Welcome to Season 2 of the She Talks Birdie Podcast!

I am excited to share a special episode I created in partnership with PXG to launch the new season. Have you ever thought of golf as more than just a game? Perhaps it's hard to consider the far-reaching benefits of golf when you feel as though the course just kicked your butt.

Through my conversation with two members of our military and PXG's Heroes Squad, Corporal Chris Nowak and Corporal Chad Pfeifer, I discovered how PXG is helping veterans heal from visible and invisible wounds through golf. 

Here are the highlights from this episode:

• [1:56] Introduction
• [2:57] Cpl. Chad Pfeifer's story
• [11:26] Cpl. Chris Nowak's story
• [15:54] The learning process that has to take place for a veteran taking up golf
• [24:02] How a veteran's mental toughness can be leveraged in golf to help them successfully navigate life
• [30:07] How veterans and golfers alike are taught to maintain a positive outlook on the course
• [33:11] The importance of perspective in golf
• [35:00] How PXG is supporting veterans through their programs 
  • getting veterans introduced to the game
  • making equipment affordable
  • building a community of veterans who look out for each other
• [41:00] How you can learn more about PXG and their programs (links mentioned are provided below)
• [44:25] Final thoughts from Chad and Chris

To get a list of the links mentioned in this episode, please visit my full show notes page at  https://trainingforoptimalperformance.com/021

What's the point of playing golf if you don't love your game. If "love" isn't the word you'd use to describe your current feelings about your game then I can help. In this episode, I share the 3 tools you need to pave the road to a golf game you love. Are you in?

In golf, your brain is your personal navigation system. 

Your brain directs your decisions, actions, reactions, and more moment by moment on the course.

And just like every type of navigation system, your brain operates specific tools that can help you reach your golf goals.

Here are the 3 inner tools that are a natural part of your hardwiring...

• [2:51] 1: Your Gut - What is your default thinking when you're playing well or not as you would like?
• [4:21] 2: Your Imagination - If you know that you are playing with negative or self-critical thoughts, where do you think they are coming from?
• [6:24] 3: Your Inner Caddy - Did you know that your game has already provided you with every bit of evidence you need to establish a solid belief foundation under your game?
• [9:39] Episode Summary - Here you will find a quick synopsis of this episode.

Be sure to download the one-page reference sheet in my latest email newsletter with specific suggestions to help you start leveraging the power of your inner tools both on and off the course. Learn more by visiting https://trainingforoptimalperformance.com/020

There is one incredible quality the best players possess that you can too. It's not a technically better swing, the ability to hole more putts, or even a longer drive. The one thing that separates you from the greatest golfers starts in your mind and works its way into your performance. 

I'm talking about your belief.

The wonderful Arnold Palmer once said, “I've always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn't have a chance to win.” 

Unshakeable belief is the one thing that separates the good players from the great ones. And belief is trained.

The greatest golfers in the game have disciplined their minds so they see themselves and their games from the right perspective. In this first of my new short episode series, you'll discover 3 simple steps that will help you play with a belief that can have a big impact on your golf success.

Here's how this episode plays out...

• [6:16] Step 1: Be Honest About Your Current Thought Habits - What is your default thinking when you're playing well or not as you would like? 
• [7:27] Step 2: Identify the Source of Your Limited Perspective - If you know that you are playing with negative or self-critical thoughts, where do you think they are coming from? 
• [8:40] Step 3: Compile Real Evidence to Expand Your Current Belief - Did you know that your game has already provided you with every bit of evidence you need to establish a solid belief foundation under your game?
• [11:54] Episode Summary - Here you will find a quick synopsis of this episode.

These three steps will get you on a path to developing the kind of belief that aligns with your current ability rather than holding you back from realizing it.