How does emotion affect your golf game?

As many WorldGolf.com readers will be spending some of their weekend on golf courses throughout the U.S. and globally, it seems a quick question is in order:

How does emotion affect your golf game?

The question is asked knowing that there are many around these parts who will golf two, three or even more times per week. And while the golf course is a great getaway, it’s just plain humanity that sometimes you’ll have other issues on your mind. How do you deal with it?

Here’s my take: It depends who I’m playing with. If I’m playing with friends and family, it’s much easier to just get lost in the game and camaraderie. This is when I’ll tend to play my best. When I play with people I don’t know as well or just met, outside influences can start rattling around my head, and wasted shots start coming fast and furious.

While reviewing Wolf Run Golf Club in Reno last year, I played early and solo. The weather was fine, the views were clear and crisp, and the course was in immaculate condition. By Hole No. 6, I was a wreck, letting off-course things invade my head. Then that invaded my game, which also invaded my head, as I started getting depressed that I suck so badly. I actually had to sit down at the turn and consciously get my head into the game and moment, and I enjoyed the back nine quite a bit more (reminding myself that I was actually golfing for a living seemed to help a great deal).

It all depends on the emotion for myself. If I’m a bit melancholic, I stink up the joint. If I’m slightly peeved, I actually do a little better.

So what about you? Have you mastered the art of keeping our head in the game? And if you find real life crawling into your head, what do you do to clear your mind?

Just wondering. And if you’re heading to the links this weekend, have a great round.

–WKW