Alcero Golf article explaining the success of each golf round revolves around a golfers perceptions that they start with. Written by the creator of the Alcero Method, Al Owens.

As the each season begins for many golfers of course the question is..”how will I perform this year?” The answer for your entire season really is closer than you think. In fact, you will discover it the first time you play that year!

As you step out on to the course for that first round your expectations are not really that high, in fact you are really just happy to be out and “enjoy the course” as they say. You are so excited to make it to the course to play with your usual foursome, it seem’s like it has taken forever for this day to arrive. Actually your arrival to the course each season will probably resemble a lot of other seasons.

As you are getting your clubs out of the trunk and tying your shoes, your eyes are wandering the parking lot looking for familiar cars or faces. You are noticing the new flags on the greens, what new arrivals are in your golf shop and what specials the course is offering for the new year.

You leave the clubhouse for the range and putting green. You notice how the grass is a little greener than you expected. After all, it has been a long cold winter. You feel the breeze on your face and temperature of your body in the spring air. Your perception of most areas you will notice is heightened, more now than it would be in the heat of August when you have been to the course many times previously that season.

It is that perception that is the first step to a successful golf season. Your senses are the key to starting your season in the right direction. When your senses are heightened your mind starts off with less clutter when you reach the first tee. Many golfers are amazed at how their first round of the year really turns out to be a lot better than they thought. How can that be? You haven’t been to the range that much, haven’t practiced your putting or chipping, but your game seemed kind of easy and you really enjoy that first round of the year.

The next time you go out your expectations are much higher. You started the year strong, hey, this is your year! Then round two appears, and so do the dark sides of your game. It is as if Darth Vader was waiting for you on the first tee. Who is this other side of you that causes you such agony on the course? You recognize him, remember, he was with you most of last year?

This dark side is you mind overanalyzing the swing. Most golfers approach their round with many thoughts in their mind such as “stay down thru the shot”. But during the round things are not going the direction you think they should, so you must be doing something wrong. Oh yes, you forgot to keep your arm straighter. You continue to make about three to five changes to see what fits.

By the back nine you are now very frustrated and tired. You think, well next week is always a new game, Ill play better then. Ill try to just enjoy the rest of this day. You then revert back to your round one technique of perception and heightened awareness, but you really are not aware that is what you are doing. You start to see the course around you and people. Your expectations and pressure you had now leave you and you just start to “hit it”. At that point the game starts to turn around, and you hit some surprising good shots. How can that be?

The reason is simple. Have you heard the statement, “you need to get out of your own way?” But did you really know what it means? As you can see here, as you drop your expectations or get out of your way, the round becomes better.

Start each round this year with that greater perception of things around you. When on the course listen to hear the birds and simple sounds that are around the course. Feel the ground under the balls of your feet as you walk along. See the beautiful course and nature around you. Each time you place your hands on the club, sense the touch in your fingers and feel the weight of the club head. All these items help to increase perception, which takes your mind away from your analytical things you are used to doing on the course.

There is a time and place for practice in the game of golf. The mechanics (posture, grip and alignment) are the basis for a successful swing. Work on these areas on the practice range, they are very important and musts of your game! However, make sure you practice with a purpose when you hit the range too. Have a purpose or intent of what you are wanting to accomplish while at the practice tee.

When you arrive at the course to play, commit to playing the round and sensing all that surrounds you. Leave your range game back by the clubhouse. The clutter of the range thoughts is what will lead to the collapse of your game.

Perceive what is around you, feel the club in your hand, the ground under your feet. Keep the senses high and when you go to hit the ball….hit it with no worries about where it will go. If you recall, when you were tired in your second round of the year on the back nine, you did not care where that ball went. The result was better than you thought.

Get out of your way, drop those high expectations, and increase your perception of the course around you. Remember to enjoy golf so … Lighten-up and enjoy the game!

To learn more about the game and the Alcero Method of golf instruction that can assist your game look for the new book Manifesting Your Golf Desires, by Al Owens. It is a great resource and tool to use in taking your game to the next level you desire.

This great new and exciting book will be released this spring. Look for it here on on the Alcero Golf website www.alcerogolf.net, or in a book store near you!