What Golfers Can Learn From the Way Children Play by Paul Brown – Mind Factor Coach

You know those moments when you just stop, watch, and realise how much power there is in the simple joy of a game? That was me this weekend, watching my son spend what felt like forever kicking a toy into a cat bed.

No scoreboards. No practice plan. No technical-analysis. Just belief, fun, curiosity. And it struck me: golf could use more of that attitude.

What I saw in my son

Here’s what he did (and what we golfers often don’t):

• He believed each shot could go in. Even on the 50th kick.

• He celebrated when it did. Big smiles, a cheer, maybe even a little dance.

• He didn’t sulk when it missed. He just set it up again.

• He was completely present: focused on that one kick, that one moment.

It was a joy to witness. And it got me thinking: if we could borrow even a little bit of that mindset, our golf might just be more fun—and more effective.

Three Mindset Shifts Golfers Can Steal From Kids

Below are some ideas inspired by my weekend observation. Think of them as mini-tools to help you re-frame, refresh, and maybe even rescue your attitude on the course.

Shift	What to Do	Why It Helps
Believe in the Next Shot	Before every swing, take a moment: envision it going well. Don’t let past misses hang over you, you've never had this exact shot before and will never have it again.	A clear intention in pursuit of a target keeps us present. It builds confidence and allows you to swing more freely.
Celebrate Small Wins	Even a pure strike, a clean putt, a good decision—acknowledge it. It might be one-second’s delight, but it helps embed the memory.	Positivity is infectious. Celebrations (even small) reinforce what’s working.
Detach from Outcomes	When shots don’t go well, watch your self talk. Learn, adjust, move on. The miss isn’t the failure; the way you respond is what shapes the next shot.	Frustration takes us off-time, kills rhythm and confidence. Being resilient keeps your game strong and gets you ready for a great recovery shot.

Applying This In Practice

Here are some ideas for bringing these shifts onto the course.

• Pre-shot process: take a breath, imagine the shot, even recall a previous similar shot that's gone well.

• Micro-celebrations: maybe just a fist pump, a smile, a quiet “yes!”. No matter how small, it will help you recall that shot in the future. Consider writing down your best shots after the round.

• Reflection, not rumination: after a bad shot, analyse it factually. "I left the club-face open or I wasn't comfortable with my club/target", is much more useful than, "I'm a terrible golfer, I always slice it on this hole"!

  
  

Why It Matters

Because golf isn’t (just) about low scores, perfect mechanics or grinding through the bad holes. It’s about presence, enjoyment and curiosity. When those are in your game, suddenly things like anxiety before a shot, self-criticism, or a fear of messing it up lose some of their power.

And makes the whole thing more fun.