Brain Game: How mental coaching is transforming golf

“Traditional golf psychology is more of an understanding – but many psychologists are training themselves in NLP because they recognise the transformational power of it and the change it brings.”

So what, exactly, is NLP and why the fuss? Ellwood says it’s becoming more mainstream because it gives you a better understanding of how we create our thoughts and then creates change, fast, through working with the unconscious.

“NLP is the study of ‘what works’. It’s ‘how’ we do what we do. But rather than just an understanding of what’s going on in someone’s mind, it gives someone a self-awareness on how to change their own mind very quickly. NLP utilises all your internal resources.”

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NLP, however, isn’t ‘recognised’ in the same way as ‘traditional’ psychology. There is no evidence-based research around it, something that can be complicated to measure anyway. “It is mostly anecdotal,” she says, “but those anecdotes are extremely transformational.”

Ellwood, who is based in Lincoln, has worked with around 40 golfers, but what might be surprising to some is the work she is now doing with young, wannabe tour players. One such player is Sam Done, a 21-year-old amateur from Lincolnshire who made his England debut this year.

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The Kenwick Park player has dreams of being a tour player but realised his temper might be holding him back. For one so young to recognise the consequences of such an issue is impressive – but to act on a fix is quite different.

Through his coach at his club, Paul Spence, Done found himself sitting down with Ellwood and talking about his wants and desires. Eighteen months later, he’s seeing results.

“Paul has coached me since I was young and has drip-fed into me that ‘You need to think this way’ and so on. He’s tried to get me into a good mind-set so I can perform at my best. Paul has completed a basic course in NLP, but he’s nowhere near as qualified as Nicola.”

The big question is this: why would a teenager have any interest in speaking to someone about ‘mind’ matters? In truth, it seems the lure of the pro game is so strong that every advantage needs to be taken, at whatever age. Done was just mature enough to see his problems and face them.

“When I was on the course, I would basically lose the plot. I would get angry, maybe break a club, slam a club, and that wasn’t good for me or my clubs.”

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He says each outburst didn’t look good and would take three or four holes to get over the episode. That led him to worrying about what selectors would think when they saw him.

“It began to affect my golf,” he says honestly. “I spoke to my parents and they said they thought it would be good for me, both on and off the golf course.”

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Done says Ellwood gets him “thinking the right way” and says their get-togethers give him a better understanding of why he thinks the way he does. A few years ago, most practise work would be technical, with time spent on the range – but he says members of England Golf squads are now busy in the gym, thinking more about their diets and working on their mental game.

“Think about it. If your body is your engine, why would you put junk in it? That’s the big thing with Nicola. The physical, the mental and the technical side all have to perform.”

Teens working on their mental game seems to be a new thing, yet Done isn’t surprised by the trend.

“In the old days, if you were good at golf then you’d be fine. But that’s not enough anymore. I want to give [being a tour pro] a go. There’s a lot of hard work involved and, however good you are, it’s not in the stars. You’ve got to keep working.

“Regarding the mental side, it’s definitely growing in the amateur game. I don’t think there are too many that are having it at an early age, but it is definitely growing.

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“You watch someone like Henrik Stenson. You would not know what mood he was in, whether he’s made an eagle or a double bogey. That constant line of a mental state is huge. Tiger Woods gets really animated, but once the shot’s gone and that ten-yard line that he talks about has been passed, he’s back to himself and in his bubble.”

According to Ellwood, Done is a “feeler”. He has to feel the shots. Her work with him made her realise that, for him, it’s all about how his hands feel, how his body moves, his emotions, so his pre-shot routine is physical and ‘state’ based.

“When I work with a player, I find out specifically, within their mind, where they create their best performance. It’s not a technical ‘thing’ with their swing. None of us are wired the same. I tune into what works for the individual.”

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US analyst Brandel Chamblee has always championed the power of the mind and believes it’s a requirement these days, even more so in an era where every aspect of a young player’s game is scrutinised.

“People with really funky golf swings, if they make it to the tour, they have to be so mentally tough at a young age to resist the temptation to give in to conformity,” he said. “They have a golf swing that wks… and then they have the mental toughness from having to deal with all the scorn and questions and scrutiny. You put those together and that’s a hell of a combination for longevity.”

• This feature first appeared in issue 173 of bunkered. For our latest magazine subscription offer, click here