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Think Above Par

Sometimes you just need someone to explain why your golf brain does what it does.

Think Above Par is where Kathy talks about the thoughts, emotions and patterns that show up on the golf course—and what you can do with them.

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All episodes (305)

Library updated

Episode 261

How to Handle Rule Bullies on the Golf Course

Ever play with someone who uses the rules like a weapon? Yeah… this episode is for that situation. Today we’re talking about mean girl energy on the golf course—rule enforcers who come in hot, loud, and intimidating (sometimes while being totally wrong). I break down why this behavior messes with your head, how it pulls you out of your game, and what’s actually going on with the person doing the correcting. You’ll learn how to stay grounded, protect your focus, and stop letting someone else’s need to be right hijack your round. Because rules are meant to protect the game—not someone’s ego. Let’s keep your brain calm, your confidence intact, and your shots where they belong. Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

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Episode 260

How to Stop Letting Wind Wreck Your Golf Round

Ever played a great shot, walked up to tap it in, and watched the wind roll your ball 30 feet away? 😤 Yeah… we’re talking that kind of day. In this episode, I’m breaking down how wind messes with your mind—and what to do about it. You’ll learn why your brain freaks out in unpredictable conditions, how to stop arguing with reality, and what to focus on instead so you can stay calm, swing freely, and manage your round like a champ. If you're tired of letting the weather take over your game, this one’s for you. Because windy days don't have to blow your confidence. Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

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Episode 259

Your Golf Mind Needs a Caddy Too

You’ve got a caddy for your clubs—now it’s time to get one for your brain. In this episode, I’m introducing the Mental Caddy App, a new tool I created to help you track, train, and trust your golf mind like never before. We’re talking: – Pre-round prep to clear your head – Post-round reflections that actually help – A reality check for your expectations – Your Mental Golf Index (yep, like a handicap—but for your mind) – And a pocket-sized version of me giving you on-demand coaching Whether you’re managing pressure, building confidence, or just want more clarity on what’s going on between your ears, this app’s got you. Come test it out and give your mind the support it deserves—because your golf game starts upstairs. 👉 Access it inside yourmentalcaddy.com Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

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Episode 258

Pre-Shot Routine: The Key to Better Golf Mechanics and a Calmer Mind

If you're skipping or rushing your pre-shot routine, you're leaving shots (and sanity) on the table. In this episode, I’m breaking down how your pre-shot routine does way more than get you set up—it builds your swing’s foundation and gives your brain something steady to lean on when pressure hits. You'll learn how to use it to create consistency, calm your nerves, and play with more trust over every shot. Whether you're on the tee box or the putting green, this one habit can change everything. Let’s get it dialed. Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

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Episode 257

Taking Golf Too Seriously? That’s Not Mental Toughness

If you think being serious all the time makes you mentally tough, we need to talk. In this episode, I’m calling out a sneaky mindset mistake a lot of golfers make—confusing intensity with commitment. We’ll dig into why laughing at yourself on the course isn’t weakness—it’s actually a sign of mental strength. You’ll learn how your identity might be a little too wrapped up in your score, how to create space between a bad shot and your self-worth, and why loosening up can actually help you play better golf. Because mental toughness isn’t about clenching your jaw and pretending everything’s fine. It’s about emotional flexibility, perspective, and the freedom to play without fear. Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

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Episode 256

Mental Game Help: The 7 Stages of Golf Mindset Transformation

If you’re ready to take your golf mindset seriously this year, this episode is your game plan. I’m breaking down the 7 stages of mental game transformation every golfer goes through—from awareness to emotional regulation to true confidence—so you can stop relying on willpower and start creating real, lasting change. Whether you’re trying to drop your handicap, play more consistently, or stop the emotional rollercoaster after one bad hole, this episode gives you a clear path forward. You’ll learn what it actually takes to shift your mental game—and become the golfer who handles pressure, trusts their swing, and shows up proud. This isn’t about fixing you. It’s about becoming the version of you that’s already capable of the golf (and life) you want. Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

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Episode 255

The Golf Attitude Reset You Need for 2026

It’s a new year, and before you start chasing birdies, let’s talk about what’s really holding your game back—your attitude. In this episode, I’m bringing back one of the most-loved topics with a fresh 2026 twist: the four golf attitudes that quietly sabotage your confidence and performance. Whether you’re feeling negative, victimy, defeated, or a little entitled (don’t worry, I’ve been all four), this is your wake-up call. You’ll learn how to catch yourself in these mindset traps and penguin-slap your way into a more powerful, realistic attitude for the season ahead. No shame, just awareness—and a better way to show up on the course this year. Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

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Episode 254

The Hidden Danger of Playing Golf With Negative People

Ever feel drained after a round—like the energy was off, even if your swing wasn’t? You might’ve had a bad apple in your group. In this episode, I’m talking about how just one negative person can bring down the whole foursome (and it might even be you). You’ll learn why emotions are contagious on the course, how to protect your mindset, and how to stay focused no matter who you’re paired with. If you’ve ever played with a mood killer—or been one—this one’s for you. Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

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Episode 253

6 Ways to Train Your Golf Brain (Without Touching a Club)

Even if your clubs are collecting dust and your course is covered in snow, your golf brain doesn’t have to hibernate. In this throwback episode, I’m sharing 6 simple, powerful ways to work on your mental game off the course—no glove, no tee time, no problem. We’ll talk about managing negativity, handling emotions, setting intentions, and building real-deal confidence before the season even starts. Because here’s the truth: you don’t need 18 holes to train your brain. You just need a little awareness and a willingness to do the work now—so when it’s go time, your mindset is ready to roll. Perfect for winter, busy seasons, or anytime you’re not playing but still want to play above par. Let’s go. Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

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How to Stop Letting Past Shots Ruin Your Golf Round

You ever stand on the tee trying to fix the shot you hit two holes ago? Welcome to the club. In this episode, we’re talking about how your brain loves to bring past shots (and all the emotion tied to them) into the present—and how that kills your confidence and your scorecard. I’ll show you how to stop fighting your fade, start playing the shot you actually brought that day, and make smarter choices based on evidence—not ego. This is how you lower the pressure, clean up your headspace, and play with more certainty. Because golf gets a whole lot more fun when you stop arguing with reality. Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

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Episode 252

From 21 to 11 Handicap: How Golf Mental Game Tools Transformed His Life (Not Just His Score)

Ever feel so frustrated on the golf course that you want to quit? You're not alone. In this episode, I sit down with my client Karl Pelli to talk about his transformation from being angry for days after a round to learning how to work with his brain instead of against it. Karl shares how he discovered the mental game after hearing me on another podcast, and why golf lessons alone weren't solving his real problem—his experience on the course. You'll hear Karl's honest journey through the three stages of awareness, how he uses tools like STEAR and Pivot daily (not just on the course), and why he believes investing in your brain is the best gift you can give yourself. This conversation is real, vulnerable, and full of practical takeaways about how mental skills transfer from golf to every area of life—relationships, work, even road rage. What You'll Learn: Why practicing more doesn't fix the mental game How to catch yourself before "going nuclear" on the course The power of pivoting your thoughts in traffic, tough conversations, and bad shots Why journaling and doing the work matters (and what happens when you get lazy) The real cost of not working on your mental game If Karl's story resonates with you, it's time to start doing the work. Your brain is worth the investment. Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

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Episode 251

How This Golfer Transformed Her Mental Game and Her Golf

What does it really take to see success on and off the course? In this episode, I’m talking with longtime client, Karen Rainey about what helped her go from frustrated to focused, both in golf and life. We break down the exact mindset tools she used, how she defines her wins, and why there's no magic checklist—but a whole lot of power in showing up, doing the reps, and being your own solution. Karen’s journey is full of wisdom, heart, and real-life application. Grab your mental caddy and let’s go. Receive free weekly mental golf tips HERE How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

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