By: Stephen Ladd

As a golf performance coach, I’ve seen
many changes in the junior golf world over the past twelve years. The
main difference is in the level of competition. The popularity of
junior golf has made it far more challenging to get scholarships to
colleges for golf. At one point, not too long ago, good grades and the
ability to post 80 could get you into plenty of good schools
(especially girls).


Not the case anymore.

Junior
golf has become fiercely competitive. The vast majority of the kids I
work with do not have the luxury of spending years at the top golf
school academies. This can sometimes make them feel discouraged, as if
they don’t stand a chance against the “privileged” kids.


I am quick to teach them that there are plenty of good instructors all over the country, even at small local courses.


Plus,
there are three key areas where they can often make up a tremendous
amount of ground on the kids with all the monetary advantages.


1)
The mental game – The pros estimate that their success is 60-90%
mental. The same goes for junior golf. I specialize in alternative
methods such as energy psychology, NLP and hypnosis.


2) Golf
Fitness – A workout designed specifically for golf and the individual
golfer is crucial for long term success. Seek out a professional
trainer who trains golfers as athletes and performs a through
assessment before designing a fitness program.




3)
Nutrition – proper food and drink before and during a round will ensure
sustained energy and focus. While the other kids are eating fast food
and guzzling sodas, those with an optimal diet will always be prepared
for peak performance.


While good swing instruction and
dedicated practice are essential, the above three keys to junior golf
success can go a long way to leveling the playing field for all of our
kids.

Stephen Ladd is a Golf Performance Coach pioneering
breakthrough energy psychology techniques, and the creator of Renegade
Mindset Techniques for Golf. Visit http://www.RenegadeMentalGolf.com for free reports, videos, newsletters and an 8 part email mini-tutorial