description
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 Wood—a former tour player, Top 50 Teacher, and Certified Mental Coach—you’ll discover practical strategies to strengthen your golf mindset, manage pressure, and play with more confidence.
Each episode breaks down why you underperform when it matters most and how to stop overthinking so you can trust your swing and compete at your best. Whether you struggle with performance anxiety, perfectionism, or negative self-talk, Kathy shares tools to help you unlock your talent and enjoy the game again.
Learn how to think above par so you can play below par. Subscribe now and start transforming your mental golf game today.
242 Episodes
Reverse
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’...
Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Tech's making golf easier—but also making us a little mentally soft. In this episode, I’m talking about going old-school with your yardages and why doing your own dang math might be exactly what your golf brain needs. You’ll learn how using your feet (instead of your watch) helps quiet the noise, sharpen your focus, and get you back in the game—mentally and emotionally. Devices are handy, no doubt. But they’re not a substitute for awarene...
Think practicing pressure means grinding three-footers while imagining the club championship on the line? Sounds good in theory… but not how your golf brain works. In this episode, I’ll show you the right way to prepare for big moments on the course—by training your mind to pivot out of fear, doubt, and jitters into focus and freedom. You’ll learn how to spot the emotions that sabotage your swing, how to shift them fast, and how to build confidence you can actually trust when it matters most....
You ever play with someone who hits it farther and suddenly your swing disappears? Yep, we’re talking about the sneaky mind game of chasing distance. In this episode, I’m breaking down why trying to keep up off the tee messes with your tempo, trashes your confidence, and takes you completely out of your own game. I’ll share a few Pro-Am stories (spoiler: fragile male egos ahead), and help you spot when your brain starts spiraling into “I’m not enough” mode. If you’ve ever gripped it and rippe...
Join the NEXT Workshop Here Okay, I’m spilling the beans. This episode is my coaching confession—and it’s not really about your golf game. Sure, I love hearing you’re playing better, but what lights me up is when you shift your relationship with yourself. If you’ve ever felt like your score determines your worth or you beat yourself up after a round, this one’s for you. We’ll talk Scotty Scheffler, self-worth, and why the number on your scorecard should never decide how you treat yourself. Re...
Don't miss it! Join the Master Your Golf Brain Workshop Live HERE Ever feel like you’re the only one who overthinks tee shots, spirals after a bad hole, or panics when people are watching? You're not. In this episode, I’m sharing 55 real, raw mental challenges from golfers of all levels—yep, from juniors to 70-year-olds, scratch players to 30 handicaps. You'll see yourself in this list and realize: you're not broken, you're just human. We talk about why your brain does what it does, why...
Join Your Mental Caddy and start playing to your potential today: 👉 https://YourMentalCaddy.com In this episode, you’ll learn how to master your golf mindset with a simple expectations exercise that transforms your mental game. This clip comes from a LIVE Master Your Golf Brain workshop I taught recently at a private club. This is just one small section where we explored why chasing “your best” only leads to frustration—and how gathering real data about your game helps you set realistic expec...
Join Your Mental Caddy and start playing to your potential today: https://YourMentalCaddy.com Ever call yourself a dumb ass after a bad shot and shrug it off like it’s no big deal? Hate to break it to you, but your brain doesn’t think it’s funny. In this episode, I’m sharing a story about my client who decided to drop her self-trash talk for just one round—and everything changed. She didn’t magically shoot a career low, but she actually enjoyed herself, felt proud, and even stuck around to so...
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 t...
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 golf...
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...
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...
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 ...
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 playin...
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...
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 beh...
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 ...
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 disappoi...
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States
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 🤣🤣