Golf Yourself Happy | The Mental Game of Golf for Confidence, Mindset & Enjoyment

Kris Lynch | Golf Mindset Coach & Mental Game of Golf Specialist
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Golf
  • Updated Biweekly

Struggling with golf anxiety? Choking under pressure? Getting angry after bad shots? Golf Yourself Happy helps golfers improve their mental game of golf, manage emotions on the course, build confidence, and enjoy golf again. Most golfers spend years working on their swing and almost no time working on the mental game of golf. When scores rise, confidence disappears, pressure builds, and frustration takes over, the instinct is often to practice harder, search for another swing fix, or try to force confidence back into the game. But the real challenge is rarely technical. It's the way we respond to anxiety, expectations, mistakes, pressure, and the stories we tell ourselves on the golf course. Golf Yourself Happy explores the mental game of golf through a different lens. Instead of chasing emotional control or mental toughness at all costs, this show helps golfers build awareness, resilience, self-trust, and a healthier relationship with the game. Hosted by golf mindset coach Kris Lynch, each episode explores golf confidence, golf anxiety, golf psychology, self-talk, expectations, emotional wellbeing, and the habits that shape how we experience golf. Whether you're struggling with first-tee nerves, frustration after a bad hole, confidence under pressure, or simply wondering how to enjoy golf again, you'll find practical conversations and fresh perspectives designed to help you improve your golf mental game without losing yourself in the process. This podcast accompanies the Happy Hackers community, where golfers choose happiness first, handicap later. If you want more confidence, less anxiety, greater resilience, and a healthier relationship with golf, you're in the right place.

  1. Golf is Healthy...BUT it's making you miserable!

    Jun 10

    Golf is Healthy...BUT it's making you miserable!

    Golf helped me through one of the darkest periods of my life. Following the loss of my son, golf gave me something I desperately needed: routine, purpose, connection, and a place to direct my attention when life felt overwhelming. That experience led me to launch Golf Yourself Healthy, inspired not only by my own journey but also by a growing body of research highlighting the health and wellbeing benefits of golf. But over time, I found myself wrestling with a difficult question: If golf is so good for us, why are so many golfers struggling because of it? In this episode, I share the story behind the evolution from Golf Yourself Healthy to Golf Yourself Happy, and explore two of the core convictions that now underpin everything I do. We discuss: Why golf may have defined success too narrowlyHow golfers often move the goalposts on their own achievementsThe hidden cost of tying self-worth to performanceWhy belonging might be more important than playing abilityThe subtle ways golf culture can make people feel like outsidersThe difference between measuring golfers and valuing golfers Along the way, I share a personal story about joining a golf club in Wales, serving on the board of directors, and an encounter that revealed something deeper about how we decide who belongs in golf. If you've ever felt frustrated by the game, doubted whether you're "good enough" to call yourself a golfer, or found your enjoyment of golf rising and falling with your scorecard, this episode is for you. Key TakeawaysGolf is good for us, but its benefits are not automatic.Golfers are remarkably good at telling themselves they're not "good enough"Success becomes almost impossible to achieve when it is defined too narrowly.The same culture that narrows success can also narrow belonging.Your right to belong should not depend on your performance. 💚 Join the Happy Hackers Clubhttps://www.golfyourselfhappy.com/happy-hackers/free-community The Happy Hackers Club is a community for golfers who want a healthier, happier, and more sustainable relationship with the game. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to invite you to join us. Mentioned in this EpisodeKris and Innes story features in the PGA's GBQ magazine -https://www.gbqdigital.com/featuresarchive/inspiration-golf-yourself-healthyGolf Yourself Healthy - www.golfyourselfhealthy.comGolf Yourself Happy - www.golfyourselfhappy.comGolf and Health report - https://www.randa.org/en/key-projects/golf-and-healthWorld Handicap System - https://www.whs.com/ Closing Thought Remember to put your Happiness First and your Handicap Later

    25 min
  2. NCG Top 100s Part 3: What Edgbaston Taught Me About Self-Judgement, Belonging and Acceptance

    May 27

    NCG Top 100s Part 3: What Edgbaston Taught Me About Self-Judgement, Belonging and Acceptance

    📝 Show NotesWhat happens when you finally put your mindset framework to the test... and discover that the biggest challenge isn't your golf swing? In this final episode of my NCG Top 100s mini-series, I reflect on my experience playing at Edgbaston Golf Club and share what the day revealed about judgement, belonging, self-awareness and acceptance. I arrived with a plan. To stay present. To focus on enjoyment. To connect with my playing partners. However, I was given a timely reminder that competitive golf has a way of exposing the gap between our intentions and reality. 🧠 What we cover:Why seeing my playing partners' handicaps before the round instantly triggered comparisonThe assumptions I made about what better golfers might think of meWhy being filmed added pressure...and what it revealed about my fear of judgementThe surprising moment that challenged my belief that I didn't belongWhat acceptance actually means when performance still mattersHow self-awareness often comes before meaningful change 🔑 The shiftsAcceptance isn't pretending you don't careI discovered that wanting to perform well didn't disappear simply because I'd decided enjoyment was important. The challenge wasn't eliminating competitive thoughts. It was learning how to respond to them differently. Nobody was judging meI spent the opening holes worrying about what everyone else thought of me. Then I realised something: 👉 Nobody was judging me. I was doing that job perfectly well myself. Belonging isn't something other people give youI arrived wondering whether I deserved to be there. By the end of the round, I realised nobody else was asking that question. Only me. 🏌️‍♂️ The Experiment ContinuesThe purpose of this series was never to prove that my coaching framework works perfectly. It was to test it under pressure. To expose blind spots. To learn. And to bring those lessons back to the everyday golfers I work with. Because growth doesn't happen when we talk about ideas. It happens when we test them in the real world. 🔁 Part of the NCG Top 100s Mini-SeriesThis is Episode 3 of 3. Across the series I've explored: First tee nervesCompetitive pressureAcceptance and controlSocial connectionComparisonJudgementWhat it really means to enjoy golf 👉🏻 Check out the full NCG Top 100s Tour Schedule (use discount code GYH10 at checkout for 10% off your booking) 💬 Join the Community👉 https://www.golfyourselfhappy.com/happy-hackers/free-community 🎁 Claim Your Free 5-Day Reset👉 https://www.golfyourselfhappy.com/free-5-day-reset 🏌️‍♂️ Final ThoughtMost golfers aren't struggling because they don't belong. They're struggling because they've convinced themselves they don't. Happiness First. Handicap Later.™

    25 min
  3. Why Good Golf Is Never Good Enough with Tom Higson, Raglan Golf Club

    May 22

    Why Good Golf Is Never Good Enough with Tom Higson, Raglan Golf Club

    📝 Show NotesIn this episode, I sit down with PGA professional and Raglan Golf Club manager, Tom Higson, to explore what it really means to enjoy golf - and why happiness and performance might be far more connected than most golfers realise. 🧠 What we cover:Why so many golfers struggle to separate their identity from their scoresThe hidden cost of becoming obsessed with performanceHow Tom's wife helped him rediscover perspective during his professional careerWhy half of on-course golfers don't even consider themselves "real golfers"What golf clubs can do to create a genuine sense of belongingWhy process goals often matter more than handicap goalsThe surprising idea that could completely change the way you keep score 🏌️ A different kind of golf clubWe also explore the remarkable story of Raglan Golf Club. After closing completely, the club has been rebuilt around a simple philosophy: 👉 Golf is for everyone. From mixed-gender competitions and flexible tee choices to creating a welcoming space for families, non-golfers and newcomers alike, Raglan is challenging many of golf's traditional assumptions. 🔑 The shiftMost golfers judge themselves through one question: "What did you score?" But what if that isn't the most important question? Tom shares a fascinating example of a golfer who stopped tracking scores and started tracking whether she followed her process instead. That simple shift opens up a bigger conversation: 👉 Who do you want to be as a golfer? Not just what handicap do you want. Not just what score do you want. But what kind of golfer - and person - do you want to become? 🎯 A preview of our coaching partnershipThis conversation also introduces an exciting new coaching collaboration between Tom and myself. By combining traditional PGA coaching with mindset coaching, our aim is simple: Help golfers enjoy the game moreBuild healthier relationships with golfImprove confidence and resilienceCreate performance gains as a natural by-product Because happier golfers tend to become better golfers. 🌳 Stop and look aroundGolf is one of the few sports we can play for a lifetime. Yet many of us spend our rounds frustrated, distracted or chasing perfection. Tom's challenge is wonderfully simple: 👉 Pause. 👉 Look around. 👉 Notice where you are. You might discover that golf has already given you more than your scorecard ever could. 🎁 Claim your Free 5-Day Reset👉 Link here - https://www.golfyourselfhappy.com/free-5-day-reset 💬 Join the Community👉 https://www.golfyourselfhappy.com/happy-hackers/free-community 📧 Get In Touch hello@golfyourselfhappy.com 🏌️‍♂️ Final ThoughtGolf isn't who you are. It's something you do. The score is just the score. So next time you play, don't just ask how many shots you took. Ask yourself: Did I enjoy it? Happiness First. Handicap Later.

    42 min
  4. NCG Top 100s Part 2: Royal North Devon review

    May 13

    NCG Top 100s Part 2: Royal North Devon review

    📝 Show NotesWhat actually happens when you try to enjoy competitive golf… and it doesn’t go fully to plan? In this episode, I reflect on my experience playing an NCG Top 100 event at Royal North Devon - and preview my next round at Edgbaston. 🧠 What we cover:What it really felt like stepping onto the first teeHow quickly simple habits break down under pressureThe moment that forced a complete reset mid-round 🔑 The shiftGolf constantly presents things outside your control: The conditionsYour swingOther players The question is: 👉 Do you fight it… or accept it? After six holes of frustration and no score, a flashpoint on the 12th forced me to reset - and changed the rest of the round. 🧭 Looking ahead: EdgbastonThis next round isn’t about getting it perfect. It’s about continuing the experiment: Staying anchored to enjoymentLetting go of what I can’t controlShowing up in a way that’s true to me 🔬 This is still an experimentI haven’t figured this out. But I experienced something different — and that matters. 🔁 Part of a NCG Top 100s mini-seriesThis is Episode 2 of 3. 🗓️ Next episode on Wednesday 27 May: what actually happened at Edgbaston. 👉🏻 Check out the full NCG Top 100s Tour Schedule (use discount code GYH10 at checkout for 10% off your booking) 💬 Join the Community👉 https://www.golfyourselfhappy.com/happy-hackers/free-community 🎁 Claim your Free 5-Day Reset👉 Link here - https://tinyurl.com/2udzf3ze 🏌️‍♂️ Final ThoughtYou don’t need a perfect round to enjoy golf. Happiness First. Handicap Later.

    19 min
  5. NCG Top 100s Part 1: Can an Average Golfer like me enjoy this?

    Apr 29

    NCG Top 100s Part 1: Can an Average Golfer like me enjoy this?

    📝 Show NotesWhat does it actually feel like for an everyday golfer to play in a Top 100 event? In this episode, I take you inside my mindset ahead of playing on the NCG Top 100 Tour - not from the perspective of performance, but from the perspective of experience. Why? Because these are exactly the kind of days that used to make me enjoy golf less… not more. 🧠 What we cover:Why high-pressure or “big” golf days can feel harder to enjoyThe hidden mental patterns that show up before you even hit your first shotHow comparison, expectation, and over-preparation can shape your roundWhy playing well doesn’t always mean feeling good 🔑 The shiftInstead of focusing on score or performance, I’m approaching this round differently: Can I actually enjoy it? ✅ The 2 simple habits I’m using:Pause before every shot - A breath, a reset, and a moment to arrive in the presentNo immediate judgement after each shot - Good or bad - notice it, and move on Simple, repeatable, and something you can actually use when it matters most. 🔬 This episode is an experimentI don’t know how this is going to go. I might play well. I might not. I’ll probably get frustrated at times. But that’s kind of the point. This isn’t about perfection, it’s about seeing whether I can experience golf differently. 🔁 This is part of a mini-seriesIn the next episode, I’ll reflect on what actually happened at Royal North Devon - honestly, and in full. So make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast! 👉🏻 Check out the full NCG Top 100s Tour Schedule (use discount code GYH10 at checkout for 10% off your booking) 💬 Join the Community (Free)If this episode resonated with you, come and join Happy Hackers — my free WhatsApp community for everyday golfers who want to enjoy the game more. No pressure. No egos. No unsolicited advice. Just real golfers, sharing the ups, downs, and everything in between. 👉 Join here: https://www.golfyourselfhappy.com/happy-hackers/free-community 🙏🏻 If You Enjoyed This EpisodeFollow / subscribe so you don’t miss future episodesShare this with a golfing mate who needs to hear itLeave a quick rating or review — it really helps more golfers find the show 🏌️‍♂️ Final ThoughtHappiness First, Handicap Later

    18 min
  6. Why You Don’t Need Confidence to Play Great Golf

    Apr 15

    Why You Don’t Need Confidence to Play Great Golf

    ✨ Episode SummaryWhat if playing better golf had less to do with fixing your mindset… and more to do with how you respond to what shows up? In this episode of Golf Yourself Happy, I’m joined by PGA professional and mental performance coach Trevor Jones to explore a different way of approaching the mental game — one that doesn’t rely on trying to feel confident or getting rid of nerves before you play well. We dig into Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), the model that sits at the heart of the HAPPY framework, and unpack why so many golfers get stuck trying to manage their thoughts and emotions… instead of learning how to play alongside them. This is a conversation about performance, yes — but more importantly, it’s about your experience of the game and how you want to show up on the course. 🎯 What You’ll LearnWhy trying to “fix” your mindset can actually hold you backThe truth about confidence (and why you don’t need it to play well)What mental toughness really looks like on the golf courseHow avoidance shows up in golf (often without you realising)A different way to respond to pressure, nerves, and doubtHow ACT can help you build a healthier, more sustainable relationship with the game 🧠 Key TakeawayYou don’t need the perfect mindset to play good golf. You just need to learn how to play with whatever shows up. 👥 About TrevorTrevor Jones is a PGA professional and mental performance coach who works with golfers across all levels of the game. Over the past decade, he has specialised in Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), helping players perform under pressure without needing to control their thoughts or emotions. Follow Trevor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trevorjones_aware/ 💬 Join the Community (Free)If this episode resonated with you, come and join Happy Hackers — my free WhatsApp community for everyday golfers who want to enjoy the game more. No pressure. No egos. No unsolicited advice. Just real golfers, sharing the ups, downs, and everything in between. 👉 Join here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Cl5a39HM4GbAXN59T7NwRT 🔁 If You Enjoyed This EpisodeFollow / subscribe so you don’t miss future episodesShare this with a golfing mate who needs to hear itLeave a quick rating or review — it really helps more golfers find the show 🏌️‍♂️ Final ThoughtHappiness First, Handicap Later

    53 min
  7. The Happy Hackers Club Is Open!

    Apr 1

    The Happy Hackers Club Is Open!

    The Happy Hackers Club is officially live! This is a free WhatsApp community for golfers who love the game… but don’t always love how it makes them feel. If you’ve ever walked off the course frustrated, sat in the car wondering why you even play, or felt like you don’t quite belong in traditional golf spaces — this is for you. 🏌️‍♂️ What This IsThe Happy Hackers Club is a space for everyday golfers. Just normal people who enjoy golf… but want it to feel better. Inside, you’ll find: Honest conversations about how golf actually feelsA place to vent after tough roundsA space to celebrate small winsSupport without judgment or unsolicited adviceGolfers who understand exactly what you’re going through 🧠 What Makes It DifferentMost golf communities focus on improving your game. This one focuses on improving your experience. Feelings first, scores optionalNo unsolicited adviceShowing up is the win You don’t need to play well to belong here. 👥 Who It’s ForThis is for you if: You love golf but often leave the course frustratedYou feel pressure to perform or improveYou don’t relate to traditional golf cultureYou play for enjoyment, not perfectionYou just want golf to feel lighter, more social, and more enjoyable 🚪 Join the Happy Hackers ClubIt’s completely free to join. No commitment. No pressure. You can even just join and read. 👉 Join here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Cl5a39HM4GbAXN59T7NwRT

    10 min
  8. Introducing Golf Yourself Happy & The Happy Hackers Club

    Mar 23

    Introducing Golf Yourself Happy & The Happy Hackers Club

    The secret’s out. After weeks of teasing, the name is finally official — Golf Yourself Happy — and in this episode, Kris explains exactly what that means… and what it doesn’t. Kris also introduces The Happy Hackers Club — a free community for recreational golfers who love the game but don’t always love how it makes them feel. What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy Golf Yourself Happy existsThe philosophy behind “happy first, handicap later”What the Happy Hackers Club actually isWhat it definitely isn’t (no tips overload, no comparison culture)Why “hacker” isn’t an insult — it’s a badge of belongingHow this community will work (and why it will always be free) 🚪 Big Announcement — Doors Open April 1stThe Happy Hackers Club officially launches on: 👉 Wednesday, 1st April 2026 In the next episode, we’ll explain exactly how to join and walk you through everything inside the community. So if this episode resonated with you… 📅 Make sure you come back on April 1st. You don’t need to be exceptional to deserve enjoyment. You just need to show up. Happy first. Handicap later.

    10 min
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Struggling with golf anxiety? Choking under pressure? Getting angry after bad shots? Golf Yourself Happy helps golfers improve their mental game of golf, manage emotions on the course, build confidence, and enjoy golf again. Most golfers spend years working on their swing and almost no time working on the mental game of golf. When scores rise, confidence disappears, pressure builds, and frustration takes over, the instinct is often to practice harder, search for another swing fix, or try to force confidence back into the game. But the real challenge is rarely technical. It's the way we respond to anxiety, expectations, mistakes, pressure, and the stories we tell ourselves on the golf course. Golf Yourself Happy explores the mental game of golf through a different lens. Instead of chasing emotional control or mental toughness at all costs, this show helps golfers build awareness, resilience, self-trust, and a healthier relationship with the game. Hosted by golf mindset coach Kris Lynch, each episode explores golf confidence, golf anxiety, golf psychology, self-talk, expectations, emotional wellbeing, and the habits that shape how we experience golf. Whether you're struggling with first-tee nerves, frustration after a bad hole, confidence under pressure, or simply wondering how to enjoy golf again, you'll find practical conversations and fresh perspectives designed to help you improve your golf mental game without losing yourself in the process. This podcast accompanies the Happy Hackers community, where golfers choose happiness first, handicap later. If you want more confidence, less anxiety, greater resilience, and a healthier relationship with golf, you're in the right place.

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