MD The Golf Doc Fuzzy Zoeller has fun during his round, but he also knows how to focus on his game. Golf is different from most sports. It is long in duration, requiring mental concentration from some four or five hours. In golf, we are alone with our emotions. By comparison, in tennis you play the ball more than 25 percent of the time.
Golf allows long periods of time in which to lose concentration and become distracted.
In a match, we are not allowed a coach or time out to regroup. Substitutes cannot provide relief if we are in a slump for a few holes. If our opponent is in the zone, hitting shots from all over the course, we cannot play defensively, as in other sports, by blocking shots. In golf, we are alone with our emotions. Our ability to deal with and manage emotions determines our success.